Arts & Entertainment in Australia
Sydney

Festivals and Events

• Big Day Out

  Big Day Out

  Australasia’s iconic touring music festival hits the Sydney showground.

    January 25 http://www.bigdayout.com
   

• Mardi Gras

   ‘Arguably the best gay event in the world,’ say the organisers.

    February 2 – March 3 http://www.mardigras.org.au
• Colours of St Patrick’s Day

  St Patrick’s Day

  A large part of Sydney’s population take to the Guinness for an Irish extravaganza in The Rocks. 

    March 17 http://www.stpatricksday.org.au

• Royal Easter Show

  Traditional agricultural festival held at the Sydney Showground.

    April 7-20 http://www.eastershow.com.au
• On the catwalk

  Australian Fashion Week

   

    April 30 – May 4 http://www.afw.com.au
   

• Sydney Film Festival

  Australia’s leading international film festival has established a worldwide reputation.  Events held at the magnificent State Theatre and Dendy Opera Quays. 

    June 8-24 http://www.sydneyfilmfestival.org

• Carnivale

  Sydney’s annual multi-cultural arts festival. 

    July to late August
• City To Surf Run

  City To Surf Run

  Serious and fun runners gather to tackle the nine miles from Park Street to Bondi Beach.

    Second Sunday in August http://www.city2surf.sunherald.com.au
• Manly International Jazz Festival

  Manly International Jazz Festival

  Five outdoor stages plus roving bands and performers.

    Last weekend in September

   

  http://www.manly.nsw.gov.au/manlyjazz.html
   
• Australian International Motor Show

  Australian International Motor Show

  A quarter of a million visitors flock to the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.

   

   

    Around October 25 – November 4 http://www.fcai.com.au/motorshows/2005/10/00000...

• Sculpture By The Sea

  Outdoor exhibition of work from local and international artists.

    November 2-19 http://www.sculpturebythesea.com
• Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

  Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

  Sydney hosts one of the world’s premier international yacht races.

   

    On December 26 - Boxing Day http://www.rolexsydneyhobart.com
• A Sydney New Year’s Eve

  New Year’s Eve

  Thousands gather in the Harbour area to watch a spectacular fireworks display.

    December 31

   

  http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nye

Theatre, Cinema and Opera

Sydney doesn’t have a distinct theatre district, but it has numerous theatres and a vigorous calendar of productions.  These range from Broadway and West End shows at mainstream theatres to experimental theatre at smaller venues. Most tickets cost from around $AU30 to $AU90, but last-minute specials can be found and there are generally concession prices.  The Sydney Theatre Company, the city’s most famous, stages productions at several venues.  www.sydneytheatre.com.au. Details of other theatres, productions and timings can be found in the Sydney Morning Herald’s What’s On listings or on the website www.goaustralia.about.com/cs/nswtheatre/l/bltheatreguide.htm

With such a magnificent opera house and a history of producing great singers, opera is strong in Sydney.  The opera season lasts from January to March and then June to November.  As well as at the Sydney Opera House (www.sydneyoperahouse.com), performances take place at the Capital Theatre and the City Recital Hall.

Sydney does not have the film-going culture of cities like Paris, Madrid or New York, mainly because the weather is so good, people prefer outdoor attractions.  The cinema strip in Sydney is on George Street, near the Town Hall train station.  Other mainstream cinemas can be found in various suburbs and in shopping centres.  Art house cinemas abound in the inner city.  There’s an Imax at Darling Harbour. www.imax.com.au/home

Museums and Galleries

There are many fine museums in Sydney.  The Art Gallery of New South Wales (www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au) showcases one of the finest collections of Australian and Aboriginal art. The Australian Museum (www.amonline.net.au) is the place to learn more about the continent’s natural history and cultural diversity, while the Museum of Sydney (www.hht.nsw.gov.au) concentrates on the city’s early history. The Museum of Contemporary Art (www.mca.com.au) is set in a stately art deco building and features a fine collection of modern art from Australia and around the world.  Among other museums are those dedicated to justice and police, maritime matters, early convicts, science and technology and Australia’s Jewish history.