Spooky season is officially here! As exciting as Halloween in Sydney is, exploring haunted sites and going on a good ol’ fashioned Halloween ghost tour is not all there is to do in October. It’s also the season of outdoor movies, pretty floral displays, cultural festivities and bustling markets. Plus, October marks the return of the long-awaited Sculpture by the Sea exhibition so dust off your walking shoes and get ready. Check out the full list of things to do in Sydney this October.
1. See over 100 artworks at Sculpture by the Sea
Sydney’s popular Sculpture by the Sea exhibition is returning for its big 25th edition. There are over 100 stunning artworks to discover along the 2km Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk from October 20 to November 6. Get more details about it here.
2. Dance the day away at the Ritmo Latino Festival
A giant celebration of Latin American culture is coming to Sydney for one day only. There’s food, drink, live music, art exhibits and so much more to look forward to at The Greenwood Hotel on October 7. Tickets are selling fast, grab yours here.
3. Get spooked at Halloscream
Luna Park’s annual Halloween festival is back with double the scares. This year’s edition is bringing Sydney’s longest Halloween Maze to town with terrifying twists and turns, themed food and drink and more. It’s happening from October 27 to 31. Get more information here.
4. Go shopping at The Big Design Market
The Big Design Market is returning to Sydney from October 13-15 with over 200 stalls to shop from. Find a variety of products from art and collectibles, homewares, jewellery. Get all the details here.
5. See an authentic Spanish Flamenco show in Sydney
Authentic Flamenco is making its way to Sydney all the way from Spain. The show comes to town courtesy of the Royal Opera of Madrid and attendees will be able to see world-renowned flamenco dancer Paula Rodríguez perform live at the Seymour Centre and the Hayden Orpheum. Tickets are on sale now but they’re selling out fast. Get yours here.
6. Drink and be merry at Parramatta Lanes
Parramatta will come alive from October 11-14 with music, food, live performances and more. Expect 40+ diverse food stalls and 120 acts over seven stages at the vibrant event. Find more information here.
7. Attend a soul-stirring production of The Visitors
This important show offers a captivating insight into one of the most impactful days in Australia’s history and how communities work together in the face of the unknown. The deeply contemplative production of The Visitors is one of the must-see shows in Sydney this October. Don’t miss out. Get your tickets here until October 21.
8. Have a ball with Sydney Streets
Sydney Streets is back and encouraging people to get out and about with a program of food, music, live entertainment and more. The event will take over the neighbourhoods of Surry Hills, Pyrmont, Darlinghurst, Redfern, Haymarket, Glebe and Potts Point for free one-day-only celebrations. Learn more here.
9. Go on a ghostly garden tour
This Halloween promises plenty of fun in Sydney and one way to make the most of the scary holiday is going on a ghost tour. This one takes place at the Royal Botanic Garden with access to the garden after-hours, creepy stories about the location and more. Book a spot here.
10. Party late at Horrorween
Can’t get enough of Halloween? A giant party is coming to Hordern Pavilion on October 28 and it’s promising heaps of fun entertainment by drag stars Brooke Lynn Hytes, Kween Kong and more. Get your tickets.
11. Experience the magic of a Candlelight Concert
Attend one of Sydney’s beautiful Candlelight concerts and get lost in a number of familiar tunes this October. Tickets are available to tribute shows to Pink Floyd, Coldplay, Hans Zimmer and more.
🕯️Candlelight Orchestra: A Tribute to Coldplay
🕯️Candlelight: Tribute to Queen
🕯️Candlelight: Best of Joe Hisaishi
🕯️Candlelight: Hans Zimmer’s Best Works at SMC
🕯️Candlelight: Vivaldi Four Seasons
🕯️Candlelight: The Soundtracks of Jane Austen
12. Fill your bags at the Round She Goes market
The Round She Goes vintage market is bringing 70+ stalls to Sydney on Saturday, October 7. Expect a variety of timeless clothing pieces and accessories along with specialty coffee at the venue. Get the details here.
13. Celebrate the Opera House’s 50th Anniversary
The Opera House is celebrating its 50th birthday this year with a huge celebration of music, art, dance and a host of free events so everyone can join in on the fun. See more about the month-long event here.
14. Enjoy a cheeky night out with Magic Men
The Magic Men will be strutting their stuff every Saturday throughout October and tickets are now on sale for the heart-racing spectacle. Don’t miss out on seeing Australia’s best male dancers doing their thing in this electrifying show. Get your tickets before they sell out.
15. Have a sakura tea party at West Hotel Sydney
Can’t get enough of cherry blossoms? You can now enjoy an exclusive sakura-themed high tea every Saturday from 2pm-4pm until October 14. Expect both sweet and savoury bites, cocktails and pretty pink vibes. See more about West Hotel here.
16. Grab Breakfast with the Koalas
Enjoy breakfast surrounded by cute koalas and other Aussie animals at Wild Life Sydney Zoo this October. This special experience also includes a guided tour of the zoo and photo opportunities. Get your tickets.
17. Grab a tipple at Pinot Palooza
Pinot Palooza is bringing a sweet celebration of all things pinot on October 6 and 7. Over 50 producers will showcase a range of of pinot noir, like organic, biodynamic, vegan and low-intervention wines. Read more here.
18. Celebrate Oktoberfest at Munich Brauhaus and The Bavarian
There’s still time to enjoy the Okeberfestivities at Munich Brauhaus and The Bavarian. There’s German dancers, live music and of course, lots of beer on the cards until October 7. Snag a table at The Bavarian here and Munich Brauhaus here.
19. Treat your pooch to yappy hour at Forrester’s
Happy hour is even better when it’s shared with your best fur friend. Surry Hills pub Forrester’s is doing a special “yappy hour” with a dog-friendly menu and photo opportunities every Tuesday from 6pm to 8pm. Make a booking here.
20. Light up your night at a comedy club
iD Comedy Club is the place to go to if you’re looking for an evening of knee-slapping laughter. Unwind with a dose of laughter and drinks on the side every Friday and Saturday throughout October. Get your tickets.
21. Discover Taronga Zoo’s new noctural experience
Taronga Zoo has unveiled a brand new nocturnal experience – nguwing nura (new-ing nu-ra) – Nocturnal Country where visitors can come face to face with iconic Aussie animals like the platypus and Greater Bilby after dark. Learn more about it here.
22. Enjoy the starlit Night at the Barracks concerts
Night at the Barracks is hosting a series of concerts under the night sky featuring some incredible performers like Hoodoo Gurus, Missy Higgins, Bjorn Again, Tina Arena, and more. Located in the historic Barracks at North Head Sanctuary, the event will take place until October 8. Grab your tickets here.
23. Soak up the sun at a pop-up gin garden
The trendy Woollahra Hotel is celebrating spring in style and transforming its upstairs terrace into a botanical Gin Garden for the entirety of October. Grab their gin cocktail specials, enjoy weekend DJ sets and live acoustic sessions, take a picture with the vibrant florals and more from October 1-31. See more here.
24. Grab a slice at Pizzapalooza
Plan a beach day at Tamarama on October 8 and enjoy a mega pizza party from 4pm onwards with hundreds of free delicious Neapolitan-style pizza to enjoy courtesy of Gozney.
25. Stay out late at the Bamboozle Room
Enjoy a bewitching night of burlesque, comedy and cabaret at the Bambazoole Room on select days this October. There’s a delicious 2-course dinner on offer along with bottomless bubble ticket options. Get your tickets.
26. Be spellbound with dinner and a show at The Magician’s Cabaret
The Magician’s Cabaret is super popular for its extravagant shows and excellent dinners. There’s no other show in Sydney quite like Tails of Trickery which combines a magic show with dinner or La Belle Rose — Sydney’s longest-running cabaret show. Grab your tickets before they sell out.
27. Feel enchanted by the Beauty and the Beast musical
Disney’s Beauty And The Beast Musical is currently delighting both young and old musical lovers at the Capitol Theatre. Expect stunning new sets, costume designs and state-of-the-art technology breathing new life into the classic tale. The musical features a stellar all-Australian cast and tickets are now on sale. Grab them here.
28. Attend a Disney Princess Concert
Relive all the childhood Disney magic and listen to a quartet of Broadway, television and animated film stars sing unforgettable hits from your favourite Disney princess movies. Expect songs like How Far I’ll Go, Part of Your World and more. Disney Princess — The Concert will play at Enmore Theatre in Sydney on October 4-5. Tickets available here.
29. See the dazzling Tina Turner Musical
The brilliant Tina Turner musical is continuing to dazzle theatregoers in Sydney. The musical premiered in London in 2018 to widespread critical and commercial acclaim; it tells the story of the singer’s humble beginnings in Tennessee to her meteoric rise to global fame and a comeback story like no other. Grab your tickets here.
30. See the terrific production of Miss Saigon
Cameron Mackintosh’s critically acclaimed new production of Boublil and Schönberg’s Miss Saigon has arrived at the Joan Sutherland Theatre. See the epic love story of passion and tragedy based on Giacomo Puccini’s 1904 opera Madama Butterfly this August. Grab your tickets here.
31. Attend Message in a Bottle at the Opera House
Some of Sting’s most popular hits including Every Breath You Take, Roxanne, Walking On The Moon and many more will take centrestage in a dazzling production of Message in a Bottle at the Opera House. Book your tickets here.
32. Check out the captivating Marvellous Elephant Man
The musical comedy Marvellous Elephant Man is continuing to dazzle Sydneysiders at the Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park. Final tickets are available now until October 8, don’t miss out.
33. Attend the first-ever SXSW in Australia
Sydney creatives can look forward to 8 days of industry talks, film screenings, workshops and more when SXSW makes its Australian debut in Sydney. There are over 400 events lined up across a number of Sydney venues. Head here for all the information.
34. See a bone-chilling show at Sydney Spiegeltent
In the spirit of Halloween, Sydney Spiegeltent is bringing a spine-tingling show called Mansion to town From October 25 to November 19. Expect sultry burlesque performances, heart-racing stunts and more. Grab your tickets here.
35. Go on a ghostly candlelit tour of Old Government House
The Old Government House in Parramatta is hosting ghostly night tours every month this year and it’s guaranteed to give you the creeps. This month the tour takes place on October 20 with snacks and hot drinks afterward. Read all about it here.
36. Take a ride on vintage steam trains and buses
The annual Transport Heritage Expo is returning for three days only over the October long weekend and it’s bringing a special treat for Sydneysiders. The expo will feature heritage train, bus and steamboat rides that will operate across Sydney from Central Station along with tours of Central Station Clock Tower and tea in a 1960s carriage. Get all the details here.
37. Check out this immersive exhibition at Powerhouse
Atmospheric Memory has made its Australia premiere at Powerhouse Ultimo. The exhibition features cutting-edge technology that transforms vibrations in the atmosphere. See your voice travel in a ripple tank and walk through clouds of text written in mid-air in this immersive new exhibit. Grab your tickets here. Get more details about it here.
38. Catch a free movie at an outdoor cinema
The Rocks’ Laneway Cinema has returned for its spring-summer season with a host of exciting, and free, movie screenings for all. Expect bean bags, deck chairs and titles like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Bridesmaids this October. Read all about it here.
39. See cherry blossoms in and around Sydney
The best part about spring is all the colourful flowers around town. If you’re keen to get your fix of cherry blossoms, there are a few spots in and around Sydney that should be top of your list. Find them here.
40. Head out of town for a Jacaranda Festival
Grafton’s annual Jacaranda Festival is making its return from October 26 to November 5 and it’s totally worth getting out of town for. Expect blossoming jacaranda, markets, float parades and much more. Read more about it here.
41. Get your flower fix at the Leura Gardens festival
The Leura Gardens Festival is returning over the October long weekend from September 29 to October 1. Walk through the lovely village of Leura and see flowers and a number of cool-climate plants in bloom across seven gardens including Foggylorne, Ewanrigg, Seasons and more.
Read all about the Leura Gardens Festival.
42. Enjoy this intimate magic show
A Magical Soirée, by Bruce Glen combines fantastic stories with fascinating magic tricks to leave audiences in awe and wonder inside a heritage building. Grab your tickets here.