Good morning, Inner Westies. There's something for everyone to enjoy this weekend. Discover why Sydney's Inner West is the craft beer capital. Join in the festivities at Inner West Kids Fest, celebrate at Mardi Gras Fair Day, or catch some live music across our local venues.

In today’s Inner West Guide:

Note: Please check to confirm details are accurate with venues, event providers, restaurants and pubs by clicking through to their site. Events are occasionally cancelled at the last minute.

I’m filling in for Jess this week, so grab your morning coffee and join me as we explore the Inner West together.

— Henry

Sydney’s Inner West is home to 18 independent craft breweries, making it a hotspot for beer lovers. The Inner West Ale Trail connects these breweries across suburbs like Marrickville, Newtown, Enmore, St Peters, Rozelle, and Camperdown. This vibrant scene offers more than 320 unique brews, with each brewery bringing its own distinctive style and atmosphere.

The trail also features a variety of events, including live music, trivia nights, and special tastings, ensuring there's always something happening across the participating breweries. Their website also details if a brewery is wheelchair accessible and whether or not you can take your doggo’s with you.

Check out their website for more information. Follow their Instagram to stay up-to-date and to ensure you see their Doggo of the Week!

🛝 Park Picnic @ Orange Grove Plaza Playground
This is not our usual large park and picnic recommendation. This weeks park is what you’d call a pocket park. There is play equipment for the kids, fully shade covered, with a grassy patch for running around or popping down a picnic blanket and two cafes nearby. The Local Press Lilyfield and Pane E Cipolla both overlook the park. So you can have a great meal and coffee whilst fully supervising the kids running around.

🎉 Convene on the Green @ Petersham Bowling Club
Head there on the 2nd Friday of each month and let the kids wear themselves out on the jumping castle. Bar & Bistro open from 12pm.
📍 Petersham Bowling Club / Friday 14th February 2025 / 4:30pm-6:30pm

🎨 Kids Creative Club @ Burwood (9 to 12 years)
Create a wooden cityscape using paint and collage for display in Burwood Library's mini exhibition. Bookings essential.
📍 Burwood Library / Saturday 15th February 2025 / 11:30am-1pm

📚 Rainbow Families Storytime @ Leichhardt and Balmain (ages 3 to 5)
Join for a special storytime celebrating families of all kinds through fun songs, rhymes and inclusive stories.
📍 Leichhardt Library / Monday 17th February 2025 / 10:30am ♿️
📍 Balmain Library / Wednesday 19th February 2025 / 10:30am ♿️

📚 Monthly Story Time @ Marrickville Metro (ages 1 to 4 years)
Join a free storytime session facilitated in partnership with Paint Inner West REaD every third Monday.
📍 Marrickville Metro / Monday 17th February 2025 / 1pm

⚽ Free Kids Sports Classes @ South Eveleigh (ages 3 to 6)
Join free weekly Minis sports classes, where kids explore different sports while developing motor skills. Facilitated by Ready Steady Go Kids. Book ahead, limited spots.
📍 South Eveleigh / Every Tuesday / 10am-10:30am, 10:30am-11am, 11am-11:30am

🎨 After School: Ink Creatures (ages 8 to 12)
Create unique creatures using ink and mixed media in this guided children's art workshop. Book ahead.
📍 Stanmore Library / Wednesday 19th February 2025 / 3:45pm ♿️

🌿 Bush School at Callan Park (ages 2.5 to 5 years)
Experience outdoor learning through play, bushcraft and storytelling at Callan Park's Bush School program. Cost: $29. Book ahead.
📍 Summerhouse Callan Park Lilyfield / Thursday 20th February 2025 / 9:30am-11:30am ♿️

🧸 Playgroup @ Polish Club Ashfield
Weekly playgroup sessions offer kids crafts, sensory play and games, while parents can enjoyrefreshments from Polka Cafe & Deli.
📍 Polish Club Ashfield / Thursday 20th February 2025 / 10:30am-12pm ♿️

📚 Minis Storytime @ Broadway Shopping Centre
Join this interactive storytime filled with songs, dances and playful storytelling for young children. Cost: $3 per child (proceeds donated to Glebe Youth Services). Book ahead.
📍 Broadway Shopping Centre / Thursday 20th February 2025 / 10am, 10:30am, 11am & 11:30am

🐍 Great Snakes Game Day
Play giant versions of classic games like Snakes and Ladders, Jenga and Connect 4 while a DJ spins tunes from the GOLD 101.7 Kombi van. Giant snakes and ladders is a fun board game and artwork designed by Sydney artist Andrew Yee.
📍 Hay Street Haymarket / Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 February / 11am-4pm

💃 Korean Dancefloor @ Darling Quarter
Bust a move in front of the Korean Gateway. This dancefloor is free for everyone. Simply plug in your device, pick your favourite track and start dancing. Or come to see K-pop and cultural performances on the dancefloor. See dates and times here.
📍 Darling Quarter / All Weekend / 9am-10pm

🎉 The Serbian Festival Sydney
Experience Serbia's vibrant culture through food, music and dance at Sydney's biggest Serbian Festival.
📍 Tumbalong Park Darling Harbour / Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 February / 12pm-10pm

🎬 Foreshore Flicks @ Rhodes
Pack your picnic blanket for an entertaining evening with food trucks, popcorn, face-painting, games, and a special Valentine's Day free screening of the movie Gnomeo & Juliet (PG).
📍 McIlwaine Park, Rhodes / Friday 14th February / 5:30pm-9pm

❤ Galentine’s Comedy Show at The Toxteth
An all-female lineup for a Galentine's Day comedy special at The Toxteth, featuring laughs, bubbles and unfiltered truth about modern love. Tickets start from just $25 + booking fee, including a welcome drink.
📍 The Toxteth Glebe / Friday 14th February / 7:30pm-9pm ♿

🎵 A Night at the Opera @ Petersham RSL
Experience a Valentine's Day special free evening of opera classics performed by BravOz Opera Trio, with Italian dinner available for purchase from Dai Romani.
📍 Petersham RSL / Friday 14th February / 6:30pm

🎬 The Gladdo Open Air Cinema
Enjoy a screening of Meet the Fockers under the stars at The Gladdo's outdoor cinema in Balmain, with food and drinks available. Tickets $20. Must book online.
📍 Gladstone Park Bowling Club Balmain / Saturday 15th February / 6:30pm

🎵 2SER In Your Hood @ Leichhardt
Join 2SER 107.3FM and Inner West Council for a free afternoon of live local music at Pioneers Memorial Park, featuring diverse acts from folk to hip hop. Pack a picnic and enjoy family-friendly entertainment, community sausage sizzle, and more.
📍 Pioneers Memorial Park Leichhardt / Saturday 15th February / 2pm-7pm ♿

🛍️ Drummoyne Makers Markets
Now every Saturday in a new indoor location! Meet local makers offering unique jewelry, original artwork, handmade ceramics, children's wear, local honey, pickles and jams, plus don't miss the Rotary Club of Drummoyne's bacon & egg rolls.
📍 17 Lyons Rd, Drummoyne / Saturday 15th February / 9am-2pm

🌾 Farmers Markets @ Carriageworks
Discover the freshest seasonal produce and artisanal delights from local NSW growers and producers at this beloved community market.
📍 Carriageworks Eveleigh / Saturday 15th February / 8am-1pm

🎨 Life Drawing with Irma Calabrese
Join artist Irma Calabrese's "Is that you?" exhibition for a life drawing session featuring guided poses and post-session discussion. Tickets $50. Must book online.
📍 Tiliqua Tiliqua Enmore / Saturday 15th February / 6pm-8pm

🌈 Queer Makers Market @ Newtown
Browse unique creations from local LGBTIQA+ artists and makers while exploring the new Inner West Pride Centre.
📍 Pride Square Newtown / Saturday 15th February / 10am-2pm ♿

🌈 Mardi Gras Fair Day
The rainbow extravaganza returns with over 200 stalls, dapper dogs, DJs and dancefloors for a day-long community celebration.
📍 Victoria Park Camperdown / Sunday 16th February / 10am-9pm ♿

💪 Mardi Gras Themed Group Fitness Classes
Join Inner West Aquatics' Mardi Gras-themed fitness classes at Ashfield Aquatic Centre, Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre, or Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre and celebrate in your rainbow best. See timetable on the website.
📍 Inner West Council Aquatic Centres / Sunday 16th February / 9:15am-5:30pm ♿

🏊 Free Entry to Victoria Park Pool on Fair Day
Join the vibrant celebration of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day at Victoria Park Pool on Sunday, 16 February 2025! As part of the festivities, we're offering free entry to our aquatic facilities until midday.
📍 Victoria Park Pool / Sunday 16th February 2025 / 6am-12pm ♿

🌾 Concord Farmers Market
Held on the first and third Sunday of each month, a local community project run by the Rotary Club of Concord. Plus composting education, native plant giveaway and a live induction cooking demo!
📍 Cintra Park car park Concord / Sunday 16th February / 8:30am-12:30pm

🍾 Bar 26 Lilyfield | Wednesday to Friday | 4pm-6pm | A delicious curated menu of select cocktails & mixed drinks – as well as toasties & home made pizzas, are available to choose from | See venue for terms.

🍸 Odd Culture Newtown | Wednesday to Sunday | 4pm-6pm | $12 Odd Culture Cheeseburger, $7 Potato Scallop, $8 Zucchini Flowers, $15 Negronis & Martinis, Selection of natural wines by the glass for $8 & Schooners for middy prices across all tap beers | See venue for terms.

🍷 Pleasure Club Newtown | Wednesday to Sunday | 5pm-6pm | $9 LP’s Dogs & Vegan Dogs, $6 Civic Bitter (House Beer), $15 Cocktails (see venue for selection) & $10 Non-Alc Cocktails (Musk Sticks & Beach Day) | See venue for terms.

🍺 Royal Hotel Darlington | Monday to Friday | 3pm-6pm | Enjoy $5 local beers and wine | See venue for terms.

🧒  The Toxteth Hotel Glebe | Half Price Kids Meals | Monday to Friday | 5pm-7pm | See venue for details.

🍔 Royal Hotel Darlington
➡ 300g Rump with Beer or Wine for $25 | Friday | From 5pm
➡ Famous 5 $15 Lunches | 11am to 5pm | See venue for list
➡ $20 Burger & Beer Combo | Saturday | All Day
➡ Kids Eat Free | Sunday | Terms & Conditions apply - see venue

🇲🇽 Lottie Redfern
A new Mexican restaurant and Mezcaleria on the rooftop of The Eve Hotel. Check out the menu here.

Thanks for reading. Please feel free to reply with any feedback.

Reminder: Please check to confirm details are accurate with venues, event providers, restaurants and pubs by clicking through to their site. Events are occasionally cancelled at the last minute and specials can change.

Have a fun weekend!

Henry