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:

• Keep Kids Busy Guide ❤️ 🧒

• Discover the Inner West Ale Trail 🍻 🍺 

• What’s Happening This Weekend 🪩 🎶 

• Gig 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

Hit the Inner West Ale Trail 🍺 🍻 

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

All Weekend

🐍 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

Friday

🎬 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

Saturday

🎬 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 ♿️ 

Sunday

🌈 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

• An Inspector Calls | Genesian Theatre Rozelle

• Cruise | KXT on Broadway

• The Laugh Inn Comedy Club | The Newtown Hotel

• Three Sisters | Flight Path Theatre Marrickville

• Titanique | The Grand Electric Redfern

• Afternote: In the Shade of Cinema | The Japan Foundation Chippendale

• Balgo Horizons | Stories & Places Across Time | Art Leven Redfern

• Barbara Licha Art | Polish Club Ashfield

• Beasties Exhibition | The Bearded Tit Redfern

• Brett Stone: 'Tis the Gift to Be Simple | Waterloo

• Consuelo Cavaniglia: Seeing Through You | Chau Chak Wing Museum

• Glenn 'Glenno' Smith Solo Art Show | The Shop Gallery Glebe

• Glitterati | Newtown ArtSeat

• Instrumental: Collections from Science | Chau Chak Wing Museum

• Irma Calabrese – 'Is that you?' | Tiliqua Tiliqua Enmore

• Kerameikos the Potters' Quarter | Chau Chak Wing Museum

• Libre: the Art of Being | Gallery LNL Newtown

• Micro:Macro – models of insight and inspiration | Chau Chak Wing Museum

• On the Road to Justice: Remembering the Freedom Ride | 119 Redfern Street

• Planetary Network by Georgia Freebody | Five Dock Library

• Stockpile | Chrissie Cotter Gallery

• The trace is not a presence ... | Chau Chak Wing Museum

• Under the Water and Above by Natasha Allen | Concord Library

• Union Made: Art from the University of Sydney Union | Chau Chak Wing Museum

• Wet Season | Kate Owen Gallery

• XSWL: xiào sǐ wǒle" | White Rabbit Gallery

• You're Welcome? | Verge Gallery Darlington

🍾 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.

Friday

• Annandale Creative Arts Centre | The Valentitanic Trio | 8pm

• Botany View Hotel Newtown | Newtown Sound 003 + Alex Fears, Bad Witch, Good Hounds | 8pm

• The Bridge Hotel Rozelle | Dee Minor | 2pm

• Butchers Brew Bar Dulwich Hill | Valentine's Night + Magdalena Mira Trio, Jonathan Zwartz | 8pm

• Camelot Lounge Marrickville | Snarski vs Snarski | 7pm

• Crowbar Leichhardt | Xibalba + Outsiders Code, Phantoms, L.O.W. | 8pm

• Darling Nikki's St Peters | Ed Clayton Jones + Justine Wahlin, Last Motel | 7pm

• Enmore Theatre | The Brand New Heavies + Jaron Jay | 7pm

• Factory Floor @ The Factory Marrickville | S.G. Goodman | 8pm

• Factory Theatre Marrickville | Closure In Moscow + Hail the Sun, The Fall of Troy | 8pm

• The Fusebox @ The Factory Marrickville | Milku + Joe Mungovan, Sam Allen | 7pm

• Goodspace @ The Lord Gladstone Chippendale | Val with the Pals + Atari Y, justina., Emerald, Ruben, Jacky, mthr.lde B2B Fishing Dad, Gemma Ylana, Big El B2B Jordy, who's chopping? | 6pm

• ICC Sydney Theatre | Xg | 8pm

• The Lansdowne Chippendale | Pyjama Sundayz + Silky Edgez, Melita, These Guys | 8pm

• Lazy Thinking Dulwich Hill | The Genevieves + Vertebrae, Carnabuci | 6pm

• The Loft (UTS) | Joel Leggett + Camino Gold, Krystal Rivvers, Olivia Frances | 7pm

• Manning Bar Camperdown | Hailu Mergia + Habibi Funk | 8pm

• Miss Celie's Ashfield | Jordan Thomas Band | 7pm

• MoshPit Bar Erskineville | S.Miles + Tom Adamson, Duo Log, Space Cop 2 | 8pm

• Petersham Bowlo | Our Carlson + Frenzee, Boiling Hot Politician | 7:30pm

• Pyrmont Bridge Hotel | Tip the Hat | 9pm

• Sappho Books, Cafe & Bar Glebe | Trappist Afterland + Fuschia | 7:30pm

• Vic on the Park Marrickville | Athanasia + Yoskos In The Cosmos | 9pm

• Waywards @ The Bank Hotel Newtown | Sara Berki + Charlie Finn | 8pm

• Yulli's Brews | Canned Heat - Babylon, Sadie & Paste | 8pm-11pm

Saturday

• Bald Rock Hotel Rozelle | The Loungephonics | 7:30pm-10:30pm

• Balmain Bowling Club | Shane Flew Trio | 5pm-8pm

• The Bridge Hotel Rozelle | Kitty of the Valley + Our Mutual Friend, Alibi | 7:30pm

• Butchers Brew Bar Dulwich Hill | Dorka Foster | 8pm

• Camelot Lounge Marrickville | Snarski vs Snarski | 7pm

• The Chippo Hotel Chippendale | Vermanic + Adorn, Alyza | 7pm

• Church St Studios Camperdown | Music from Two Hemispheres | 5:30pm

• Cockatoo Island | Sarah Levins + Nikodimos | 5pm

• Crowbar Leichhardt | Hands Like Houses | 12pm

• Crowbar Leichhardt | Hot Water Music + The Flatliners | 8pm

• The Duke of Enmore | Stellar Addiction + Lemon Joe, Social Strangers | 8pm

• Enmore Theatre | Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark + Underground Lovers | 8pm

• Factory Floor @ The Factory Marrickville | Stelarc + James Hullick & Bolt Ensemble, Huh | 8pm

• Factory Theatre Marrickville | Mike Stern | 7:30pm

• Fatamorgana | Rapid Dye + Station Model Violence, Bozo, Hunny, Spite | 8pm

• Gasoline Pony Marrickville | Xacto + John E | 7pm

• The Lady Hampshire Camperdown | Desert Runner + The Duke of Randwick, Ultra | 7pm

• The Lansdowne Chippendale | As December Falls + Bellehaven, A Swift Farewell | 8pm

• Lazy Thinking Dulwich Hill | Safford + Banana Farm, Corsett | 7pm

• LazyBones Marrickville | Horse Drawn Cadillac + Eamon Dilworth's Crawfish Po Boy | 7pm

• Manning Bar Camperdown | Sylosis + Angelmaker | 8pm

• Marrickville Bowling Club | The Mick Medew and Ursula 4 + The Dark Clouds, Jupiter 5 | 7:30pm

• Miss Celie's Ashfield | Mambo Brown Trip | 4pm

• Miss Celie's Ashfield | Nathan Beretta & Dan Sullivan | 7:30pm

• MoshPit Bar Erskineville | Daniel Aranda & The Midnight Pulse + Holiday Curfews, Sacreblues, P.K. Stoltz | 7pm

• Petersham Bowlo | Milly McPherson + Vertebrae, Ah Honey | 7:30pm

• Pioneers Memorial Park Leichhardt | 2Ser In Your 'Hood + Cinta, The Aerial Maps, Library Siesta, Gailla, Threatnique | 2pm-7pm

• Pyrmont Bridge Hotel | Soulcraft | 5pm

• Pyrmont Bridge Hotel | Gervais Koffi & African Diaspora | 9pm

• The Townie Newtown | Aljamía | 9:30pm

• Trocadero Room Enmore | Darkglove + Burning Sands, Positive No | 7pm

• Union Hotel Newtown | Jacob Turl + Horse | 8pm

• The Vanguard Newtown | Blush'ko & The Lazy Boys + Matty Fadz, Betty, Mickey Kojak | 7pm

• Vic on the Park Marrickville | little music party: 12 Hour Edition + Black Dahlia, Sandwich Magic!, Wingnut, Bongmist, Jimmy Brus, Galiba, Postponez, Peace | 3pm

• Vic on the Park Marrickville | The Antics + Grand Final | 9pm

• Waywards @ The Bank Hotel Newtown | Large Mirage + Avalanche, Starcrazy, Pocketwatch | 7pm

Sunday

• Bald Rock Hotel Rozelle | Euan Hart | 3pm-6pm

• Balmain Bowling Club | Dp3 | 3pm-6pm

• Church St Studios Camperdown | Ian Date | 7pm

• Crowbar Leichhardt | Hot Water Music + The Flatliners | 6pm

• Enmore Theatre | Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark + Underground Lovers | 8pm

• Factory Theatre Marrickville | Gadigal to Gaza: A Fundraising Event + The Herd, Montaigne, Dj Izm, Xander Khoury, Dobby, Handsome, Yasmina Sadiki, Glo, Joj Bouk | 2pm

• The Lansdowne Chippendale | Junipero x Muva Fair Day Party | 3pm

• Lazy Thinking Dulwich Hill | Monkey Dot + Our Mutual Friend, Pathet Djera, Wendover, Siphon | 2pm

• Manning Bar Camperdown | Void of Vision + Gideon, UnityTx, Knosis | 8pm

• Miss Celie's Ashfield | Dr Dan & The Gris Gris Combo | 4pm

• Miss Celie's Ashfield | Shane Flew (Solo) | 7:30pm

• Palomino Lounge Enmore | Paul Mason | 7:30pm

• Petersham Bowlo | Diver City | 2pm

• Petersham Bowlo | Demolition Man + Cumquats, Physical Copy | 6pm

• Pyrmont Bridge Hotel | Liza Ohlback & the Mercy Train | 3pm

• Pyrmont Bridge Hotel | Mick on Wheels | 7pm

• Union Hotel Newtown | The Patsy Recliners | 6pm

• Yulli's Brews | Dusty Sundays - Dink | 5pm-7pm

Thank You!

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