Good morning, Inner Westies. It’s going to be a hot weekend! One last hit of summer like weather. From a street festival in Glebe to the vibrant Holi Festival and St. Patrick's Day celebrations, there's no shortage of ways to enjoy yourself. Whether you're a foodie, music lover, or looking for family fun, we've got you covered.

In today’s Inner West Guide:

  • Sydney's Best Birria Tacos in Haberfield 🌮 🇲🇽

  • Heritage Pub Trail Across Balmain & Rozelle 🍺 🍻

  • 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.

Grab your morning coffee and join us as we explore the Inner West together.

— Jess Thorning

Sydney’s Best Birria Tacos in Haberfield 🌮 🇲🇽

Papi's Birria Tacos in Haberfield is a local favourite, offering a vibrant and authentic Mexican street food experience. Their signature birria tacos, featuring tender, 16-hour slow-cooked beef wrapped in crisp tortillas, are juicy and bursting with flavour—especially when dipped into their rich consommé. Beyond beef and chicken birria tacos, the menu includes nachos, quesadillas, cheese melts, innovative birria ramen, elote, and a variety of refreshing Jarritos soft drinks. Seating is available by the food truck, making it perfect for casual dining.

This hidden gem is a must-visit for genuine Mexican cuisine in the Inner West—and might just serve Sydney’s best Birria Tacos. We rated them a well-deserved 10/10.

📍 163-165 Parramatta Rd, Haberfield - check out their instagram!

Explore the Inner West’s first Heritage Pub Trail 🍺 🍻

Artwork by Cindy Scheule | watercolourbycindy.com

Take a self-guided journey through some of Sydney’s most iconic historic pubs, each one showcasing the unique charm and heritage of the Inner West. From the historic Merton Hotel, to the lively White Bay Beer Co., you'll experience a vibrant mix of local atmosphere, live music, and delicious food. Ideal for locals and visitors alike, the trail seamlessly blends history, character, and entertainment. Whether you make it a pub crawl or take it slowly with a few mates, each pub features heritage plaques out front and QR codes linking to fascinating stories.

Sponsored by the Inner West Council, find out more through the Balmain Rozelle Chamber of Commerce. Check out their Instagram for more inspiration of things to do in Balmain and Rozelle.

🛝 Park & Picnic @ King George Park Rozelle
Located on the Bay Run, with water views, and accessible play equipment. It’s inclusive and suitable for all ages and abilities. There are toilets, BBQ’s, Picnic Tables and a Drinking Fountain. In warm weather kids will gravitate to the water play area. The closest cafe is a 10 minute walk away, and on the other side of Victoria Road, at Noia Coffee or the Fruitologist. Dirty Red Rozelle, Tamp Espresso and Rozelle bakehouse are just a touch further. There is a bus stop nearby and street parking is available.

👶 Parents Group @ Chucks & Son’s Brewing Co.
Skip the park meetups—connect with like-minded parents at a local craft brewery with a great kids' area, pram-friendly space, and exceptional drinks just for you.
📍Chuck & Son’s Brewing Co., St Peters | Fridays | 1pm-3pm

🎉 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 March 2025 / 4:30pm-6:30pm

📚 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. Book ahead.
📍Marrickville Metro / Monday 17th March 2025 / 1pm

👶 Free Baby Sensory Classes @ Broadway
Facilitated by 'Mess It Up', their baby sensory classes are designed to engage your baby’s developing senses with stimulating activities, all while you connect with other local parents. These book out fast, so get in early.
📍Broadway Shopping Centre / Wednesday 12 March / 10am-11am

🏖️ Water Play to Escape the Heat: It’s going to be 🔥 hot this weekend. Let the kids cool down at a water play park in or nearby to the Inner West. Here is a sample of some of the great places to cool off…

  •  Darling Harbour: Probably Sydney’s best water play park. Water play open 8am to 6pm. Plenty of shaded areas, toilets and food options. The new section of the playground is great for older kids, but it’s quite hard to keep an eye on your kids when busy due to the design. Darling Harbour

  • Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre: 4 pools and an aqua play area that is indoors. Indoor aqua pool open Monday to Sunday 9AM to 8PM. Plenty of shaded areas, toilets and on-site Cafe. See website for entry fees. Zetland

  • Mary O’Brien Reserve @ Zetland: Water play area open 8am to 6pm every day except Tuesday. Plus 2 playgrounds, BBQ’s, shaded areas and a bike/scooter path. Cafe across the road. Zetland

  • Pirrama Park Playground @ Pyrmont: Water play open 8am to 6pm every day except Tuesday. Plus playground, shaded areas, toilets and cafe adjacent to playground. Cafe nearby and public toilets. Pyrmont

All Weekend

Neon Playground 2.0 @ Haymarket
Chinatown and Haymarket will transform into a three-week spectacle of neon lights, art installations, music, and food, showcasing works by Asian-Australian artists. Free.
📍 Dixon St and surrounding streets, Haymarket / Saturday 15 March to Sunday 6 April 2025

🌊 Ocean Lovers Festival Darling Harbour
A festival jam packed with activities all ages can enjoy while making waves for the ocean through awareness and action. Where art, ideas, music and a movement all collide in a fun and festive program of events. See the diverse lineup of events at Darling Harbour this weekend.
📍 Darling Harbour / Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 March 2025

🎉 Holi Festival Sydney
Are you ready for a massive 2 day Holi Festival of Colours? Play with plant-based colours, dance to live music/DJs, multicultural performances, food, drinks and Holi after dark. Limited free tickets - book now.
📍 Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour / Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 March 2025 / 11am-10pm

👶 One Fine Baby Expo
Sydney's favourite baby and pregnancy expo event returns over two days, featuring over 100 carefully curated brands and services for expecting parents to explore, compare, and purchase all in one convenient location.
📍 ICC Sydney / Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 March 2025 / 9am to 3pm

Friday

👚 Re Place Preloved Clothing Sale
They're overloaded with high quality preloved clothes and have extended their sale. You can buy two of any $10 item and get a third item for free. That means you could buy 2 dresses & get a 3rd one free, buy 2 shirts & get a 3rd shirt free or buy 2 pairs of pants & get a 3rd pair free.
📍 Inner West Sustainability Hub, Summer Hill / Friday 2pm-5pm / Saturday 10am-4pm

🎬 Film Club: Call Jane @ Marrickville Library
This months free film club screening is Call Jane (Drama, M). Bookings are essential.
📍 Marrickville Library and Pavilion / Friday 14th March 2025 / 10am-12pm ♿️

Saturday

🥳 Sydney Streets on Glebe Point Road
Head to Glebe Point Road for a day of fun for the whole family. Local businesses will showcase their best with special offers, pop-ups, engaging activations, and more. Experience the lively festival atmosphere with live music, entertainers, kids' activities, and alfresco dining.
📍 Glebe Point Road, Glebe / Saturday 15th March 2025 / 11am to 8pm

🍊Orange Grove Markets Lilyfield
Discover the weekly farmers market at Orange Grove Public School, featuring farm-fresh and organic produce, gourmet food, fashion, plants, flowers, and more!
📍Orange Grove Public School, Cnr Perry & Balmain Road | Every Saturday | 8am-1pm

d&m Saturday | Drag & Music All Night
DJ playing music all night from 7pm to 1am and Drag Shows at 8:30pm, 9:30pm & 10:30pm
📍The Newtown Hotel | Saturday 15th March 2025 | 7pm-1am

🌿 Aroid Society of Australia Autumn Meetup
Join the Aroid Society of Australia's Sydney Autumn Meetup. It will feature plant sales, raffles, and a talk by horticulturalist Tommy Variegata about aroids and the nursery trade.
📍 Burwood Library & Hub, 2 Conder Street, Burwood 2134 / Saturday 15th March 2025 / 11am-1pm

Sydney FC Women v Wellington Phoenix
Join Sydney FC Women for a special A-Leagues Pride Celebration match against Wellington Phoenix at Leichhardt Oval. This match is more than just football, it's a powerful statement of unity, equality, and acceptance. Celebrate the diversity of community and reinforcing that football is for everyone. Tickets from $10.
📍 Leichhardt Oval, Lilyfield / Saturday 15th March 2025 / 5pm to 7pm

💃 Pollys Dance @ Marrickville
The Pollys Club offers an inclusive LGBTIQA+ dance space featuring themed events with costume prizes and a DJ set by Disco Daddy. The evening includes an amateur drag show at 9:30pm.
📍 Marrickville Town Hall / Saturday 15th March 2025 / 7pm-12am ♿️

Sunday

☘️ Sydney St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival 2025
Returning to The Rocks and Circular Quay with an extended route beginning at Martin Place at 11am, featuring 1,500 participants from over 70 groups showcasing Irish culture through vibrant floats and performances, followed by free family entertainment and celebrations in Circular Quay embracing this year's theme "Meitheal – Our Irish Connection."
📍 The Rocks, Sydney / Sunday 16th March 2025 / 10am to 6pm ♿️

🐱 Kittens in the Pub @ Chippendale
At this adoption event, you can meet friendly, housetrained kittens of various ages and speak with their carers about finding your perfect match. Pllus you can enjoy meals and Happy Hour (starts at 4pm) while helping these rescued animals find forever homes.
📍 The Chippo Hotel, Chippendale / Sunday 16th March 2025 / 1pm-4pm

🌏 A Multicultural Climate Showcase
Join this free evening celebration featuring a screening of CALD-led climate action initiatives, an opportunity to meet diverse climate leaders and hear their stories, followed by a panel discussion exploring how cultural diversity strengthens climate action, with refreshments provided.
📍 Ashfield Civic Centre / Sunday 16th March 2025 / 5pm-8pm ♿️

📆 Book Ahead

🐶 Paws n Paints Annandale
Paws n Paintz is a unique, interactive experience that combines painting with the playful companionship of adorable puppies. Alaskan Shepherds are coming to the studio on 30 March.
📍Tropical Soul Dance Studio, Annandale | Sunday 30 March 2025 | 12pm-3pm

🍀 Places to Celebrate St Patrick’s Day…

😃 Last weekend of Seniors Festival Events…

🏊 Free entry to Drummoyne Pool
📍 Drummoyne Swimming Centre / Friday 14th March 2025 / 6am-6pm

🥽 Seniors Festival at Victoria Park Pool
📍 Victoria Park Pool, Camperdown / 3 March to 16 March 2025/ 6am-8pm

🌿 Concord Garden Club Meet-up
📍 Concord Community Centre / Friday 14th March 2025 / 11am-1pm

🀄 Mahjong
📍 Drummoyne Community Centre / Friday 14th March 2025 / 2pm-4pm

🏆 Free Seniors Festival Sports Day @ Tempe
📍 Robyn Webster Sports Centre / Friday 14th March 2025 / 9am-12pm

✂️ Needlecraft with the Bay Quilters
📍 Drummoyne Community Centre / Saturday 15th March 2025 / 1:30pm-4pm ♿️

🏑 Introduction to Croquet
📍 Strathfield Croquet Club / Saturday 15th March 2025 / 4pm-6pm

🍔 Chuck & Son’s Brewing Co. | Friday | Lunchtime burger specials: $10 Classic Cheeseburger, $15 Isaac’s Smashed Burger & $20 Scott’s Burger | See venue for terms

🇵🇹 Lunas Petersham
Head to this modern Portugese diner for a great Brunch or Dinner. The Francesinha Sandwich is a must try, with ham, chorizo, sausage and steak all in the one sandwich. There is a lovely outdoor seating area, with a grassy patch for energetic kids to stretch their legs.

☺️ Metro Brew'in Marrickville
A Hidden Mediterranean eatery & bar in the heart of Marrickville. They are serving up breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinks and Dessert.

Kids Eat Free

Chuck & Son’s Brewing Co | Thursday | Kids Eat Free | See venue for terms

The Redfern | Saturday & Sunday | All day | Order yourself a main meal during the weekend and your kid gets their own complimentary dish | Excludes Public Holiday weekends - see venue for terms.

Canada Bay Club Five Dock | Monday & Tuesday | Simply show your membership card when you purchase one adult main meal to receive one children’s meal free! Free kids meals include: penne napolitana, chicken nuggets, kids cheeseburger and fish & chips | Not valid during School Holidays - see venue for terms.

🍸 The Bungalow Petersham | Wednesday to Friday | 5:30pm-7pm | Selected Beers $8, Classic Cocktails $15, Selected Wines $12, Fries $8 | See venue for terms.

🍻 The Hive Bar Erskineville | Tuesday to Thursday 4pm- 6pm & Friday 2pm-5pm | $8 Schooners of Reckless Lager & Akasha Pale Ale, $8 Wines, $10 Gin & Tonics & $15 House Spritzers | See venue for terms.

🍺 The Newtown Hotel | Everyday - excludes Public Holidays | 5pm-7pm | $6 Happy Hour - House Wine, Beer & Spirits | See venue for terms.

🍷 Miss Sina Marrickville | Friday & Saturday | 5pm-6pm | See venue for terms.

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

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!

Jess

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