Your guide to the best of the Inner West from 18 to 20 September

Good morning, Inner Westies.

This weekend brings the Dulwich Hill Festival, a farewell concert at Leichhardt Oval, the Big Design Market and plenty of local food, gigs and theatre. Plus school holiday ideas and what Fairer Future Plan 2 could mean for your street.

Grab your morning coffee and let’s explore the Inner West together.

Have a great weekend,
Jess

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.

Raymond Panetta of Studio Panetta reworked this Federation cottage as a family home. European oak herringbone floors, Calacatta marble, brushed brass and custom joinery run through the interiors. A Japanese maple grows in the internal courtyard. The living and dining area opens to a stone terrace, level garden and pool. Four bedrooms include a main suite with a skylit dressing room and ensuite. Rear-lane access leads to parking. Buyer's guide $4.7m.

📍 4 bed / 3 bath / 1 car / 310sqm
👉 Listed with Cobden & Hayson

Inner West Council wants feedback on the second stage of its housing plan. It's Council's alternative to the NSW Government's rezonings. Plan 2 covers selected sites in 15 suburbs, including Annandale, Balmain, Croydon, Leichhardt, Lilyfield, Newtown and Rozelle. It picks up sites held over from Plan 1, a revised Croydon and Iron Cove plan and new areas where more homes could go. Changes include building heights and other planning rules. Council says no one will be forced to sell. Feedback closes Wednesday 28 October.

👉 Read more and see how to check your address

Dulwich Hill Festival returns to Marrickville Road and Seaview Street with live music, food and market stalls, family activities and workshops.

The program includes local school bands and choirs, indie, folk and world music, roving aerial and taiko performances, plus walk-in food masterclasses and kids’ art and kite-making workshops. Entry is free.

📆 Sun 20 Sep / 11am – 4pm
📍 Marrickville Road & Seaview Street, Dulwich Hill ♿️
👉 See the full festival program

Whether every day is already mapped out or you’re keeping the break flexible, the School Holiday Guide has more ideas to explore. It covers full-day camps, creative workshops, sport, STEM, live shows, free activities and family outings for kids and teens. We update it regularly with new activities.

👉 View the Spring School Holiday Guide

🧸 Toy Swap with Joy of Giving
Families swap clean pre-loved toys, books and games for new-to-them favourites.
📆 Sat 19 Sep / 10am – 1pm
📍 Inner West Sustainability Hub, Summer Hill

🚌 Sydney Bus Museum Open Day
An open day with vintage buses, museum displays and family activities.
📆 Sun 20 Sep / 10am – 4pm
📍 Sydney Bus Museum, Leichhardt

✍️ HSC Workshop: The Craft of Writing (English Advanced and Standard)
A practical session covers persuasive, discursive, reflective and imaginative writing for English Advanced and Standard students.
📆 Sun 20 Sep / 12pm – 1:30pm
📍 Marrickville Library and Pavilion

🏛️ Kids Club – Weekend Wind-Down: Night at the Museum (Pg)
A kids movie night with a Night at the Museum screening.
📆 Sun 20 Sep / 2:30pm – 4:30pm
📍 Little Big House, Marrickville

🎭 After-School Drama (ages 8–12)
Each session builds on the last, come to one or come every week.
📆 Tue 22 Sep / 3:30pm – 4:30pm
📍 The Place, Lewisham

🌿 Bush School at Callan Park (ages 2.5–5)
This is a stay-and-play program, carers are part of the learning journey too.
📆 Thu 24 Sep / 9:30am – 10:30am
📍 Callan Park, Lilyfield

🧪 Kids STEAM Club (ages 9–12)
A hands-on club session explores science, technology, engineering, art and maths.
📆 Thu 24 Sep / 3:30pm – 4:45pm
📍 Burwood Library and Community Hub

🏺 After School: Foam Clay Figurines Workshop (ages 5–12)
A craft workshop where kids shape and decorate spring-inspired foam clay figurines.
📆 Thu 24 Sep / 3:45pm – 4:45pm
📍 Stanmore Library

💻 Pico Coding Club (ages 8–12)
A coding club for kids exploring programming, robotics and digital projects.
📆 Thu 24 Sep / 4pm – 5pm
📍 Strathfield Council Library & Innovation Hub

🧸 Winnie-the-Pooh Laneway
The Grounds’ laneway becomes the Hundred Acre Wood for the 100th anniversary of A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh.
📆 Sat 12 Sep – Sun 8 Nov / During opening hours
📍 The Grounds of Alexandria

COMING UP - BOOK IN ADVANCE

🏊 Dive in Movie Screening of the Lego Movie
The Lego Movie is rated PG.
📆 Sat 26 Sep / 5pm – 8pm
📍 Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre, Marrickville

🛼 School Holiday Social Skate
Rollerfit hosts social skating sessions with learn-to-skate support and skate hire available.
📆 Mon 28 Sep & Mon 5 Oct / 3:30pm – 5pm
📍 Robyn Webster Sports Centre, Tempe

🎲 Mr Mack’s Chats (ages 3–12)
Free weekday school holiday sessions bring together games, stories, sport, structured activities and outdoor free play.
📆 Weekdays Mon 28 Sep – Fri 9 Oct / From 10am
📍 Federal Park, Annandale

ALL WEEKEND

🛍️ The Big Design Market
Three-day market featuring more than 230 independent designers across homewares, fashion, jewellery, art and stationery.
📆 Fri 18 – Sun 20 Sep / 11am – 7pm
📍 Carriageworks, Eveleigh

🎨 BADJOB Studios Launch Gallery
A two-day showcase of local and international artists, illustrators and animators, with artist stalls and music across the weekend.
📆 Sat 19 Sep – Sun 20 Sep / 12pm – 10pm
📍 Flow Studios 88, Camperdown

🍝 Thai Grand Festival
A weekend Thai cultural festival with music, dancing and food stalls.
📆 Sat 19 – Sun 20 Sep / 10am
📍 Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour

🛍️ AGHA Sydney Gift Fair
Boutique products, emerging brands and supplier showcases fill three trade-fair days for retail buyers.
📆 Sat 19 Sep – Mon 21 Sep / Sat & Sun 9am – 6pm, Mon 9am – 3pm
📍 Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park

🥳 Sydney Fringe Festival
Continues this week, running until 30 September. Check out what’s on in the Inner West Precinct, as well as what’s on this weekend in the Theatre & Comedy section later in this email.

FRIDAY

📚 Malcolm Knox in Conversation: The Second Child
Malcolm Knox discusses his new historical black comedy, The Second Child, with journalist and author Paul Daley.
📆 Fri 18 Sep / 6pm – 7:30pm
📍 Gleebooks, Glebe

💃 Club De Tango: La Milonga
A club session with DJ sets, coffee, dancing and music.
📆 Fri 18 Sep / 7:30pm – 11:45pm
📍 Glebe Town Hall

🎭 Casablanca Kings & Queens
Sydney drag kings and queens perform at a fundraiser for the Mutual Aid Mob Strong Fund.
📆 Fri 18 Sep / 7pm – 9pm
📍 Casablanca, Marrickville

SATURDAY

🐶 Ashfield Park Dog Off-Leash Area Official Opening
A new fenced dog off-leash area opens with seating, a bubbler, landscaping and a community morning. Free ice cream, coffee and cupcakes provided.
📆 Sat 19 Sep / 8am – 10am
📍 Ashfield Park

👗 Sydney Costume Markets
Browse costumes, vintage pieces and second-hand finds at this creative market in Marrickville.
📆 Sat 19 Sep / 9am – 3pm
📍 Sydney Vintage Dance Studio, Marrickville

♻️ Recycling+ Drop-Off Day
Drop off e-waste, polystyrene, soft plastics, bicycles, clothing and oversized cardboard for recycling.
📆 Sat 19 Sep / 9am – 3:30pm
📍 Cintra Park Carpark, Canada Bay

🫖 Make a Teapot Class
Create a characterful teapot in a 2.5-hour guided class with Tanya Bechara. Clay, tools and a glaze choice are included in the $139 ticket.
📆 Sat 19 Sep / 10am – 12:30pm
📍 Glaze Galleria, Drummoyne

🗺️ Chippendale Architecture Walk
A 90-minute architecture walk through Chippendale, including Spice Alley and heritage sites.
📆 Sat 19 Sep / 10am – 11:30am
📍 Chippendale Green

🧶 One+2 Artist Studios Open Weekend
An open-studios weekend with artist-led workshops in weaving, lighting, portrait drawing and collage.
📆 Sat 19 Sep / 10am – 5pm
📍 One+2 Artist Studios, Lilyfield

💻 VR Design and 3D Print a Spaceship
A beginner VR workshop guides adults through designing a spacecraft model for later 3D printing.
📆 Sat 19 Sep / 10:30am – 1:30pm
📍 Darling Square Library, Haymarket

🎸 One Last Roar - Sold Out
A free farewell concert brings The Angels, The Superjesus, local bands and wrestling to a community send-off.
📆 Sat 19 Sep / 1pm – 6:30pm
📍 Leichhardt Oval

🎶 Our Friends Electric: A Whole Venue Takeover
A two-stage electronic DIY mini-festival with live acts, DJ sets and tarot readings by Lips Network.
📆 Sat 19 Sep / 1pm – 11pm
📍 Petersham Bowling Club, Petersham

🖼 Potluck & Friends Illustration Market
Twenty illustrators and makers bring prints, zines, toys, art games, workshops and live portraits to Tokyo Lamington.
📆 Sat 19 Sep / 1pm – 6pm
📍 Tokyo Lamington, Newtown

🏃 Metro Below: Sydney Walking Tour
A guided walking tour exploring engineering, fitness challenges, artworks, movement, technology and stories.
📆 Sat 19 Sep / 2pm – 4pm
📍 Waterloo Metro Station

🎻 The Big Busk
A free outdoor concert by Sydney Youth Orchestra musicians raising funds for music education.
📆 Sat 19 Sep / 5pm
📍 International Convention Centre Forecourt, Darling Harbour

SUNDAY

🏃 Carman's Fun Run 2026
A charity race offers half-marathon, 10K, 5K and Pink Lady walk routes for BCNA.
📆 Sun 20 Sep / 6am – 1pm
📍 Metcalfe Park, Pyrmont

🛍️ Flour Mill Markets
A mix of market stalls featuring fresh flowers, produce, baked goods, food, homewares, clothing and it's dog-friendly.
📆 Sun 20 Sep / 9am – 1pm
📍 Flour Mill Markets, Summer Hill

🚗 Cars & Chill
A relaxed car meet-up for every kind of vehicle, with donuts and a chance to meet other local automotive enthusiasts.
📆 Sun 20 Sep / 10am – 2pm
📍 Donut Garage, Marrickville

🍖 Twenty O' Nine Fest 2026
A South American food festival with open-fire barbecue stations, cooking demonstrations, live music, dance and kids’ activities.
📆 Sun 20 Sep / 11am – 6pm
📍 Fraser Park Football Club, Marrickville

💐 Watercolour: Plants and Flowers
A beginner botanical watercolour workshop covers washes, colour mixing, layering and texture.
📆 Sun 20 Sep / 11am – 1:30pm
📍 Ultimo Community Centre

🏀 NBL: Sydney Kings v Cairns Taipans
Sydney Kings open their home NBL season against Cairns Taipans at Afterpay Arena.
📆 Sun 20 Sep / 5pm – 7pm
📍 Afterpay Arena, Olympic Park

🎨 Fantasy Costumed Life Drawing
A guided life-drawing session with props and professional lighting.
📆 Sun 20 Sep / 6:30pm – 8:30pm
📍 M.M.H Artist Studio, Chippendale

COMING UP

☕ Brekkie & Biz
A breakfast networking session, hosted by Balmain Rozelle Chamber of Commerce, for local business owners, including a BDO update on proposed federal tax changes and budget measures.
📆 Thu 24 Sep / 7:30am – 9am
📍 Teras Balmain, Balmain

🍣 Japan StrEAT Party
Four days of Japanese street food, drinks, cultural experiences, live entertainment and DJs take over Carriageworks.
📆 Thu 24 Sep – Sun 27 Sep / 12pm – 10pm
📍 Carriageworks, Eveleigh

🎻 Strings After Dark
A free live music night presented as part of Burwood’s Fridays@FordLane program.
📆 Fri 25 Sep / 7pm – 9pm
📍 Ford Lane, Burwood

🥕 Australian Native Food Festival
A food festival features native-ingredient talks, tastings and market stalls.
📆 Sat 26 – Sun 27 Sep / Sat 9am – 5pm; Sun 9am – 4pm
📍 Carriageworks, Eveleigh

📖 Dark Tales Afternoon Speakeasy
A true-crime storytelling afternoon pairs Inner West local history with vintage vinyl.
📆 Sun 27 Sep / 3pm – 6pm
📍 Hopsters Brewery, Enmore

🎤 Bini
A Filipino pop concert brings the Signals world tour to Sydney.
📆 Sun 27 Sep / 6pm
📍 TikTok Entertainment Centre, Darling Harbour

White Bay’s new shore-power system is edging closer, with overnight investigation works underway on Victoria Road ahead of the final cabling connection from Rozelle substation. Once operating, compatible cruise ships will be able to switch off their diesel generators while docked, reducing noise and emissions for nearby residents. The State Government says the project is due to be completed by the end of the year, with ships expected to begin connecting over the summer cruise season.

👉 Find out more

Canterbury-Bankstown Council has banned AI smart glasses at its Leisure and Aquatic Centres, citing privacy, safety and child protection concerns. They are the second council in Australia to ban ‘pervert glasses’, amidst growing privacy concerns and reports of women being filmed without consent.

Would you like to see them banned across councils in the Inner West? Reply and let us know what you think.

👉 Find out more

Jason Yat-Sen Li, Strathfield MP, says police are investigating reported racist and Islamophobic abuse directed at a 13-year-old student on a Strathfield bus.

👉 Find out more

Lord Mayor Clover Moore says a NSW Government proposal would direct more through-traffic through Alexandria and Waterloo, calling it a step backwards.

👉 Find out more

🍔 $10 Cheeseburgers Across Odd Culture Group
Buy a drink and get a cheeseburger for $10 at select hours across five Odd Culture Group venues – see venue for terms and conditions.
📆 Fri 18 Sep
📍 Odd Culture Newtown and The Duke of Enmore

🎂 Sandy Bake Shop’s 4th Birthday
Bring a birthday card for a small cookie, then on Saturday 19th September at 9am join their neighbourhood wide scavenger hunt, where clues will be hidden around the village. Track down clues to swap for a cake before 3pm.
📆 Wed 16 Sep – Sat 19 Sep
📍 Sandy Bake Shop, Balmain

🍜 Olympic Meats at The Grifter
Olympic Meats serves char-grilled gyros, tallow chips, smashed lamb kondo and fresh pita alongside the launch of Olympic Beer.
📆 Sun 20 Sep / 12pm – 3pm
📍 The Grifter Brewing Company, Marrickville

🍷 Abruzzo Night at La Botte D’Oro
Vincenzo’s Plate joins Chef Gabriele and a special Nonna for four Abruzzese courses, four matched wines and live entertainment.
📆 Thu 24 Sep / From 6:30pm
📍 La Botte D’Oro, Leichhardt

🥩 Steak Frites at Sippenham
A 200g MB3 sirloin with shoestring fries, pink peppercorn sauce, pickled onion and jus is $37, or $49 with paired red.
📆 Every Thu until Dec / Dinner
📍 Sippenham, Sydenham

COMING UP

🍷 Over the Hill at Nest
Nest and De Beaurepaire Wines present eight courses celebrating produce from the Blue Mountains and Central West, matched with reserve wines.
📆 Fri 2 Oct / 6pm
📍 Nest, Newtown

🍔 Happyfield x Messina
Happyfield and Messina transform the Messina HQ car park for an exclusive collaborative menu and sweet treat.
📆 Fri 9 Oct – Sat 10 Oct / Various times
📍 Messina HQ, Marrickville

🥐 Five Dock Bakery Crawl
A solo-friendly bakery crawl visits four Five Dock favourites for coffee, pastries, sweet treats and easy conversation.
📆 Sat 10 Oct & Sun 11 Oct / 11am – 1pm
📍 Five Dock

🍺 Future Brewing Lager Festival
Seven Australian breweries pour festival lagers, including beers not previously served in Sydney.
📆 The 17 Sep – Sun 20 Sep / Various times
📍 Future Brewing, St Peters

🍽️ Park Street Bistro Opens at Kurrajong Hotel
The Erskineville pub has reopened with Park Street Bistro, pouring local beer, wine and cocktails alongside lunch and dinner.
📆 From Thu 17 Sep / Lunch & dinner
📍 Kurrajong Hotel, Erskineville

🌱 Plant Bingo
Four themed bingo rounds cover indoor, native, edible and unusual plants, with picture cards for plant beginners.
📆 Sun 20 Sep / 4pm – 6pm
📍 Petersham Bowling Club, Petersham

HAPPY HOUR HEROES

🍻 The Courty, Newtown | Monday to Friday | 4pm – 6pm | $8 selected schooners and $7.50 house wines - see venue for terms and conditions.

🍺 Grifter Brewing Co., Marrickville | Wednesday to Friday | 4pm – 6pm | $7 schooners and $10 wines at the tasting bar - see venue for terms and conditions.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our deadline is the close of business on Wednesday for each Friday edition.