📍Find Out What’s On This Weekend 👀

Your insiders guide to local events and gigs.

Author

Jess Thorning
May 23, 2025

Good morning, Inner Westies. It’s a big one—Vivid Sydney kicks off, Dulwich Hill lights up with the Relit Festival, and a capybara-shaped pastry that went viral is still available in Stanmore. Plus, we’ve found the best spots for a weekend drink.

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

Asian Fusion Delights at Pantry Story Bakery 🥐✨

Pantry Story Bakery

This Stanmore bakery has become a local sensation with its creative Asian-fusion approach to traditional baked goods. The current viral hit is their adorable capybara-shaped chocolate pannacotta with raspberry kouign amann, sitting alongside inventive treats like green pandan custard buns, spicy kimchi cheese focaccia, and beef rendang and potato hand pies. There is a lot on offer, so circle the pastries on display on the table to help you make a decision. Our faves were the char siu pork bbq pie and the beef rendang and potato hand pie.

The relaxed atmosphere and genuinely innovative flavours make this a standout place for anyone craving something different in the Inner West bakery scene.

📍 Pantry Story Bakery / 336 Parramatta Road, Stanmore / Check out their instagram 

Sydney Lights Up with Vivid Sydney 2025 ✨🥳 

Vivid Sydney 2025

Image courtesy of Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney returns from Friday 23 May to Saturday 14 June, transforming the city with spectacular light installations, free live music and immersive experiences across multiple precincts from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour. Families can enjoy dedicated kids' activities every Saturday at Tumbalong Park at 5pm, along with the expansive Light Walk featuring child-friendly displays and interactive installations.

Some things you’ll love:

🔥 Vivid Fire Kitchen returns to The Goods Line at Ultimo with "Fire & Spice", featuring live demonstrations and flame-cooked cuisine from world-class pitmasters and chefs under the Vivid Sydney lights in this open-air culinary celebration.

🎵 Experience Tumbalong Nights - free live music, family fun, and DJ sets at Tumbalong Park—Vivid Sydney’s vibrant hub—featuring global icons, local legends, and boundary-pushing talent lighting up Darling Harbour. Plus, special kids' performances on Saturdays from 5pm – 6pm.

🛼 Neon Dreams by Trolley'd, a retro-futuristic roller disco diner, is coming to the Pier St Underpass on Tumbalong Blvd. Running from 6pm – 11pm each night, book your tickets in advance.

Keep Kids Busy Guide

✨ Vivid Kids: Light Walk, Music & Family Fun 
Start your Vivid Sydney adventure with FREE family-friendly shows designed to get little legs moving and imaginations soaring. Special performances each Saturday include kid-friendly music, dance and cultural community performances. Perfect start to your Light Walk adventure.
📍Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour / Saturdays 24 May to 14 June / 5pm – 6pm

🎇 Vivid Kids: Adventure @ Darling Square 
Explore hundreds of dazzling fairy lights and illuminated installations creating a magical night for little ones! Your kids will love the FREE neon face painting and glitter tattoos that glow in the dark, plus enjoy family-friendly live music while you dine. Great for kids of all ages.
📍Darling Square, Haymarket / Saturdays 24 May to 14 June / 6pm – 9pm for face painting and glitter tattoos

🎨 Free Messy Minis Play @ Broadway
Mess It Up's sensory-rich Messy Mini classes offer a creative outlet for children while parents relax and connect with other parents. Cost: $3 per child (proceeds donated to Glebe Youth Services). Book ahead.
📍 Broadway Shopping Centre, Glebe / Saturday 24 May 2025 | 10am, 10:30am, 11am & 11:30am

📚 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 29 May 2025 / 10am, 10:30am, 11am & 11:30am

🧩 Lego Session / Drop in Session 
Enjoy a Lego session / drop in session at the Library. Children should be accompanied by a supervising adult at all times. Runs during school term. No bookings required.
📍 Haberfield Library / Thursday 29 May 2025 / 3pm – 4:30pm ♿️

🎨 Weekly Art Classes @ Croydon
Drawing, painting and creative skills development with acclaimed artist and educator Norma Tahhan. Children explore various media including sketching, watercolour, charcoal, oil pastel and acrylic painting in this award-winning Inner West art school. All materials supplied. Creative Kids Provider.
📍Gallery NTK, Croydon / Tuesdays & Wednesdays 3:30pm – 5:30pm, Saturdays 9am – 12pm

📆 Book Ahead

🔬 Maker and Creator Workshops for Kids (ages 8 to 12) 
Fun fortnightly sessions where kids play with the latest makerspace kits including Spheros, Ozobots and Edison robots. Create flying objects in the wind tube and light up LEDs using conductive tape. Different activities each session. Bookings essential. 📍 Darling Square Library, Haymarket / Tuesday 3 June 2025 / 3:30pm – 4:30pm

What's Happening - Weekend Preview

All Weekend

🔥 Dulwich Hill Relit Festival
A festival celebrating cutting-edge contemporary music and performance in expected and unexpected spaces in Dulwich Hill. Running over two weekends from 23 May to 1 June.

Friday

🎨 Beers & Brushes - Art Workshop with Jess Bracey 
Unleash your creativity at this no-experience-needed art workshop where you can paint, sip craft drinks and socialise at Chuck and Son's Brewing Co (all materials provided, just dress casually as no aprons). Tickets $60. Only a few tickets remaining!
📍Chuck & Son's Brewing Co, St Peters / Friday 23 May 2025 / 7pm – 9:30pm

🎮 Australia x Indonesia Games Exchange
An international games showcase bringing Indonesian indie games to Sydney for playtesting and feedback, while Australian games are simultaneously featured in Jakarta. FREE but RSVP required.
📍Redfern Community Centre / Friday 23 May 2025 / 5:30pm - 8pm 

🎪 Two80 Cabaret: Circus Burlesque 
A tantalizing fusion of sultry burlesque, daring circus acts and decadent dining under the velvet tent with electrifying performances, signature cocktails and unforgettable glamour. 18+. Book in advance.
📍Two80 Cabaret Chippendale / Friday 23 May 2025 / 7:30pm - 11pm 

🎬 Film Club: The Hunchback of Notre Dame @ Balmain Library 
This months free film club screening is The Hunchback of Notre Dame from 1939 (Drama, PG). Bookings are essential.
📍 Marrickville Library and Pavilion / Friday 23 May 2025 / 2pm – 4pm ♿️

Saturday

🛍️ Glebe Markets 
A vibrant weekly market showcasing local creativity, vintage finds, handcrafted goods and delicious fresh food with live entertainment. This beloved Saturday tradition brings together designers, makers and food lovers in the heart of Glebe.
📍Glebe Public School / Saturdays / 10am – 4pm

👖 Personalised Trinket Bag Workshop 
Transform your old denim jeans into a unique upcycled bag filled with cherished trinkets and memories using second-hand fabrics and embellishments in this intimate eco-friendly workshop. Ticket $75.
📍Reverse Garbage, Marrickville / Saturday 24 May 2025 / 2pm – 5pm

🧵 Tote Bag Heat Press Station
Get creative with their custom tote bag station! Choose from a collection of pre-cut icons and designs to personalise a complimentary tote—or bring your own garment from home to upcycle with your unique style.
📍Innovation Plaza, South Eveleigh / Saturday 24 May 2025 / 10am – 2pm

📚 Sydney Writers' Festival: Writing as Activism - Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts
Human rights lawyer and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Commissioner Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts discusses her debut memoir Long Yarn Short and her relationship with writing as activism, in conversation with ABC RN's Rudi Bremer.
📍Ashfield Town Hall / Saturday 24 May / 11am – 12pm

🤠 Inner West Country Fest
Finishing up this week, the last events of the Fest, where the Inner West Ale Trail is turned into a free, open-door showcase of music, food and community spirit. What’s on this weekend:

Sunday

👉️ Ashfield Community Market
Food, 30+ market stalls, entertainment, face painting and more. Catch the Ashfield Glee Club performing live at 10am.
📍Ashfield Public School / Sunday 25 May 2025 / 10am – 3pm

🧵 Latin Beats & Kombi DJ
Get your dancing shoes on—it’s time to salsa! Join a drop-in Latin dance class, with tunes from their iconic Kombi Van DJ. No experience needed. Classes are free, however bookings are essential! Secure your tickets here.
📍Innovation Plaza, South Eveleigh / Sunday 25 May 2025 / 1:30pm, 2:45pm & 3:45pm

👗 Pre-Loved Fashion Market 
Browse an eclectic collection of vintage clothing from the 1940s-1970s, reproduction pieces, and modern designer items, including second-hand women's and men's wear, shoes, accessories, and homewares in sizes 6 to 16 (XS to XL). FREE entry, card and cash payments are accepted.
📍The Wriggle Room, Marrickville / Sunday 25 May 2025 / 10am – 4pm

🖼️ Picture Framing Class for Beginners 
Learn to create custom frames using simple tools and second-hand timber in this comprehensive beginner's course, perfect for those with no framing experience who want to develop skills for home projects. Cost $349. Limited spots left, book fast.
📍Among the Trees, Marrickville / Sunday 25 May 2025 / 9am – 4pm

📚 Sydney Writers' Festival: Dylin Hardcastle - A Language of Limbs 
Author Dylin Hardcastle discusses their latest novel about first love and queer identity set against Sydney's 70s and 80s LGBTQIA+ scene, in conversation with actor and writer Zoe Terakes.
📍Marrickville Library / Sunday 25 May / 2pm – 3pm

📆 Coming Up

🖼️ 100 Years of Yeo Park + Mini Exhibition
Bring your family to celebrate 100 years of Yeo Park at the opening of the Yeo Park Mini Exhibition by local artist Sorrel Trevarthen of Picket Fence Illustrations at Outfield Cafe in Yeo Park. There will also be live music.
📍 Yeo Park, Ashfield / Sunday 1 June / 2pm – 4pm

🎤 Stars In Disguise - Singing & Transformation Competition 
Watch everyday people transform into famous music icons with professional hair, makeup and costumes before performing live on stage, competing for $3,000 cash prize across weekly heats leading to a grand final.
📍Unity Hall Hotel, Balmain / Thursdays from 29 May/ 7:30pm

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

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

Local Eats

Restaurants & Cafes to Try

🍕 Camperdown Commons | Thursday | 8pm – 10pm | $15 Pizza & Cocktails + a live DJ. See Bar for the selected cocktails | See venue for terms.

🇵🇪 Pepito's Marrickville | This beloved taberna brings the authentic spirit of Lima's underground dining scene to the Inner West, serving innovative Peruvian-inspired dishes in a lively, unpretentious atmosphere that celebrates Peru's culinary heritage through shared plates and pisco cocktails.

🧁 Sandy Bake Shop Balmain | Cozy neighbourhood bakery, serving old school classics like chocolate chip cookies, apple and sage cake, and afternoon tea with knitted tea cosies in a charming communal setting.

Places to drink in the Inner West

🥇 Philter Brewery | Is there a better spot for a beer than Australia’s #1 Independent Brewery for 2025? The Australian International Beer Awards for 2025 also named them Champion Medium Australian Brewery and they won Best Australian Style Pale Ale (for their XPA), Best Modern India Pale Ale (for their Haze IPA) and took home 8 gold medals.

🏅 Chuck & Sons Brewing Co | A family-friendly St Peters brewpub by brewing legend Chuck Hahn and son Scott, featuring classic craft beers, rooftop terrace dining, cocktails and a dedicated kids' play area. They also took home a bunch of medals at the 2025 Australian International Beer Awards. Try their gold medal winners Traditional Hefeweizen and Two-World Pale Ale.

🍺 Wildflower Brewing & Blending | A four-day cask ale celebration in Marrickville (22 to 25 May) showcases nine specialty brews from six different breweries, featuring unexpected selections alongside craft offerings from local producers including Wildflower, Bendigo, Batch, Flat Rock, Tooheys and Bracket. Limited quantities mean each cask runs dry quickly, with all pours priced at $12 while stocks last.

Exhibitions in the Inner West
Theatre and Comedy in the Inner West
Gig Guide

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

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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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