The best of the Inner West from 23 to 25 October

Good morning, Inner Westies.

This weekend brings the Norton Street Italian Festa’s 40th year, two playground openings and the Nicho Halloween Festival. Plus the Southwest Metro opening date and the last days to comment on Fairer Future Plan 2.

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.

Hunter House faces Hunter Baillie Memorial Church, and the roofline echoes its pointed arches. The main bedroom overlooks the church. The kitchen has a four-metre marble island, and there’s a heated saltwater pool, lovely terrazzo bathrooms and a wellness room. Parking is for four cars, and Booth Street village is 350m away. I’d be saying amen if that was my home.

📍 4 bed / 3 bath / 4 car / 305sqm approx.
👉 Listed with Cobden & Hayson

Feedback on Inner West Council’s Our Fairer Future Plan 2 closes this Wednesday 28 October, after councillors voted 8–7 on Tuesday night against extending the feedback period. Residents told the meeting they needed more time and clearer information to respond. Mayor Darcy Byrne opposed the extension, saying changes can be made after feedback closes, but also called the Lilyfield proposals “totally out of whack” and said he wants them changed significantly. Greens councillors, who pushed for the extension, are hosting a town hall in Leichhardt on Saturday. Council has drop-in sessions in Leichhardt and Petersham the same day.

👉 Read our full story

Leichhardt’s Little Italy marks 40 years of Festa this Sunday. Norton Street fills with hundreds of stalls selling Italian food, coffee and gelato, plus free cooking demonstrations from chefs and local nonnas. Auto Festa brings classic and contemporary Italian cars, motorbikes and scooters to Pioneers Memorial Park.

Kids get carnival rides, jumping castles, an animal farm, face painting and pony rides. The Co.As.It. stage runs from 10am, with Tony Sergi, George Vumbacca and Annie Z on the line-up and a cannoli competition at 3:30pm. Entry is free.

📆 Sun 25 Oct / 10am – 5pm
📍 Norton Street, Leichhardt
👉 Festival details and program

Our Inner West Halloween map goes live on Monday 26 October, so families can plan a trick-or-treat route for Saturday 31 October. Add your home now to be on it.

Until then, our Halloween page shows the streets that usually go big in each suburb. Show your exact house or just your nearest cross street.

👉 Add your home to the Halloween map

🌳 Official Opening of the Upgraded Norton Russell Playground
Try the new play tower, slide, swings and railway-themed path, with free ice cream, coffee and face painting.
📆 Sat 24 Oct / 10am – 12pm
📍 Norton Russell Playground, Newtown ♿️

🧙 Kids Halloween Costume Swap
Bring up to six clean, wearable outfits or accessories your child has outgrown and take home the same number; free for local residents.
📆 Sat 24 Oct / 10am – 2pm
📍 Inner West Sustainability Hub, Summer Hill

🛠️ Kids’ DIY: Halloween Workshop (ages 5–12)
Kids make a Halloween-themed project with the store team while learning basic DIY skills; free, bookings essential.
📆 Sat 24 & Sun 25 Oct / 11am – 1pm
📍 Bunnings Ashfield

🛝 Official Opening of the Upgraded 36th Battalion Park Playground
Try the new bike loop track, creek and nature play area and fitness bars, with a free barbecue and face painting.
📆 Sat 24 Oct / 12pm – 2pm
📍 36th Battalion Park, Leichhardt ♿️

🚀 Amazing Astro Animals
Author and illustrator James Foley and ‘astrozoologist’ Prof Vupshe Dazchy reveal the true history of creatures sent into space; free, RSVP by email.
📆 Sat 24 Oct / 2pm – 3pm
📍 Upstairs at Gleebooks, Glebe ♿️

✏️ HSC Study Nights
A free late-night space for exam prep, with group rooms and craft activities for breaks; library members only, book each night.
📆 Sat 24 Oct / 4pm – 10pm
📍 The Community Hub, Burwood

🐷 Book Launch: Grandma! There’s a Pig in My Room!
Siblings Gary and Karen Eck read their picture story, plus colouring-in and entertainer Emily Who; the first 20 nannas get a signed copy.
📆 Sun 25 Oct / 10am – 11am
📍 Marrickville Library and Pavilion

👹 Spooky Crafternoon: DIY Halloween Masks (ages 5–12)
Design a face to wear trick-or-treating, made from sustainable materials; free, bookings essential.
📆 Mon 26 Oct / 4pm – 5pm
📍 Concord Library

✂️ Get Crafty: Spooky Puppets (under 5s)
Turn recycled materials into a creepy sidekick to take trick-or-treating; free, bookings recommended.
📆 Wed 28 Oct / 10:30am – 11:30am
📍 Marrickville Metro

🕸️ Get Haunted at the Library This Halloween!
Spine-tingling stories, creepy crafts, ghoulish face painting and spooky treats; free, no booking needed.
📆 Thu 29 Oct / 3pm – 4pm
📍 Burwood Library and Community Hub

🦇 Spooky Crafternoon: DIY Halloween Decorations (ages 5–12)
Make better-than-store-bought pieces to deck out the house for 31 October; free, bookings essential.
📆 Thu 29 Oct / 4pm – 5pm
📍 Five Dock Library

🎃 Halloween Family Event
An evening of free kids’ activities and entertainment, so come in costume; bookings essential.
📆 Thu 29 Oct / Ashfield & Alexandria 5pm – 7pm; Rozelle 4pm – 6pm
📍 Bunnings Ashfield, Bunnings Alexandria and Bunnings Rozelle

COMING UP

🍬 Halloween Trick-or-Treat
Follow the clues to hidden cauldrons around the centre, collecting stamps and lollies, then claim a lolly bag and Boost Juice voucher.
📆 Sat 31 Oct / 10am – 4pm
📍 Marrickville Metro

🎨 Van BOO Starry Night
Adults and kids learn about Van Gogh and the elements of art, then make a spooky ghost artwork together.
📆 Sat 31 Oct / 2pm – 4pm
📍 Julie Peadon Art Studio, Drummoyne

👉 View the Kids Eat Free Guide

ALL WEEKEND

🖼️ Glebe Art Show
Final weekend to see and buy works in the society’s annual community exhibition, including entries for the $3,000 Robin Lawrence prize.
📆 Thu 15 – Sun 25 Oct / Daily from 10am
📍 Tramsheds, Forest Lodge

FRIDAY

🎾 Hip Hop at Sidewall Padel
The club turns the speakers up for a themed day on the courts, from open to close; book a game through Playtomic.
📆 Fri 23 Oct / All day
📍 Sidewall Padel, Marrickville

🏃 DAWN Run Club Launch
Meet at the bakery for a 5km social jog, then get a free coffee with any pastry.
📆 Fri 23 Oct / 6am
📍 Dawn Baked Goods, Rozelle

🍷 Glebe Art Show: Sip and Draw
Artist Emma Ferguson guides a relaxed figure drawing session with a draped model, a glass of wine and prizes for the best sketches.
📆 Fri 23 Oct / 6pm – 8pm
📍 Tramsheds, Forest Lodge

🏊 Trans and Gender Diverse Swim Night
Exclusive use of the pools for the community, friends and family, with DJs, inflatables, an aqua class, a barbecue and a quiet space; free.
📆 Fri 23 Oct / 7pm – 10pm
📍 Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre, Marrickville ♿️

🎭 Catch Me If You Can: The Musical
Inner West Theatre Company stages the Broadway hit about teenage con man Frank Abagnale Jr, with a full live orchestra.
📆 Fri 23 & Sat 24 Oct / Various times
📍 Petersham Town Hall ♿️

SATURDAY

🐶 Puppy Yoga
A beginner-friendly hour of gentle movement while pups from NSW breeders and shelters roam the mats, getting socialised before adoption.
📆 Sat 24 Oct
📍 Tropical Soul Dance Studio, Annandale

🏘️ Our Fairer Future Plan 2: Speak with a Planner
Book a free 15-minute appointment to talk through how the proposed housing changes could affect a specific property.
📆 Sat 24 Oct / Leichhardt 10am – 12pm; Petersham 1pm – 3pm
📍 Leichhardt Service Centre and Petersham Service Centre

⚡ Electrify Inner West Expo
Solar, batteries, hot water and electric-appliance advice, with Peter Garrett’s opening address followed by a panel Q&A.
📆 Sat 24 Oct / 10am – 1pm
📍 Leichhardt Town Hall

🚲 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt to Marrickville Park Bike Route Pop-Up
See the concept for safer crossings, kerb ramps and traffic calming, and give feedback to the project team.
📆 Sat 24 Oct / 10am – 2pm
📍 Marrickville Park

🤘 Ragnarök ’n’ Roll: The Duke’s 6th Birthday
The pub goes full Viking, with BBQ turkey legs, a horn-blowing contest and Melbourne’s Barbarion bringing fire, smoke and war paint.
📆 Sat 24 Oct / From 12pm
📍 The Duke of Enmore

📓 The Artist’s Way Creative Circle
A fortnightly group working through Julia Cameron’s creativity classic, with reading, journaling and ‘Artist Dates’.
📆 Sat 24 Oct / 1:30pm – 3pm
📍 Little Big House, Summer Hill

💬 Inner West Fairer Future Plan 2 Town Hall
Greens councillors explain what the Stage 2 rezoning proposals mean for each neighbourhood and how to comment before exhibition closes on Wed 28 Oct; free.
📆 Sat 24 Oct / 2:30pm – 4pm
📍 Leichhardt Town Hall ♿️

🚗 For The Girls + Friends
The third year of this car and bike meet, with art, food, vendors and live entertainment; kids 12 and under free.
📆 Sat 24 Oct / 5pm – 10pm
📍 Marrickville Metro Rooftop Car Park

🍻 The Shakesbeer Sessions: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The Pub Shakespeare Company plays the comedy with singalongs and a drink in hand.
📆 Sat 24 Oct / 7:30pm – 9:30pm
📍 The Barrel Room, Leichhardt

🎺 Motown & Beyond
An Inner West band plays Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, James Brown and later soul-inspired hits, with food and cocktail packages available.
📆 Sat 24 Oct / 8:30pm
📍 Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville

SUNDAY

🎭 Improv Skills for Career Success
A hands-on workshop using comedy games to practise thinking on the spot, building rapport and speaking with confidence at work.
📆 Sun 25 Oct / 9:30am – 12:30pm
📍 Newtown Neighbourhood Centre

👟 5K Scadaddle for Research
Walk, skip or jog 5km to raise money for studies into SCAD, the main cause of heart attacks in women under 50.
📆 Sun 25 Oct / 10am
📍 The Bay Run, Lilyfield

🇮🇹 Norton Street Italian Festa
The 40th edition fills Little Italy with food stalls, music, cooking demonstrations, cars and children’s activities; free entry.
📆 Sun 25 Oct / 10am – 5pm
📍 Norton Street, Leichhardt

⛵ Balmain Regatta Workboat Convoy
Ride steam launch Lady Hopetoun or tug Waratah as heritage working boats parade past the start line of a race day dating to 1849.
📆 Sun 25 Oct / 10:30am – 1pm
📍 Camber Wharf, Cockatoo Island

🍵 Tea Meet Sound
Cenk leads a silent tea-brewing ceremony, then Carol plays clear quartz crystal bowls, with light refreshments after.
📆 Sun 25 Oct / 11:30am – 1pm
📍 My Essence, Rozelle

🏊 Sunday Sessions: Kimberly Bear
The local singer plays pop and jazz poolside while swimmers do their laps, part of a free live music series.
📆 Sun 25 Oct / 12pm – 2pm
📍 Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre, Marrickville

🌱 The Plant Doctor’s Kokedama and Terrarium Workshops
Make two moss balls, a self-watering rainforest jar or a succulent garden under glass, with greenery and drinks included.
📆 Sun 25 Oct / 2pm – 3:30pm
📍 The Plant Doctor, Forest Lodge ♿️

🎤 Spoken Word and Poetry Open Mic
A monthly session upstairs in the Radish Lounge: sign up on the day to perform, or come along to listen.
📆 Sun 25 Oct / 2pm – 5pm
📍 We Three Bar, Marrickville

💬 How to Fight Chris Minns and Win: From the Court to the Ballot Box
Former Greens MLC Sue Higginson and criminal defence barrister Nick Hanna share their protest-rights cases, joined by Summer Hill candidate Izabella Antoniou; free.
📆 Sun 25 Oct / 4:30pm – 6pm
📍 Red Rattler Theatre, Marrickville ♿️

🏀 Spring Competitions at PCYC Marrickville
An adult (18+) mixed basketball league starts its season, with games on Sunday nights; register online.
📆 Sun 25 Oct / 6pm – 9pm
📍 PCYC Marrickville

🎶 Lily Allen
The pop star brings her biggest headline tour yet, built around hit album West End Girl, to Sydney for two nights.
📆 Sun 25 & Mon 26 Oct / 8pm
📍 TikTok Entertainment Centre, Darling Harbour

COMING UP

🎷 Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival
Local shows include Belle Chen, Olivia Chindamo, Sumn Conduit, Jo Fabro, a Misaki Umei and Cracked Suzies premiere, and Tina Harrod with Ruby Jackson.
📆 Mon 26 – Fri 30 Oct
📍 Various venues, Marrickville, Camperdown, Newtown and Dulwich Hill

🖌️ Newtown Art Club
A free, relaxed get-together for all levels, trying a different creative activity or technique each session.
📆 Wed 28 Oct / 2pm – 3pm
📍 Newtown Neighbourhood Centre ♿️

🎭 Comedy Class: Improvisation
A weekly drop-in for beginners and regulars, full of games that build quick thinking and confidence.
📆 Wed 28 Oct / 6:30pm – 8pm
📍 The Abercrombie, Chippendale

🕷️ Creepers and Crawlers in Camperdown Cemetery
Ecologist Dr Eliza Middleton leads an after-dark walk to find the real creepy crawlies, plants and animals living inside the walls; free.
📆 Wed 28 Oct / 7pm – 8:30pm
📍 Camperdown Cemetery, Newtown

🍻 The Shakesbeer Sessions: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The Pub Shakespeare Company takes its singalong comedy to more pubs.
📍 Terminus Hotel, Pyrmont / Thu 29 Oct / 7:30pm
📍 Chuck and Son’s Brewing Co., St Peters / Sat 31 October / 7:30pm

🔮 BestieFest Halloween
Women and gender-diverse musicians play alongside a makers’ market, tarot and wand making; ticket sales go to domestic violence charity ReLove, pay what you can.
📆 Fri 30 Oct / 6pm – 12:30am
📍 Kiss My Brass, Marrickville ♿️

👚 Tramsheds Clothes Swap
Bring up to five pre-loved pieces in excellent condition and leave with something new to wear; free for City of Sydney residents, bookings essential.
📆 Sat 31 Oct / 10:45am – 1pm
📍 Tramsheds, Forest Lodge

🏉 AFLW: GWS Giants v Gold Coast Suns
Round 12 is the last game of the home-and-away season for both sides.
📆 Sun 1 Nov / 12:35pm
📍 Henson Park, Marrickville

The Southwest Metro will begin passenger services from Bankstown to the city and northwest on Friday 30 October. For Inner West commuters, stations including Marrickville, Dulwich Hill and Hurlstone Park will have trains every four minutes in weekday peaks.

Marrickville to Gadigal will take about 12 minutes. Southwest Link buses will continue on the opening Friday and first weekend while people get used to the new service.

👉 Find out more

The new Sydney Fish Market ferry wharf is now expected to begin services in late 2027. That is later than the 8–9 month timeframe indicated when the market opened in January.

The planned wharf will link the Fish Market and Barangaroo, with accessible facilities and space for recreational and fishing vessels. Site work is due to begin later this year, while the final timetable and ferry arrangements are still being worked through.

👉 Find out more

The NSW Government says Routes 413 and 418 will receive 190 extra weekly services to connect with the Southwest Metro. The 413, running from Campsie to the CBD via Summer Hill, Lewisham, Annandale and Broadway, will gain 173 trips. The 418, linking Burwood and Sydenham via Ashfield, Dulwich Hill and Marrickville, will add late-night Friday and Saturday services and run 24 hours on weekends.

👉 Find out more

Six design teams have been shortlisted for the next stage of the Bays West design competition, covering the future of White Bay Power Station and Glebe Island. The State Government says the precinct could include up to 8,500 homes, with at least 10% affordable and essential-worker housing, plus public space and a planned Metro West station. The shortlisted designs are expected to go on public exhibition in early 2027.

👉 Find out more

Strathfield Council wants to remove the Welfare Street Heritage Conservation Area from its planning controls. It says the heritage listing clashes with the land’s employment zoning in the Homebush transport-oriented development precinct. The protection still applies for now, and submissions close at 5pm on Monday 9 November.

👉 Find out more

🍞 Tittynope Bakery’s Summer Hill Move
After two farewell weekends at The Temperance, the team plans to open a weekend microbakery at 24 Lackey Street in a few weeks, trading 8am to 2pm.

🍝 Gnocchi Cooking Class at Favola
Make gnocchi, then eat it with a choice of sauce; prosecco, focaccia, olives and crema di caffè included. $99; book by message or call 02 8021 0002.
📆 Sat 24 Oct / 11am
📍 Favola, Newtown

🎃 Halloween at Hay St
The laneway goes spooky for October, with ghoulish décor, limited-edition dishes like squid ink pasta and pumpkin gnocchi, cocktail specials and live entertainment.
📆 Fri 23 – Sun 25 Oct / Various times
📍 Hay St Market, Haymarket

🍝 Il Baretto’s $10 Spag Bol Sunday
A one-day deal for World Pasta Day, dine in or takeaway.
📆 Sun 25 Oct
📍 Il Baretto, Newtown

🍔 Weekday $20 Burger Lunch at Blue Ribbon Bistro
The bistro runs the deal at lunch on weekdays, excluding The Lot Burger. See venue for terms and conditions.
📍 Leichhardt Bowlo, Lilyfield

COMING UP

🍸 Spirits Dinner: The Ternary x Banks and Solander Distillery Degustation
Cocktails and canapés, then courses including scallop ceviche, Milly Hill lamb and blue-eye cod, each with its own drinks pairing; $179.
📆 Thu 29 Oct / 5:45pm
📍 The Ternary, Darling Harbour

🧟 Haunted Laneway Harvest Dinner
A six-course Halloween feast with wine, beer and cocktail pairings, live R&B, roaming zombies and a tarot reader; $110.
📆 Fri 30 Oct / 6:30pm
📍 Hay St Market, Haymarket

🍻 Lady Hampshire Closed Indefinitely After Storm Damage
A promoter who hosts regular nights at The Lady Hampshire in Camperdown says the pub is closed indefinitely after the recent Sydney storms caused extensive damage, and that the venue has also been sold. A sale listing for 89-91 Parramatta Road records the property as sold on 11 September, through receivers and managers. Gigs booked at the pub are being moved. What happens to the pub and the building hasn’t been confirmed, and the venue hasn’t replied to our questions.

🍺 Range vs Working Title: 15 Tap House Party
The two Queensland breweries pour 15 beers, including limited releases, to close out Sydney Beer Week, with tasting paddles until 7:30pm; free entry.
📆 Fri 23 Oct / 4pm – 11:30pm
📍 The Union Hotel, Newtown

🗝️ Hawkers Cellar Raid
A guided tasting of eight rare, aged beers from the brewery’s vaults with Alex Lovelock, plus Epic Pizza; $70.
📆 Fri 23 Oct / 7pm
📍 Hopsters, Enmore

🌊 Coast of Origin at the HP Bowlo
Eight coastal breweries, including Earth Beer Company, Seven Mile and Jervis Bay Brewing Co., go north versus south; vote for a favourite to win merch.
📆 Fri 16 – Sun 25 Oct
📍 HP Bowlo, Hurlstone Park

HAPPY HOUR HEROES

🍷 The Glebe Hotel | Monday to Friday | 4pm – 6pm | Members’ Happy Hour. Tap beers and wines from $6 - see venue for terms and conditions.

🍺 The Home Grounds, Five Dock | Wednesday to Friday | 4pm – 5:30pm | $5 schooners, $5 glasses of house wine and Prosecco and $15 happy-hour cocktails - see venue for terms and conditions.

🍺 Kicks Brewing, Marrickville | Friday | 2pm – 5pm | $5 middies of selected lager and $10 wines by the glass - 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.