Good morning, Inner Westies. From Norton Street Italian Festa and the Balmain Regatta to Donut Garage donuts and an epic Halloween guide, here’s everything you need to make the most of your weekend.

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

Tucked away on a Marrickville side street, Donut Garage's donuts have people calling them the best they've ever had. Fresh-baked daily with light, fluffy dough and creative toppings, the pineapple and salted caramel are absolute standouts - seriously, I can't stop thinking about them. Great coffee too. This hidden gem is more than just killer donuts though. Inside you'll find a mini museum of vintage cars and bikes (including a DeLorean), plus arcade games like Daytona USA and Gran Turismo. It draws car enthusiasts and their hotted up cars - the place is always buzzing. If you haven't been yet, put it on your list.

📍 Donut Garage, 7 Mitchell St, Marrickville / Wed–Sun 10am–6pm (or sold out)
👉 See their Website and Socials for more info

Built in 1923 for Harold Arnott of Arnott's Biscuits fame, this National Trust-listed estate sits on 1.1 acres. It's Strathfield's largest private landholding with a $20 million price guide. The kind of place that has formal wings, a butler's pantry with commercial cool room, floodlit tennis court, pool, spa and a billiards room with its own wine cellar. Inside: six king-sized bedrooms, preserved Victorian rooms, and grand entertaining spaces. Outside: park-like grounds with multiple vehicle entrances including one of Sydney's largest circle driveways.

📍 6 bed / 6 bath / 8 car
👉 Listed with Steven Chen - The Agency

One of Sydney’s longest-running street festivals, the iconic Norton Street Italian Festa, returns to the heart of Sydney’s Little Italy this Sunday in Leichhardt.

It will feature more than 170 stalls, live music, roving street performers, beer gardens, local breweries and distilleries, a culinary stage, classic Italian cars, kids’ entertainment and rides, handmade wares, and every kind of Italian food you can imagine.

👉 Find out more

We’ve rounded up the best places to trick-or-treat, family-friendly events, and a few grown-up haunts too. There’s heaps on across the Inner West.

👉 Explore the Halloween Guide

🧪 Spooky Science Workshops @ Marrickville Metro
Activities differ each day and kids are welcome to come experiment at sessions across multiple days. 💰$5 per child. Book ahead.
📅 Friday 24 October 2025 - Spooky Slime Lab
📅 Saturday 25 October 2025 - Pumpkin Volcano Eruptions
📅 Sunday 26 October 2025 - Floating Ghosts & Dancing Skeletons
📍Marrickville Metro (Ground Floor, outside Panetta Mercato) / Times vary

🧙‍♀️ Halloween Mask Making @ Burwood Chinatown
Kids can get creative and design their own spooky or fun Halloween mask at the Level 1 Kids Playground.
📍Burwood Chinatown / Friday 24 October from 5pm & Saturday 25 October from 3pm

🎬 Movies in the Park: Coraline @ Strathfield Park
Enjoy an outdoor screening of Coraline, the spooky family favourite that’s perfect for Halloween season. Bring a picnic, blanket or chair and settle in under the stars.
📍Strathfield Park / Saturday 25 October 2025 / From 6:30pm

💃 K-pop Demon Hunters Disco Fiesta – Halloween Edition
K-pop dance party for ages 3–10. Includes 25-min Soda Pop Dance Class followed by 1-hour disco party with lights and fun.
📍Tropical Soul Kids Dance Studio, Annandale / Saturday 25 October 2025 / 5pm – 6:30pm

🧙‍♀️ Halloween Craft @ Strathfield Library (ages 12 to 17)
Create your own glow-in-the-dark Halloween-style mini paintings in this 90-minute workshop with artist Annie Guo.
📍Strathfield Library / Tuesday 28 October 2025 / 3:45pm – 5:15pm

🧪 Minis Halloween Slime Workshop
Kids design gooey slime with Halloween colours and mix‑ins, taking their creations home. Learn from my experience and keep slime away from rugs, lounges pillows etc! 💰 $3 per ticket, book ahead.
📍Broadway Shopping Centre, Glebe / Wednesday 29 October 2025 / 3pm, 4pm, 5pm & 6pm

🎃 Halloween Kids Workshop & Trick or Treat Trail @ Tramsheds
Kids can decorate their own trick-or-treat bags, then follow a guided or self-led Halloween trail to collect sweet treats from participating retailers. No cost event, bookings required for workshops.
📍Tramsheds, Forest Lodge / Thursday 30 October 2025 / Workshops & Trick or Treat Trail 4pm – 6:30pm

🎓 HSC Study Nights @ Burwood Library (HSC students 16+)
End‑of‑week late‑night study session for Year 12s with quiet areas and group rooms; bookings close at 4 pm on the day.
📍 Burwood Library and Community Hub / Friday 24, Monday 27 & Wednesday 29 October 2025 / Times vary

🎨 Comic Con-versation: Kidszone Create your own zine, make merch with badge maker, and pose at the epic photo wall. Browse the Kids Comic collection. No bookings required. 📍 Ashfield Library / Saturday 25 October 2025 / 11am – 3pm ♿️

🎉 Inner West Family Day Care and Magic Yellow Bus 50th (ages 0-12)
Celebrate 50 years with free sausage sizzle, gelato, lawn games, arts and crafts, and entertainment for kids. Bring a picnic rug.
📍Lambert Park, Leichhardt / Saturday 25 October 2025 / 11am – 2pm

🧱 Burwood Brick Builders
Halloween Special: Cast a mayhem monster shadow. After school brick building activity for Year 1 and above. No bookings required, just drop in.
📍Burwood Library and Community Hub / Wednesday 29 October 2025 / 3:15pm – 4:15pm

🛍️ Kids' Market Stall Day
Celebrate young entrepreneurs showcasing creative, handmade products. Support kids as they display imagination and business skills.
📍 St Lukes Oval Carpark, Concord / Sunday 26 October 2025 / 10am – 1pm

🎓 HSC Study More @ Concord Library (Years 11‑12)
Weeknight session allowing Year 11 & 12 students exclusive access to the library for quiet study before exams.
📍 Concord Library / Thursday 30 October 2025/ 7:30pm – 9:30pm

📖 HSC Study More at Five Dock Library
Library closed to general public, allowing only Years 11 and 12 HSC students extended study hours in dedicated space.
📍Five Dock Library / Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 October 2025 / 7:30pm – 9:30pm

🍺 Sydney Beer Week 2025
Raise a glass to the return of Sydney’s biggest celebration of craft beer, hospitality and community. Enjoy a week of tap takeovers, brewery tours, food pairings and special collaborations across the city.
📍Various venues across Sydney / Monday 20 to Sunday 26 October 2025

🎭 Liveworks Festival @ Carriageworks
Experience a bold program of experimental performance, dance, sound art and queer spectacle featuring groundbreaking artists from across Australia and the Asia Pacific.
📍Carriageworks, Eveleigh / Wednesday 22 to Sunday 26 October 2025

💀 Halloween Activities @ South Eveleigh
📅 Pumpkin Painting Workshop - Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 October 2025
📅 Scarecrow Stuffing - Saturday 25, Sunday 26, Tuesday 28 & Thursday 30 October 2025
📅 Pumpkin Carving Workshop - Saturday 25, Sunday 26 & Wednesday 29 October 2025
📍South Eveleigh

🛍️ Kilo Sale Sydney @ Marrickville
Shop secondhand fashion and pay by the kilo at this entry at no cost, first-come-first-served sale.
📍Marrickville / Friday 24 October 4pm – 7pm & Saturday 25 October 9am – 1pm

🏊 AKAC Trans and Gender Diverse Swim Night
Exclusive pool access with DJs, inflatables, aqua aerobics class and BBQ in a welcoming atmosphere for all.
📍Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre, Marrickville / Friday 24 October 2025 / 7pm – 10pm

🧶 Ashfield Knitters at Ashfield Library
Casual knitting group where you can bring your own project, exchange tips and socialise. Runs during school term, no bookings required.
📍Ashfield Library / Friday 24 October 2025 / 9am – 12pm ♿️

💰 Financial Wellbeing and Risks Workshop
Interactive workshop covering financial sustainability, debts, warning signs, financial abuse and how to access counselling services.
📍Haberfield Library / Friday 24 October 2025 / 11am – 1pm ♿️

🎵 Great Day! Choir
Joyful singing group for people with dementia and their community. No musical experience needed, sing favourite songs together with refreshments after. Runs 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month.
📍Older Women's Network, Newtown / Friday 24 October 2025 / 11am – 1pm ♿️

🌸 Spring Latin Makers Market
Vibrant celebration of Latin American culture with handmade fashion, art, accessories, beauty products and delicious food. Family-friendly event.
📍Marrickville Town Hall / Saturday 25 October 2025 / 10am – 5:30pm

💃 Fiesta Viva Entertainment
Live Mexican traditional and Latin music with dance floor show showcasing Mexican and Latin traditions.
📍Alex Trevallion Plaza, Marrickville / Saturday 25 October 2025 / 11am – 1pm

🏉 AFLW: Sydney Swans v West Coast Eagles
Catch the Swans in action at Henson Park. Perfect weekend outing with family and friends.
📍Henson Park, Marrickville / Saturday 25 October 2025 / 12pm – 4pm ♿️

🎨 Comic Con-versation
Celebration of comics, creativity and community with talks, workshops and live demos from local creators. Featuring Artist Alley, tabletop gaming, kids zone and quiet space.
📍Ashfield Library / Saturday 25 October 2025 / 11am – 4pm

🏺 Clay & Bubbles at Tramsheds
Create your own stoneware cup or bowl with guidance from Glaze Galleria, including clay, tools and a glass of bubbles. Book ahead.
📍 Tramsheds, Forest Lodge / Saturday 25 October 2025 / 4pm – 6pm

🚴 43rd Sydney 1000 Track Carnival
Fast-paced track cycling featuring the state's top cyclists with junior and senior events. Family-friendly atmosphere with food trucks, bar and entertainment.
📍Canterbury (Tempe) Velodrome / Saturday 25 October 2025 / 5pm – 10:30pm

⛵️ 2025 Balmain Regatta
Australia’s oldest regatta returns with historic and modern boats, tall ships, a huge BBQ, live music and the famous Balmain raffle, celebrating 176 years of maritime history.
📍 Balmain Sailing Club, Birchgrove / Sunday 26 October 2025 / From 11am

🥞 Someday Creative Club: Pancake Day Rave
A playful twist on the coffee rave trend, this brunch-meets-boogie sees DJs flipping pancakes while spinning tunes, creating space for creatives to share the big ideas that might just be wild enough to work.
📍Studio V, Surry Hills / Sunday 26 October 2025 / 10am – 2pm

🎤 Mark Lucas Solo @ Crosstalk Records
Established Leichhardt singer-songwriter Mark Lucas performs a solo set in store at Crosstalk Records.
📍Crosstalk Records, Leichhardt / Sunday 26 October 2025 / 1pm

🎵 Sacred Sunday Soundbath
Immerse yourself in a meditative sound journey with crystal bowls, Tibetan bowls, flute, and handpan designed to restore balance and renewal for the week ahead.
📍Tropical Soul Dance Studio, Annandale / Sunday 26 October 2025 / 6pm

🚲 Community Discussion: Walking & Riding During T3 Closure
Have your say on the local Active Transport Program and share your thoughts on walking and cycling options during the T3 rail line closure. Hosted by UTS as part of their community review.
📍 Herb Greedy Hall, Marrickville / Monday 27 October 2025, 10am – 12pm & Wednesday 29 October 2025, 6pm – 8pm

🍔 Older Men's Mental Health Matters
Free BBQ lunch with music in a friendly, supportive space. Come with a mate or solo. Registration required for catering purposes.
📍Newtown Neighbourhood Centre / Tuesday 28 October 2025 / 11am – 1pm ♿️

🏊 Sunday Swim Club @ Dawn Fraser Baths
Join the Balmain Amateur Swimming Club for a relaxed morning swim and social catch-up by the harbour. All levels welcome, with bacon and egg rolls after your laps.
📍 Dawn Fraser Baths / Sundays from 2 November 2025 / from 8am

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

🍔 Joocy Smash Burgers Lands in Glebe - NEW!
Joocy Smash Burgers has opened on Glebe Point Road, serving classic smash patties with crisp edges, soft buns and all the right sides like fries and shakes. Locals are already raving about it and giving it smashing reviews.
📍163 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe

🍨 Messinaville Launch Party
Gelato Messina is officially celebrating its Marrickville HQ with the Messinaville Launch Party on Saturday from 12pm. Expect factory tours, iconic mango pancakes, prizes, and the launch of Erin’s new Spritz Garden, plus plenty of gelato and good vibes.
📍Gelato Messina HQ, Marrickville / Saturday 25 October 2025 / 12pm – Late

🕸️ Halloween Donuts @ Miss Sina
Miss Sina’s spooky Halloween donuts are back to pre-order from 25 October to 1 November. Pre-order online to grab a box of hand-decorated treats featuring ghosts, spiders and ghoulish toppings. Perfect for parties or a sweet scare.
📍 Miss Sina, Marrickville / Order from Friday 25 October to Friday 1 November 2025
👉 Order via their website

🌸 Spring into Summer at Noi
Noi has launched a new season menu running from 7 October to 16 November. The three-course Spring into Summer menu features dishes such as prawn bisque risotto, lamb rump with artichoke and baked asparagus tart for $69 per person, including seasonal sides. Groups of four or more receive a complimentary bottle of Lombard Extra Brut Champagne (see venue for terms & conditions), with $16 cocktails and BYO available for $15 per bottle.
📍 Noi, Petersham / Monday 7 October to Saturday 16 November 2025

👻 Matcha Meets Spooky: Halloween Party @ Brooklyn Boy Bagels
Halloween celebration with DJs, a live matcha whisking bar, and an exclusive menu of matcha drinks and bagels. The first 100 guests get a complimentary mini matcha bagel (see store for terms & conditions).
📍Brooklyn Boy Bagels, Marrickville / Sunday 26 October 2025 / 10am – 2pm

🍺 Oktoberfest @ Ashfield Bowlo
Ashfield Bowling Club is hosting its Oktoberfest celebration this Saturday. Expect giant pretzels, hearty German dishes and classic brews. Live music from No Frills Honey will kick off on the green from 2pm to 5pm, with the club open until midnight for a full day of food, tunes and festivities.
📍 Ashfield Bowling Club, Ashfield / Saturday 25 October / From 12pm

🍸 Corner Bar, Rozelle

A neighbourhood favourite that shifts from morning espresso spot to evening wine and cocktail bar, Corner Bar serves up small plates and locally sourced drinks in a laid-back setting. Expect craft beers, classic cocktails and a carefully chosen wine list alongside their tapas-style menu. All in a cosy corner space that's become Rozelle's community go-to.

📍 632 Darling St, Rozelle / Monday to Sunday
👉 See Website and Socials for more info

🍹 Jacoby’s Tiki Bar Enmore | Wednesday to Thursday 6pm – 7pm & Friday to Sunday 5pm – 7pm | $16 slushies – the holy trinity of frozen cocktails – see venue for terms and conditions.

Thanks for reading. Please reply with any feedback.

Reminder: Please verify that details are accurate with venues, event providers, restaurants, and pubs by clicking through to their websites. Events are occasionally cancelled at the last minute, and specials can change.

Have a fun weekend!

Jess