Good morning, Inner Westies. The iconic Sydney Mardi Gras Parade is on this weekend. While it's not in our neighbourhood, it's worth the trip! Want to stay local? There are plenty of local events happening right here in the Inner West to keep you busy and entertained.

In today’s Inner West Guide:

• Sydney Mardi Gras Parade 🌈 ✨

• Keep Kids Busy Guide ❤️ 🧒

• 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

🏳️‍🌈 Mardi Gras Takes Over Sydney This Weekend 🏳️‍🌈 

The 47th annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is on this weekend. It will feature over 200 floats and 11,000 marchers. Hundreds of thousands are expected to gather along the route to celebrate the 2025 Festival theme "FREE TO BE" in one of the world's largest LGBTQIA+ nighttime parades. Although the parade is not in the Inner West, it’s worth braving the crowds for. If you want to avoid the crowds, there are plenty of watch parties happening in the Inner West.

If you plan to go to the parade here is some helpful info to help you plan ahead.

🛝 Park Picnic @ Hollis Park Playground Newtown
A large neighbourhood playground. Fenced, with shade sails and play equipment for climbing and balancing. This is a smaller park, without BBQ facilities or toilets. However Hollis Park cafe is right across the road for great coffee and food. It’s a 5 minute walk from Macdonaldtown Train Station. Street parking can be challenging at times.

🌟 Minis Glitter & Face Painting @Broadway Shopping Centre
Free, walk-ins only
📍Broadway Shopping Centre / Saturday 1 March / 10am-3pm

🦄 LEGO Unicorns @ Broadway Shopping Centre 
Using colourful LEGO bricks, kids can unleash their creativity to construct a one-of-a-kind unicorn, complete with a shimmering mane and sparkling tail. All participants will take home their LEGO masterpiece. $3 per child. Book ahead.
📍 Broadway Shopping Centre / Saturday 1 March / 2pm-4pm

👷 Kids D.I.Y. Workshop @ Bunnings Rozelle (ages 3 to 12)
Head in-store for a Building-themed Kids D.I.Y. Workshop. This workshop is recommended for kids aged 3-12 years old. Book ahead.
📍 Bunnings Rozelle / Saturday 1 & Sunday 2 March / 11am, 12pm

🎶 Rhythm N Bubs @ Darling Harbour (ages 1 to 5 years)
Join Rhythm n Bubs at Darling Harbour's Playground Lawn for a free weekly music session where children aged 1-5 can explore sound through fun activities led by professional music educators.
📍 Darling Harbour / Wednesdays / 10:30am to 11:15am

🧘 Kids Yoga @ Darling Quarter (ages 2 to 5 years)
Free 30-minute sessions where kids aged 2 to 5 develop body awareness and focus through fun, stretchy activities led by a qualified instructor, with mats provided and parents welcome to join.
📍 Playground Lawn, Darling Quarter / Fridays / 10:30am - 11am & 11:30am - 12pm

🚌 Magic Yellow Bus: The Magic Yellow Bus is a mobile play group for kids aged 0 to 6 years and their families. Check for daily updates as it occasionally has to be cancelled for unforeseen reasons.

• Mondays | War Memorial Park, Leichhardt | 9:30am - 12 noon

• Tuesdays | McNeilly Park, Marrickville | 9:30am - 12 noon

• Wednesday | Petersham Park, Petersham | 9:30am - 12 noon

• Thursdays | Enmore Park, Marrickville | 9:30am - 12 noon

Friday

🎬 Film Club: Blue Jean @ Balmain Library 
This months free film club screening is Blue Jean. Bookings are essential.
📍 Balmain Library / Friday 28th February / 2pm ♿️ 

🎵 Latin Nights by the Bay @ Darling Harbour 
Free outdoor Latin dance event every Friday night, featuring the city's best Latin dance schools, top DJs, live music, and a welcoming community atmosphere for dancers of all levels. Complimentary dance lesson at 6:15pm.
📍 Palm Grove (in front of IMAX Sydney), Darling Harbour / Friday 28th February / 6pm-10pm

Saturday

🏳️‍🌈 Mardi Gras Parade Screening 
Family fun with kids' arts and crafts from 5pm, followed by the Mardi Gras parade live screening at 7:30pm—bring a picnic rug or low chair and enjoy food from Raza Central, Chillato Gelato, and Mr and Miss Pancakes.
📍 Camperdown Memorial Rest Park / Saturday 1st March / 5pm-11pm ♿️ 

🎨 Artisans in the Park Market @ Glebe
Discover unique, locally handmade gifts at this community market featuring friendly artisans in a beautiful outdoor setting.
📍 Glebe / Saturday 1st March / 1pm-5pm ♿️ 

🚲 Guided Ride: Inner West to Oxford Street Rainbow Ride 
Celebrate Mardi Gras on an easy 13km guided bicycle tour by queer-owned Pedal Set Go, connecting iconic LGBTQIA+ neighbourhoods through Sydney's bicycle-friendly streets, rainbow paths and historic landmarks. BYO bike, helmet, refreshments and adventurous spirit. Bookings required.
📍 Pride Square Newtown / Saturday 1st March / 10am-12pm

✏️ Life Drawing @ Darlington
Join the Life Drawing Club every Saturday morning, set in the beautiful space of Peach Black Gallery. Tickets $25. Book in advance.
📍 Darlington / Saturday 1st March / 10am-12pm

📸 Digital Photography Club 
The Australian Digital Photographic Associations Digital Photography Club welcomes photographers of all experience levels on the first Saturday of every month, offering guidance and activities for those with their own cameras.
📍 Burwood Park Community Centre / Saturday 1st March / 2pm-4pm

Sunday

👉️ Flour Mill Markets @ Summer Hill:
Fresh artisan baked goods, fresh produce, hot food and artisan products from local makers and creators. 
📍 1 Flour Mill Way, Summer Hill / Saturday 1st March / 9 AM to 1 PM

🧹 Clean Up Australia Day
Volunteer for Clean Up Australia Day at Rodd Park Rodd Point, Taplin Park Drummoyne or Rhodes Foreshore. All clean up materials will be provided and there will be a free sausage sizzle for all volunteers.
📍 Rodd Park / Sunday 2nd March / 7:30am-11:30am

🚲️ Free Bike Tune-ups @ Marrickville Markets 
Transport for NSW offers free Sunday bike tune-ups at Marrickville Markets, providing minor adjustments for smoother rides. Bookings essential.
📍 Marrickville Organic Food Markets / Sunday 2nd March / 10am-1pm

🚌 Vintage Bus Rides @ The Sydney Bus Museum 
Opens on the first and third Sunday of each month, offering visitors all-day access to vintage bus collections, a World War II exhibition, optional guided tours, and unlimited rides on a vintage double-decker bus between the museum and Town Hall in the CBD. See website for ticket costs.
📍 Leichhardt / Sunday 2nd March / 10am-4pm

🛍️ Second Life Markets @ Carriageworks 
Offers Sydney's premier selection of vintage goods with over 120 curated stalls, local DJs providing all-day music, and various food trucks and drinks for a complete shopping and social experience. Tickets selling fast.
📍 Eveleigh / Sunday 2nd March / 9:30am-4pm ♿️ 

• Don't Save Me | KXT on Broadway

• Macbeth | Genesian Theatre Rozelle ♿️ 

• MJ the Musical | Lyric Theatre

• Turpentine | Flight Path Theatre Marrickville

• Titanique | The Grand Electric Redfern

• Afternote: In the Shade of Cinema | The Japan Foundation Chippendale

• Barbara Licha Art | Polish Club Ashfield

• Consuelo Cavaniglia: Seeing Through You | Chau Chak Wing Museum

• Instrumental: Collections from Science | Chau Chak Wing Museum

• Kerameikos the Potters' Quarter | Chau Chak Wing Museum

• Micro:Macro – models of insight and inspiration | Chau Chak Wing Museum

• On the Road to Justice: Remembering the Freedom Ride | 119 Redfern Street

• Robyn Fredericks & Janene Porter |The Shop Gallery Glebe

• Tara Johns — Under a Strange Sun | Tiliqua Tiliqua Enmore

• The trace is not a presence ... | Chau Chak Wing Museum

• Union Made: Art from the University of Sydney Union | Chau Chak Wing Museum

• XSWL: xiào sǐ wǒle" | White Rabbit Gallery

• You're Welcome? | Verge Gallery Darlington

🍸️ Rubyos Cocktail Bar Newtown | Thursday to Saturday | 5pm-7pm | See venue for terms. ♿️ 

🍺 Titus Jones Marrickville | Wednesday to Sunday | 5pm-6pm | $15 Margaritas & $7 Lager Schooners | See venue for terms.

🍷 Casa Esquina Balmain | Friday to Sunday | 3:30pm-5:30pm | 40% off happy hour beverage menu, including cocktails, wines and beers | See venue for terms.

🧒 Henson Park Hotel Marrickville | Friday Arvo 2-4-1 Kids Meals & Shares | Friday | 3pm-6pm | See venue for terms.

👦 Laneway Hotel Pyrmont | Kids Eat Free - adult must purchase a meal, free meal from kids menu only, 12 years and under | Saturday & Sunday | All Day | See venue for terms.

🇮🇹 Raineri’s Deli Five Dock
This old school Italian deli offers authentic Italian deli products, fresh produce, and gourmet specialties in a traditional family-owned atmosphere. A great place for lunch.

🥪 Dom Panino Leichhardt 
Dom Panino is a beloved Italian sandwich bar offering authentic panini, rolls, and Italian cafe classics in a casual, welcoming atmosphere. Open for breakfast and lunch

Friday

• Botany View Hotel Newtown | Newtown Sound 005 + The After Thoughts, Albanian Blood Pantree, Chinwag | 8pm

• Buddy's Bar Newtown | Lemon Row | 7:30pm

• Butchers Brew Bar Dulwich Hill | Taxim Trio | 8pm

• Church St Studios Camperdown | Georgia Fields & Vero String Quartet | 7:30pm

• Enmore Theatre | Millencolin + Pennywise, Fake News | 7pm

• Factory Floor @ The Factory Marrickville | Matt Charleston + NLA, Nick Marcus | 7:45pm

• Factory Theatre Marrickville | Daily J + Flaxxies | 7:30pm

• ICC Sydney Theatre | Stone Temple Pilots + Wolfmother | 9pm

• The Lady Hampshire Camperdown | Ego Trip + Social Strangers, Roomates | 7pm

• The Lansdowne Chippendale | Chaperone + The Bancrofts, Bloody Arvo | 7pm

• The Lansdowne Chippendale | A Swift Farewell + Noctica, This Time Only, Lights Out | 8pm

• Lazy Thinking Dulwich Hill | Bonniesongs + Grace Turbo | 7pm

• Marrickville Bowling Club | Keyo Roses Flying Circus | 7:30pm

• Miss Celie's Ashfield | Energetic Zen Quintet | 7pm

• MoshPit Bar Erskineville | Modus Fire + Spilt Milk, Trauma Cats | 8pm

• Pyrmont Bridge Hotel | Steve Weston | 9pm

• Trocadero Room Enmore | Bananagun + The Sleeves | 7:30pm

• The Vanguard Newtown | Ella Haber + Akasha, Leah Wilkie [Kiyoshi], Casey May & The Lovers | 6pm

• Vic on the Park Marrickville | Renaissance + DoloRRes, mumfighter, LILPIXIE, Looks & Freddy, Calliobel, 3vergard | 6pm

• Vic on the Park Marrickville | Shock Corridor + Cold/Heat | 9pm

• Waywards @ The Bank Hotel Newtown | Fool Nelson + Rageflower, Kyle Charles Hall | 8pm

• Yulli's Brews Alexandria | Katie Reid + Abbey Lane, Jessica Fortuin | 8pm

Saturday

• Bald Rock Hotel Rozelle | Dan Mullens | 7:30pm-10:30pm

• Balmain Bowling Club | The Throwbacks | 5pm-8pm

• Blackwattle Bar and Brewery | Blueshound | 6pm

• Butchers Brew Bar Dulwich Hill | The Greenbacks | 3pm

• Butchers Brew Bar Dulwich Hill | Jan Preston + Nick Charles | 8pm

• The Chippo Hotel Chippendale | Tallulah + Jan., Stirr, Pitt, Our Mutual Friend | 7pm

• The Duke of Enmore | Civic + Destrends, Smallways | 8pm

• Enmore Theatre | Elderbrook + Cassette | 8pm

• Factory Theatre Marrickville | Unicorns: Flower Power | 7pm

• Goodspace @ The Lord Gladstone Chippendale | Kitty of the Valley + File Type, Father's Favourite | 7pm

• Lazy Thinking Dulwich Hill | Verdani + Twinkling Stars, Mark Henderson | 7pm

• LazyBones Marrickville | King Tide | 7pm

• Miss Celie's Ashfield | Frank Sultana & Morton Choppers | 4pm

• Miss Celie's Ashfield | James Valentine's Upbeat | 7:30pm

• MoshPit Bar Erskineville | Soz (Not Soz) + East Coast Low, Paul Berwick | 2pm

• MoshPit Bar Erskineville | Raja Ko Radio + Predisposed, Fourmation, Yogi | 7pm

• Pyrmont Bridge Hotel | Flying Daggers | 5pm

• Pyrmont Bridge Hotel | FinKt | 9pm

• The Townie Newtown | Beijing Bikini + Balkan Grill | 9:30pm

• Trocadero Room Enmore | Bek Jensen | 8pm

• UTS Underground Ultimo | Vanilla Gorilla | 7:30pm

• The Vanguard Newtown | Witchskull + Cruciform, The Veil | 7:30pm

• Vic on the Park Marrickville | Vic on The Pardi Gras + Big Wett, The Inner West Voices, The Queer Baits, DJ Hot Rod, Jason De Cox, Fishing Dad, Hot Wet Boys | 2pm

• Warren View Hotel Enmore | Any Young Mechanic | 9pm

Sunday

• Bald Rock Hotel Rozelle | Traditional Irish Session | 3pm-6pm

• Balmain Bowling Club | The Durham Project | 3pm-6pm

• Butchers Brew Bar Dulwich Hill | Gervais Koffi & The African Diaspora | 8pm

• The Courtyard @ The Factory Marrickville | Freekin Weekends + Dxvndre, Jah Tung, Gemma Ylana | 1pm

• Enmore Theatre | Afi + total tommy, Sacred Hearts | 7pm

• Factory Theatre Marrickville | Sam Tompkins + Mason Dane | 7pm

• ICC Sydney Theatre | Sodagreen | 7pm

• Lazy Thinking Dulwich Hill | Hostile Vol 1 + Cherry Rype, Charles Carnabuci, Pitt, Su-Ann, Stirr, Heaven Cell | 2pm

• LazyBones Marrickville | Stefan Hauk + Piper Butcher | 5pm

• Manning Bar Camperdown | The Aristocrats + Toehider [Solo] | 9pm

• Marrickville Bowling Club | Johnny Gretsch & The Wasted Ones | 4:30pm

• Miss Celie's Ashfield | Tokyo Boho Trio | 4pm

• Miss Celie's Ashfield | Johnny G (Solo) | 7:30pm

• Palomino Lounge Enmore | Max Marvell | 7:30pm

• Pyrmont Bridge Hotel | Papa Surf | 3pm

• Pyrmont Bridge Hotel | Simon Kinney Lewis Band | 7pm

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