Good morning, Inner Westies. From the new Inner West Distillery Trail and community markets to upgraded playgrounds, retro rummages and a jazz fest — here’s your ultimate weekend list.

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

The Inner West now has its own Distillery Trail, bringing together nine award-winning whiskey, rum, gin and vodka producers across Marrickville and Balmain-Lilyfield districts. Officially launched by Mayor Darcy Byrne at Red Mill Rum, the initiative was inspired by the runaway success of the Inner West Ale Trail. Visitors can sip, savour and get a behind-the-scenes look at distilleries including Blackwattle Distilling Co, Ester Spirits, Eureka Distilling, Lily Fields Distilling Co, Moonshiner Distilling Collaboration, Otter Craft Distilling, Poor Toms, Red Mill Rum and Unexpected Guest Distillery.

Add this to your weekend list: launch specials (for this weekend) include $12 cocktails and 20% off bottles purchased online. View details and terms here.

👉 Read more here

NSW’s largest independent arts festival is back this September, running from 1 to 30 September 2025. With more than 460 events across dozens of venues and thousands of artists involved, the Sydney Fringe celebrates bold, diverse and experimental creativity. The Inner West Precinct is the vanguard of the festival, known for playful programming that tackles contemporary social issues through theatre, comedy, live music, visual arts and more.

📍 Inner West Precinct + Greater Sydney / 1 to 30 September 2025
👉 Check out what’s on in the Inner West Precinct

Each week (or thereabouts) we spotlight one interesting local listing — whether it’s jaw-droppingly luxe, a federation beauty, or full of fixer-upper charm. It’s a fun little peek into Inner West real estate - no judgment, just curiosity.

One of my favourite hobbies is looking at homes I’ll never be able to afford. If it’s yours too, you’re in the right place.

Perched on the Parramatta River, this Federation beauty pairs historic character with sweeping views towards Gladesville Bridge. Inside, there are five generous bedrooms, multiple retreats and a gourmet stone kitchen, while outdoors you’ll find wide entertaining terraces and a private 10-metre jetty for boating enthusiasts. It’s prestige waterfront living at its best. I could see myself very happy there with a morning cuppa taking in those views.

📍348 Victoria Place, Drummoyne / 5 bed / 4 bath / 4 car
👉 Listed with DibChidiac&Co.

🛝 Upgraded Playground Opening at Ashfield

🧒 Minis Week Continues @ South Eveleigh

🌸 Spring Event @ Bunnings Rozelle
Celebrate the season of colour at Bunnings Rozelle with a baby animal petting zoo, hair braiding and more family fun.
📍 Bunnings Rozelle / Saturday 30 August 2025 / 11am – 1pm

🎲 Tabletop Games (ages 13 to 18) 
Explore thrilling quests and epic battles with games like Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and more.
📍 Leichhardt Library / Saturday 30 August 2025 / 1:30pm – 4:30pm ♿️

🧱 Burwood Brick Builders (ages 5 to 12)
Monthly after‑school sessions for kids to build Lego creations and connect with fellow brick enthusiasts. Space limited, but no booking required.
📍Burwood Library and Community Hub / Wednesday 3 September 2025 / 3:15pm – 4:15pm ♿️

🚀 After School: Raging Rockets (ages 5 to 8)
Get creative with rocket-themed art in this hands-on workshop. Kids aged 5–8 will design and make their own rocket artwork to take home, guided by RAW Art’s experienced educators.
📍 Stanmore Library / Thursday 4 September 2025 / 3:45 – 4:45pm ♿️

👨‍👧 Father's Day Family Event
Celebrate Father’s Day with a free, family-friendly evening at Bunnings. Enjoy a Bluey Scavenger Hunt, kids’ DIYs, entertainment and more.
📍 Bunnings Ashfield, Bunnings Rozelle, Bunnings Alexandria / Thursday 4 September 2025 / 5 – 7pm

⚔️ Knights & Princesses: A Quest Night Out! (ages 4 to 12)
Step into a magical kingdom of adventure! Become a brave knight, royal princess, or dragon tamer with crafts, dress-ups, battles, fort building and movie time. Ages 4-12, drop-off only event. Drop the kids off and take yourself on a date night!
📍 Martin Hall, Leichhardt / Saturday 6 September 2025 / 5:30pm – 8:30pm

🎵 SOFT CENTRE
An unmissable weekend of experimental art, sound and new media hits White Bay Power Station. Experience an epic Saturday festival day with over 80 artists across 3 stages, plus a very special Sunday closing concert.
📍White Bay Power Station, Rozelle / Saturday 30 & Sunday 31 August 2025

🎧 Great Flavours. Killer Beats
Sydney's go-to night-market eats with the city's freshest DJ talent dropping sets every weekend. From soulful house to vocal electronica and late-night dancefloor energy.
📍 Traders Bar, Hay St Market / Friday 29 August, Saturday 30 August and Sunday 31 August 2025 / Various times

🍺 Wayward Turns 10 – Final Weekend at the Taproom
Wayward Brewing celebrates 10 years of beers, memories, and mischief with one last party at the Camperdown Taproom. Expect live music, cold beers and limited edition merch before they close their doors for good.
📍 Wayward Brewing Co., Camperdown / Saturday 30 – Sunday 31 August 2025 / Live Music 4pm – 6pm

🎷 Inner West Jazz Fest
Two nights of incredible creative music from the city's leading jazz and experimental artists featuring world premiers and local musical institutions. Book your tickets now.
📍Annandale Creative Arts Centre, Annandale / Friday 29 & Saturday 30 August 2025 / 6:30pm – 11pm

🎵 Butcher and The Farmer Live
Live music from Jessica King in a laid-back, family-friendly vibe for a proper night out.
📍 Butcher and The Farmer, Tramshed / Friday 29 August 2025 / 6pm – 9pm

🎤 Stanmore Glee Club Live @ Annandale Hotel
Join Stanmore Glee Club for an electrifying evening of great pop and rock anthems. Experience the power of singing together at one of Sydney's most beloved live music venues.
📍 Annandale Hotel / Friday 29 August 2025 / 8pm

😂 Best Mates Comedy @The Barrel Room by Akasha
Best Mates Comedy comes to The Barrel Room! Catch rising stars and seasoned pros headlined by Nikki Britton, plus $5 tacos, $7 tinnies (beer & seltzer) and $15 cocktails. See venue for terms and conditions. 💰Tix for the show $15
📍 Barrel Room by Akasha, Leichhardt / Friday 29 August 2025 / 8pm – 10pm

✨ Silversmithing For Beginners
Make one pair of sterling silver earrings using traditional tools and techniques in this hands-on workshop. Learn to saw, drill, file, texturise and polish silver – no experience needed.
📍 Sydney Creative, Redfern / Friday 29 August 2025 / 7pm – 9pm

🎂 MarketPlace Leichhardt Turns 50!
Celebrate 50 golden years with free donuts, entertainment, face painting, giveaways and exclusive retailer offers. Plus $5,000 prize draw and historical photo display.
📍 MarketPlace Leichhardt / Saturday 30 August 2025 / 10am – 2pm

👗 Oro Market - Vintage & Preloved Clothing Day
Step into a curated world of fashion treasures as clients open their wardrobes to share vintage and preloved pieces. Discover sustainable fashion at amazing prices with great music.
📍 Oro Fashion House, Pyrmont / Saturday 30 August 2025 / 10am – 4pm

🏳‍🌈 ACON40: Trans Evolution
Celebrate ACON turning 40. Listen as they reflect on the journey, hear from leaders, plus free Justice of the Peace service for gender marker changes and morning tea.
📍 Inner West Pride Centre, Newtown / Saturday 30 August 2025 / 11am – 1pm ♿️

🏈 AFLW: GIANTS v Adelaide Crows
The GIANTS take on the Adelaide Crows at Henson Park. Plenty of activities, delicious food and GIANT inflatables for the kids. Perfect family day out.
📍 Henson Park, Marrickville / Saturday 30 August 2025 / 1:05pm – 3:30pm ♿️

🌱 Parents for Climate Inner West Social Event
Meet your fellow climate-conscious Inner Westies at a casual hang. Kids can play on the playground while adults hear about local MP meetings and national campaigns.
📍 Yanada Community Room, Lewisham / Saturday 30 August 2025 / 3pm – 6pm

🛍 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. 💰 Tickets from $5.
📍 Eveleigh / Sunday 31 August 2025 / 9:30am – 4pm ♿

🐕 Inner West Goldies - Monthly Golden Retriever Meetup
Monthly meetup for Golden Retrievers and their humans at off-leash friendly Callan Park. Meet fellow Golden Retriever owners while watching the dogs play.
📍Callan Park, Rozelle / Sunday 31 August 2025 / 9am

🃏 Card Craze
Sydney's ultimate trading card show – buy, sell, trade, grade and connect with top collectors and vendors. Features rare cards, giveaways, grading services and special guest vendors. 💰Tix $15 (kids 12 & under free).
📍 Canterbury Leagues Club, Belmore / Sunday 31 August 2025 / 9am – 5pm

🎨 Perfect Match Street Art Celebration @Lilyfield
Join the unveiling of new mural "To Stop is to See" by local artist Mango (Sam Doughty). Meet the artist, learn about the artwork and enjoy community celebration with a Lebanese coffee.
📍 Beirut Boulevarde, Lilyfield / Sunday 31 August 2025 / 11am – 12pm ♿️

🛍️ Suitcase Rummage Market
Find pre-loved clothes, records, books and pot plants, as well as hand made creations by local makers and artists.
📍 The Goods Line, Haymarket / Sunday / 11am – 3pm

💅 Bar Planet Nail Art Pop-Up
Get your nails done whilst sipping a martini at this special one-off nail art pop-up with Sets by Onyx. Take your pick from Bar Planet nail art designs. Limited spots!
📍 Bar Planet / Sunday 31 August 2025 / 2pm – 4pm

🎮 Game Show Experience: Rise Through Rivalry
Compete in a game show inspired by classic formats where you'll think fast, act smart, and sync with your team. It's about amplifying your competitive advantage to maximise results.
📍 Little BIG House, Summer Hill / Sunday 31 August 2025 / 2pm – 5pm

🎼 The Metropolitan Orchestra Met Concert#3
Fresh from sell-out performances at the Sydney Opera House, The Metropolitan Orchestra return to Marrickville. Features exceptional works by Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky and Dvorak with Chief Conductor Sarah-Grace Williams.
📍 Marrickville Town Hall / Sunday 31 August 2025 / 3pm – 4:30pm ♿️

🕺 Beat Breakdown
Sydney's best dancers battle it out in an open competition featuring different dance styles each week. Experience incredible hip-hop, locking, voguing and more with DJs, MCs, and hosts.
📍 Palm Grove Forecourt, Darling Harbour / Thursday 4 ,11, 18 & 25 September 2025 / 6pm – 9pm

🌪️ Dorothy in Oz
Step into the magical world of Dorothy in Oz: The Immersive Cocktail Adventure. Combines live performance, cocktail crafting, and stage magic where you become part of the action.
📍 Marrickville Town Hall / Wednesday 3 September to Sunday 28 September 2025 / Daily sessions

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

Balmain has a new all-day bistro and live music destination. Elliott’s (from the team behind Esteban and TQM) opened this week on Elliott Street, serving modern Australian dining with French and Italian influences, curated cocktails, and a courtyard designed for year-round gigs. Expect vinyl DJs every weekend and live acts from September.

Add this Cheeseburger Croissant to your must try list!

📍 79 Elliott St, Balmain (ex-Casa Esquina)
👉 Visit their Website and Socials for more info

🍗 Jolly Nights @ Tita Marrickville
Tita Marrickville goes late with a Jollibee-inspired night menu. Enjoy the brunch favourites by day, then switch to fried chicken, spaghetti, and more from 5pm. This weekend only!
📍 Tita, Marrickville / Friday 29 to Sunday 31 August 2025 / 5pm – 9pm

🍻 The Marly Newtown | Monday to Thursday | 5pm – 7pm | $7 house beers, $7 house wines, $8 house spirits & $12 tap cocktails – see venue for terms and conditions.

🍻 The Montague Hotel Marrickville

Enmore’s new red-lit listening bar brings late-night energy with a 400-record vinyl collection, weekend DJs and midweek request nights. Bought to you by the team behind Otis Bar. Japanese inspired drinks menu, think sesame martini, ponzu old fashioned and a nostalgic Midori colada, while the snack menu runs until close with wagyu pastrami sangas, ramen, salmon roe-topped crumpets and yuzu-ranch Pringles. And karaoke room is coming soon.

📍 182 Enmore Rd, Enmore / Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday 4pm – 12am, Friday & Saturday 4pm – 2am
👉 See their Instagram for more info

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