Your guide to the best of the Inner West from 4 to 6 September

Good morning, Inner Westies.

From Father’s Day lunches and spring festivals to Sydney Fringe shows, markets, gigs and reopened swim spots, here’s what’s on this weekend.

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.

Eleanor Villa is sandstone and dates to about 1856. Inside, high ceilings, picture rails and the original Baltic pine floorboards. Verandahs wrap the house, rebuilt with hardwood decking. Cast iron balustrading is early Georgian. Out front, stonework and a fish pond. Downstairs, a studio and a wine cellar. A fourth bedroom has its own entrance. The view runs across Snails Bay to the northern skyline. The Anzac Bridge and the city are visible from the upper level. It goes to auction on 26 September, guide $5.8 million.

📍 4 bed / 2 bath / 2 car / 416sqm approx.
👉 Listed with Belle Property Balmain

Some seasonal Inner West swim spots opened for the season on 1 September. Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre, the mushroom pool and splash pad at Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre, and Steel Park Waterplay Park run until 30 April, and Drummoyne Swimming Centre's heated saltwater pools and riverside kids' splash pool are back too.

Saturday looks like it’s going be a hot day! See our Where to Swim in the Inner West guide for every spot to cool off.

Sydney Fringe Festival is on now, running until 30 September across the city. The Inner West Precinct is where it gets weird and wonderful, with hubs at Marrickville Town Hall, Factory Theatre, New Theatre and PACT in Erskineville serving up cabaret, comedy and experimental performance from emerging artists.

👉 Find out more

🎬 Dive in Movie Screening of Kung Fu Panda 4
Poolside family movie night at Ashfield Aquatic Centre, with entry from 5pm and the film starting at 6pm.
📆 Fri 4 Sept / 5pm
📍 Ashfield Aquatic Centre

🎪 Balmain Family Fun Fair
Community fair with pony rides, LEGO activities, a petting zoo, inflatables, games, food, market stalls and local performances.
📆 Sat 5 Sept / 9am – 2pm
📍 Balmain Public School and Gladstone Park

🔬 Maker Time for Families 8-12 Years (ages 8–12)
A hands-on makerspace session with maker kits, microscopes, a marble run, wind tube and robotics.
📆 Sat 5 Sep / 10:30am – 12:30pm
📍 Darling Square Library, Haymarket

📚 HSC Study Nights
Quiet study sessions for HSC students, running after the library has closed for the day.
📆 Sat 5 Sep / 6pm – 10pm
📍 The Community Hub, Burwood

🚢 Father's Day at the Maritime Museum
Dads go free with a See It All ticket covering tall ships, naval vessels and family programs.
📆 Sun 6 Sep / 10am – 4pm
📍 Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour

🚌 Sydney Bus Museum Open Day
The historic Leichhardt tramshed opens up, with heritage bus rides to the city and back included.
📆 Sun 6 Sep / from 10am
📍 Sydney Bus Museum, Leichhardt

🐑 Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom Advance Screening
A Father’s Day advance screening of Aardman’s new Shaun the Sheep adventure, rated G and made for a family cinema outing.
📆 Sun 6 Sept / 10:15am
📍 Event Cinemas Burwood

🎨 Make Your Own Drawing Tools – All Abilities Youth Workshop
Young people build layered tonal collages from cardboard, craft paper and pages of old books.
📆 Sun 6 Sep / 1pm – 3pm
📍 St Peters Library

🎬 Family Movie Night: Astro Kid
Ten-year-old Willy crash-lands on an unexplored planet in this free animated sci-fi screening.
📆 Tue 8 Sep / 5:30pm – 7pm
📍 Concord Library

COMING UP

🎺  Kids Proms: It's Party Time! (ages 2–6)
An interactive concert band show with upbeat tunes and chances to clap, dance, march and sing.
📆 Sat 12 Sep / 9:45am & 11am
📍 Leichhardt Town Hall

KIDS EAT FREE

Don’t forget we have our Kids Eat Free Guide. 35+ places across the Inner West where kids eat free.
Get the Guide →

ALL WEEKEND

🥳 Sydney Fringe Festival
It’s here, running until 30 September. Check out what’s on in the Inner West Precinct, as well as what’s on this weekend in the Theatre & Comedy section later in this email.

🖼️ Sydney Contemporary
100 galleries from nine countries show work at the 10th edition of the art fair.
📆 Fri 4 – Sun 6 Sep / From 11am
📍 Carriageworks, Eveleigh

🌷 Hay in Bloom at Hay St
The street fills with flowers for the month, alongside seasonal dishes and spring cocktails.
📆 Wed 2 – Sun 27 Sep / From 11am
📍 Hay St Market, Haymarket

🍿 Father's Day Retro Screenings Weekend
Retro films screening across the Father's Day weekend.
📆 Fri 4 – Sun 6 Sep
📍 Event Cinemas Burwood

🌊 Go Diving Show
A dive expo with exhibitors, talks and demonstrations for divers and ocean swimmers.
📆 Sat 5 – Sun 6 Sep / 9:30am – 5pm
📍 Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush

🌱 The Garden Immersive Art Shop (extended by 2 weeks)
Hands-on Marrickville warehouse installation with a garden-themed art shop.
📆 Fri 31 Jul – Sun 13 Sep / 10am – 4pm
📍 Voluptuary Ceramics, Marrickville

FRIDAY

🔮 Aura Photography
A free walk-up aura photography session, with a digital portrait and colour guide sent to phone or email.
📆 Fri 4 Sept / 11am – 2pm
📍 Next to Romeo’s IGA, South Eveleigh

🎬 Film Screening: Lion
A free screening of the Dev Patel drama about Saroo Brierley's search for his family.
📆 Fri 4 Sep / 2pm – 4pm
📍 Concord Library, Canada Bay

💃 Club De Tango: La Milonga
Sydney's original milonga, running since 1999, with a beginners class before the social dancing.
📆 Fri 4 Sep / 7:30pm – 11:45pm
📍 Glebe Town Hall

🤠 Dolly Night
A Dolly Parton tribute night with line dancing and song swaps.
📆 Fri 4 Sep / from 7pm
📍 The Imperial, Erskineville

🍽️ Dinner for Dolly
A Dolly Parton celebration with Southern food, trivia and songs.
📆 Fri 4 Sep / from 7pm
📍 The Chippo Hotel, Chippendale

SATURDAY

🏉  Shute Shield
Grand final day for Sydney's senior club rugby union competition.
📆 Sat 5 Sep / from 9am
📍 Leichhardt Oval

🛍️ Market Studio Birthday Market
A birthday makers market featuring ceramics and work from local artists.
📆 Sat 5 Sep / 9am – 2pm
📍 Market Studio, Annandale

🛍️ Artisans in the Park Market
Curated Artisan not-for-profit market showcasing unique handmade products. Free entry. Plenty of parking.
📆 Sat 5 Sept / 10am – 3pm
📍 Tramsheds, Forest Lodge

♻️ ReFest
A community sustainability festival with talks, stalls and workshops.
📆 Sat 5 Sep / 10am – 3pm
📍 Inner West Sustainability Hub, Summer Hill

🎪 Strathfield Spring Festival 2026
Large community festival with carnival rides, food stalls, markets, pony rides, roving entertainment, sports activations and Bluey stage shows.
📆 Sat 5 Sept / 10am – 5pm
📍 Strathfield Park

👗 Fashion Thrift Society
Australia’s biggest curated fashion market, with pre-loved, vintage and small-label clothing.
📆 Sat 5 Sep / 10am – 4pm
📍 Sydney Olympic Park

🐶 Paws and Portraits
Bring your dog along for a free professional pet photoshoot, with a complimentary digital portrait emailed within 48 hours.
📆 Sat 5 Sept / 10am – 2pm
📍 Eveleigh Works, South Eveleigh

🔥 Father's Day Wood Burning Cheeseboard Workshop
Learn pyrography and burn your own design into a cheeseboard to keep or give away.
📆 Sat 5 Sep / 10am – 1pm
📍 Sew Make Create, Chippendale

📷 Phone Photography – Exploring Balmain (Birrabirragal)
A walking workshop photographing laneways, cottages and gardens on a smartphone.
📆 Sat 5 Sep / 10am – 1pm
📍 The Exchange Hotel, Balmain

🔨 Bower Power Tool & Machinery Sale
Pre-loved welding machines, drills, saws, hand tools and power tools will be sold until stock runs out.
📆 Sat 5 Sep / 10am – 1pm
📍 Inner West Sustainability Hub, Summer Hill

🌼 Petersham Bowling Club Spring Fair
The annual fair returns with local makers, competitions, an outdoor bar, sauna installation and family activities.
📆 Sat 5 Sep / 11am – 5pm
📍 Petersham Bowling Club

🚇 Metro Below: Sydney Walking Tour
A guided walk through new Metro stations looking at their architecture, engineering and design.
📆 Sat 5 Sep / 2pm – 4pm
📍 Waterloo Metro Station

🎳 Barefoot Bowling for Singles 40+
Barefoot bowls in small mixed groups for singles over 40, with the first drink included.
📆 Sat 5 Sep / 4pm – 6pm
📍 Gladstone Park Bowling Club, Balmain

🔮 The Symbolism & Psychology of Virgo
A talk on Virgo's deeper symbolism, drawing on psychology, medicine, yoga and Goethe's Faust.
📆 Sat 5 Sep / 5:30pm – 7pm
📍 School of Human Potential, Newtown

📖 Crip Stories: An Anthology of Disabled Writers
A launch reading of memoir, essays and poetry by disabled writers on care, rage and pride.
📆 Sat 5 Sep / 6:30pm – 8pm
📍 Gleebooks, Glebe

SUNDAY

🌸 Breakfast Point Spring Festival
A spring community festival with stalls, entertainment and family activities.
📆 Sun 6 Sep / 9am – 3pm
📍 Village Green, Breakfast Point

🏃 Snoopy Run 2026
A Peanuts-themed fun run over 5km and 10km through the parklands.
📆 Sun 6 Sep / from 7:30am
📍 Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush

🥬 Flour Mill Markets
Fresh artisan-baked goods, fresh produce, hot food and artisan products from local makers and creators. 
📆 Sun 6 Sep / 9am – 1pm
📍Harvest Park, Summer Hill

🏉 NSWRL Rabbitohs Vs Panthers
NSW Women’s Championship, with the Rabbitohs facing the Panthers.
📆 Sun 6 Sep / from 11am
📍 Leichhardt Oval

✂️ Community Crafternoon
A relaxed drop-in session for making and sharing simple craft projects.
📆 Sun 6 Sep / 1pm – 3pm
📍 Little Big House, Marrickville

🖌️ Painting: Landscapes (ages 16+)
A two-and-a-half hour beginners acrylic class covering colour mixing, tone and composition.
📆 Sun 6 Sep / 1pm – 3:30pm
📍 Ultimo Community Centre

🏳️‍🌈 Crafty Queers
A monthly DIY craft social for queers and their peers, with sewing machines provided.
📆 Sun 6 Sep / 2pm – 5pm
📍 Reverse Garbage, Marrickville

📓 Zine Making
A hands-on workshop making small handmade zines.
📆 Sun 6 Sep / 4pm – 5:30pm
📍 Little Big House, Marrickville

COMING UP

🧘 Pause. Breathe. Connect this RUOK? Day at Calmbar
Balmain Rozelle Chamber of Commerce hosts a mental health and wellbeing talk with Tom Cronin, followed by a gentle guided breathwork session with Anna Pham.
📆 Thu 10 Sep / 6pm
📍 CalmBar, Rozelle

🎨 Rinse and Repeat
Paintings by Lauren van Dort and jewellery by Olivia Hussey, with drinks with the artists on Saturday evening.
📆 Thu 10 – Tue 15 Sep
📍 Studio 551, Newtown

🏉  NRLW: Wests Tigers v Raiders
Round 11 of the NRLW, Wests Tigers against the Canberra Raiders.
📆 Fri 11 Sep / 5:40pm
📍 Leichhardt Oval

📜 History Council NSW Annual History Awards & Lecture
The annual awards and lecture recognising history writing, research and public history.
📆 Fri 11 Sep / 6pm – 9pm
📍 Glebe Town Hall

🃏 Hobbycon Sydney
A collectables convention covering trading cards, comics, anime, figurines and sneakers.
📆 Sat 12 Sep / 9am – 4pm
📍 Wentworth Park Sporting Complex, Glebe

🦸 Oz Comic-Con
A pop-culture convention with comics, cosplay, gaming and guest appearances.
📆 Sat 12 Sep / 9am – 5pm
📍 Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush

👜 Second Life Markets
A market for pre-loved fashion, accessories and second-hand finds.
📆 Sun 13 Sep / 10am – 4pm
📍 Carriageworks, Eveleigh

New NSW planning rules took effect Tuesday 1 September, replacing council-specific plans with one statewide plan for consistency. Canada Bay Council says some DAs including demolition, low-rise housing, secondary dwellings and tree removal, no longer need public exhibition or neighbour notice.

👉 Find out more

A 23-storey build-to-rent development has been approved for the corner of Pyrmont Bridge and Parramatta roads in Annandale. The project includes 299 rental homes, 10% affordable housing for 15 years, and ground-floor retail. It is a significant change for this Parramatta Road pocket, although construction timing has not yet been confirmed.

👉 Find out more

CITY OF CANADA BAY

City of Canada Bay has received $1 million through Transport for NSW's Safer Cities: Her Way program for upgrades in Drummoyne. The project focuses on walking connections along Victoria Road and Formosa Street, with the aim of making the town centre feel safer for women, girls and gender diverse people after dark. Possible improvements include lighting, artwork, music and activations, with community input to shape the final ideas.

👉 Find out more

CITY OF SYDNEY

Transport for NSW is planning a $40 million accessibility upgrade at Wentworth Park light rail stop, the closest stop to the new Sydney Fish Market. The project is expected to include lifts, ramps, platform upgrades, lighting, signage, landscaping and CCTV under the Safe Accessible Transport program. Site investigations are underway to inform the concept design, with community consultation still to come.

👉 Find out more

INNER WEST COUNCIL

Inner West Council has released a transport blueprint arguing that new homes along Parramatta Road need better public transport planned alongside them. The plan calls for permanent rapid transit on Parramatta Road, a major Inner West Light Rail upgrade, a second GreenWay, reopening Glebe Island Bridge, new cross-region bus links and more bike parking near future metro stations. Council says the NSW Government is expected to release details soon for up to 8,000 new dwellings along the corridor.

👉 Find out more

A new ferry stop is coming to Walsh Bay early next year, linking the arts precinct to the F3 Parramatta and F8 Cockatoo Island routes. It connects nine arts companies, including Sydney Theatre Company and Bangarra, to the Inner West. Inner West Council has welcomed the link, alongside new stops at Pirrama Park and Balmain West.

👉 Find out more

Darcy Byrne has been re-elected Mayor of Inner West Council to September 2028, with Clr Philippa Scott elected Deputy Mayor to September 2027, both by 10-5 votes at Tuesday's Extraordinary Council meeting. Scott represents Haberfield, Leichhardt and Annandale and is serving her second term as Deputy.

👉 Find out more

Inner West Council wants community members for its Local Democracy Groups. Applications close Thursday 18 September. There are 10 spots on the new GreenWay group, plus vacancies on five others including Arts & Culture, LGBTQ+ and Small Business. Volunteers give Council input, with terms to September 2028.

👉 Find out more

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne has backed St Peters brewery Future Brewing, which Council says launched a fundraiser after sustained complaints added to its financial pressure. Byrne pointed to Council's Good Neighbour policy, which favours mediation over regulatory action, and linked it to the Inner West Ale Trail.

👉 Find out more

🐶  Moon Paw-ty at IIKO Mazesoba
A Tsukimi menu for humans and matcha treats for dogs, plus pet portraits and a Pound Paws fundraiser.
📆 Sat 5 Sep / 11:30am – 3:30pm
📍 IIKO Mazesoba, Darling Harbour

🍽️ A Father's Day of Joyful Disobedience
Chef Jeff Schroeter's menu of oysters Rockefeller, steak tartare, Moreton Bay bugs and duck à l'orange.
📆 Fri 4 – Sun 6 Sep / 5pm – 11pm
📍 Darling Glebe

☕ Free Coffee for Dad at Oats on Oats
Oats on Oats is giving dads and father figures a free coffee with any meal on Father’s Day. The offer runs all day – see venue for terms and conditions.
📆 Sun 6 Sep
📍 Oats on Oats, Marrickville

🥩 Father's Day Premium Steak Experience at I'm Angus Steakhouse
A Father's Day steak menu of Australian beef with matched international wines.
📆 Sun 6 Sep / 10am – 4pm
📍 I'm Angus Steakhouse, Darling Harbour

🐟 Father's Day Waterfront Feast at Nick's Seafood Restaurant
A Father's Day seafood and grill menu on the waterfront.
📆 Sun 6 Sep / 10am – 4pm
📍 Nick's Seafood Restaurant, Darling Harbour

🍣 Father's Day at RK San
Full à la carte sushi, robata and tempura, with omakase and degustation menus also available.
📆 Sun 6 Sep / 11am – 10pm
📍 RK San, Redfern

🥟 Father's Day at Lotus Dumpling Bar Summer Hill
An $89 banquet with lemongrass crispy pork bao, black pepper beef and espresso chocolate cake.
📆 Sun 6 Sep / 12pm – 2:30pm
📍 Lotus Dumpling Bar, Summer Hill

🍛 Father's Day at Delhi 'O' Delhi
The tandoor moves out to the courtyard, with naan and tandoori favourites cooked outdoors.
📆 Sun 6 Sep / 5:30pm – 10pm
📍 Delhi 'O' Delhi, Newtown

🥳 Carlisle Castle Hotel Grand Reopening
The Carlisle Castle is reopening in Newtown with $1 wings and live music from Charley Castle and Ollie Thorpe. Bookings are now live via the venue.
📆 Fri 4 Sep / From 5pm
📍 Carlisle Castle Hotel, Newtown
👉 Find out more

🍺 Bracket Brewing’s Sixth Birthday
Four days of birthday beers, new releases, collaborations, merch and temporary tattoos.
📆 Thu 3 – Sun 6 Sep
📍 Bracket Brewing, Alexandria

🏉 Tigers v Penrith at Leichhardt Bowlo
Watch the Sunday footy at the club, with one free schooner for dads on Father’s Day.
📆 Sun 6 Sep / 4:05pm kick-off
📍 Leichhardt Bowling Club

Village Days lager hall planned for the former Wildflower site
Village Days plans to open a lager-focused venue in Wildflower’s former Marrickville location. The team is aiming for late October or early November.
👉 Find out more

COMING UP

🎤 House of Hymns
Karaoke singers perform pop and queer anthems backed by a live 12-person choir. This is a new kind of karaoke night!
📆 Thu 17 Sep / 7pm – 10pm
📍 Pleasure Club, Newtown

HAPPY HOUR HEROES

🍸 Continental Deli Newtown | Every day | 4pm – 5:30pm | Happy Hour menu: Mister Grotto Oysters $5 each, $25 half dozen, House White $12, Martini $12, Estrella Lager $7, Negroni $12, House Red $12 - see venue for terms and conditions.

🍹 Ariomi St Peters | Every Friday | 4pm – 8pm | Friday Aperitivo hour - see venue for terms and conditions.

🥃 Silver’s Motel Enmore | Every day | 5pm – 7pm | House beers $7, house wines $10, Midi Splice $15, Four Pillars gin and tonic $7 and Angel’s Envy bourbon $8 - 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.