Sydney Festivals & Major Events
January
Sydney Festival: a three-week festival of music, theatre, film and visual arts, with Australian and international offerings.
Late January/early February
Chinese New Year: dancing dragons, firecrackers and exotic food in Chinatown.
Sydney Fringe Festival (tel: 9365 0112).
Late February/ early March
Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras: an outrageous parade watched by thousands, followed by a massive Mardi Gras party.
Late March/ early April
Royal Easter Show: the country comes to town: wood chopping, livestock, sideshows.
Mid-June
Sydney Film Festival: about 250 screenings in two weeks, many at the grand old State Theatre.
Mid-July, even-numbered years
Biennale of Sydney: International arts festival.
Early August
City to Surf Race: thousands of runners race from the City to Bondi (Tel: 9282 2747).
September
Sydney Marathon: massive and increasingly popular road race, which attracted some 13,000 participants in 2003 (2nd Sunday).
Royal Botanic Gardens Spring Festival. Spectacular seasonal displays, complete with brass bands, art shows and foodstalls.
Aurora New World Festival, late September. A multicultural celebration at Darling Harbour.
October
Manly International Jazz Festival: one of the best of its kind in Australia, attracting famous names in the genre from around the world (1st Saturday).
December
Homebake: massive music festival presented exclusively by Australian acts, since 1995. More than 50 bands on four stages in The Domain (1st Saturday).
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race (26th). Thousands watch the start in Sydney Harbour.
Christmas and New Year's Parties, Bondi Beach (tel: 9265 9007).