13 Things to do in Sydney this weekend (September 19-21)

This week, I’m all about celebrating local creativity and enjoying the Spring sunshine. First up: The Big Design Market at Carriageworks, a one-stop treasure trove of handmade ceramics, jewellery, tech, fashion and more (trust me, it’s impossible to leave empty-handed). Saturday will start with brews and beats at Maple Social Club’s Coffee and DJ’s event, because who says you can’t boogie before brunch? Wrap up your weekend at the Manly Jazz Festival, where smooth live performances meet the laid-back charm of Manly’s iconic beachside setting, the perfect recipe for a chilled (but groovy) Sunday.

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Things to do in Sydney this weekend

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1. The Big Design Market

The Big Design Market is coming to Carriageworks this weekend, showcasing the best ethically made fashion, ceramics, homewares, jewellery, tech accessories, pet wares and more. With a huge lineup of over 230 Australian and New Zealand designers and tastemakers, shoppers will be spoilt for choice.

To keep your energy levels high throughout the day, enjoy a delicious selection from food stalls including Wholegreen Bakery, Bar Pho, Brooklyn Boy Bagels, Wonder Pies and many more. As you explore the event, be sure to check out the stunning large-scale installations by this year’s guest artist, the talented Emma Morgan.

Where: Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh .
When: Friday, September 19-Sunday, September 21, 2025.
Price: $8 for adults (kids under 12 enter for free).

2. Manly Jazz Festival

The Manly Jazz Festival returns for its 48th year, filling the beachside suburb with smooth grooves and infectious energy. Catch live performances across four main stages, along with pop-up gigs at venues throughout the iconic Manly all weekend long.

Manly locals look forward to three days of high-quality music from some of the best in the business each year, and it’s always proven to be such a popular event during spring, merging world-class jazz with Manly’s easy, breezy lifestyle.

Headline acts this year include The Great Ladies of Jazz, Nec Jeffries Funkin’ Soul Review, and the Dan Barnett Big Band featuring some of Australia’s top big band musicians. A highlight is always the Jazz Stars of the Future stage, located near Manly Town Hall, with a focus on encouraging emerging talent in the vast, diverse world of jazz music.

Where: Manly Corso (and surrounds).
When: September 19-21, 2025.
Price: Free.

3. Maple Social Club: Coffee and DJ’s

If sunrise runs, coffees and pastries are more your vibe than late nights and morning hangovers, Maple Social Club has you covered. Even if you’re just in it for a quality brew and a good DJ set, this one’s for you. Think beachside boogies, great chats and top-notch coffee, all at the iconic Coogee Pavilion. Designed to bring people together through music, food and drink across Sydney, these free events are perfect for anyone looking to meet new people, or simply enjoy a day or night out that doesn’t revolve around drinking.

Where: Coogee Pavilion, 169 Dolphin St, Coogee NSW 2034.
When: Saturday, September 20, 11am-1pm.
Price: Free to attend.

4. Sydney Fringe Festival

The Sydney Fringe Festival continues to entertain audiences all across the city, with an array of eclectic, daring and downright bonkers performances. From a one-man production based on a famous Australian meme to Burlesque performances and even Scientology the Musical, the Fringe is here to bring you the weirdest and wackiest creations from talented artists, performers and comedians.

If you’re unsure what to book, we’ve rounded up ten of the most-anticipated shows that you won’t want to miss. If you’re after an immersive theatre experience this weekend, head to When Night Comes at Sideshow at The Rocks, or Dorothy In Oz at Marrickville Town Hall. For those more inclined to a comedy, the hilarious Type A Marketing Man is on at Qtopia Sydney until Saturday, and the highly-recommended The Racist Immigrants is on at Marrickville Town Hall until September 27.

When: Monday, September 1 until Tuesday, September 30.
Where: Citywide, now including Central Sydney, Inner West, Eastern Suburbs, North Sydney and Greater Sydney.
Price: Varies per event.

5. Watsons Bay Spring Markets

This Sunday sees Watsons Bay foreshore come alive with over 150 boutique stalls, offering fashion, homewares, arts, gifts and gourmet food. Celebrate Spring in the sunshine at one of Sydney’s most beautiful harbourside locations (and maybe even pop to Watson’s Bay Hotel for an Aperol Spritz after). There will also be live entertainment and family activities to keep the little ones entertained as you peruse the stalls.

Head to Watsons Bay from Circular Quay on an iconic ferry ride, or make use of on-street parking around Hopetoun Avenue or Christison Park.

Where: Robertson Park, Watsons Bay.
When: Sunday, September 21, 9am-3pm.
Price: Free entry.

6. LAST CHANCE: Warraba Weatherall: Shadow and Substance

This poignant display by Kamilaroi artist Warraba Weatherall considers how knowledge about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture is collected and conveyed by institutions. Shadown and Substance, Weatherall’s first solo museum exhibition, brings together installations, sculptures and video works that illuminate the ethical questions surrounding the acquisition and display of Indigenous property, cultural knowledge and materials. The exhibition also exposes gaps, biases and the enduring influence of the colonial record.

This weekend marks the final chance to catch this incredible exhibition at the MCA, as its six-month run comes to a close. Don’t miss your last opportunity to experience it in Sydney.

Where: Galleries: Level 1 South, MCA, 140 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000.
When: Until September 21, Open 10am-5pm Monday- Sunday, excluding Tuesdays.
Price: General Admission ticket required ($20 for adults, $16 Concession), free for MCA Members and under 18s.

7. Rozelle Collectors Market Rack Sale

Open every Saturday from 9am to 3pm, the Rozelle Markets offer a treasure trove of antiques, collectibles and pre-loved fashion just waiting to be discovered. Located on the grounds of Rozelle Public School, the markets proudly showcase stallholders offering one-of-a-kind items, from rare vinyl and retro furniture to unique fashion pieces with stories to tell. When you need a break, refuel with delicious bites from a diverse range of international food stalls, serving everything from fresh produce and baked treats to hearty street food favourites.

This weekend, the markets will host a huge rack sale — think racks upon racks of preloved treasures, vintage gems and one-off pieces to elevate and upgrade your wardrobe.

Where: Rozelle Public School, 663 Darling Street, Rozelle, NSW 2039.
When: Every Saturday, 9am-3pm.
Price: Free entry.

READ MORE: I ran a stall at Glebe Markets — here’s how I made a profit

8. Darling Harbour Drone Show

Fans were disappointed when Vivid Sydney dropped its beloved drone show from the program, citing rising costs and safety concerns. But don’t worry, Darling Harbour is stepping in to save the day! Throughout September, you can catch a dazzling, spring-themed drone show illuminating the view of Cockle Bay, every Saturday at 8:30pm. Miss it one week? No problem, it’s the same stunning display each time, so you’ve got more than one chance to enjoy the spectacle.

Where: Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour.
When: Every Saturday in September at 8:30pm.
Price: Free.

READ MORE: Darling Harbour introduces free weekly drone shows

9. Celebrate Negroni Month with a Negroni Tour – you could win a $2,500 Eftpos card

Yes, Negroni Month is a thing, and yes, YCK Laneways is celebrating in style with a vibrant festival dedicated to the iconic cocktail. Over three Saturdays, YCK Laneways has teamed up with award-winning Local Sauce Tours to take you on a guided sip-through of three standout bars, each serving up a Campari-based creation. Alongside the timeless Classic Negroni, you’ll sample bold modern twists while uncovering the cocktail’s fascinating history, its rise to cult status and Campari’s essential role in shaping global cocktail culture.

YCK Laneways are also offering you the chance to win a $2500 Eftpos gift card when you buy a Negroni at participating Negroni Month venues (which feature Sydney favourites including Bar Conte, PS40, The Duke of Clarence and Uncle Ming’s). Your bartender will give you a competition card alongside your drink, and if your card reveals the ‘Golden N’ of Count Negroni, you’ll win an instant prize from a range of exciting rewards.

Where: Tours start at the southern end of the Queen Victoria Building, at the statue of Queen Victoria.
When: September 20 and 27, 3:30pm start.
Price: $50 per person.

10. Australia’s Biggest Fitness Festival

It’s no secret that Sydneysiders are obsessed with all things fitness: just ask the 21,000 participants in July’s HYROX event or the 90,000 who took on this year’s City2Surf. With numbers like that, there’s no better city to host the return of the AusFitness Expo, taking over the ICC this September for three action-packed days of fitness, wellness and inspiration.

Fans can look forward to exclusive workouts and appearances from bodybuilding and elite athletes, plus the chance to witness TV magic in action as Search4Hurt films an episode live, capturing contestants as they push their limits in real-time competition. There will also be the option to try the YOKHA Sprint Series, an Olympic-style obstacle course that is a must-try for anyone who wants to test their speed, agility and power.

Where: The International Convention Centre.
When: Friday, September 19th, Saturday, September 20th, Sunday, September 21st.
Price: From $20.

11. Salty’s Bondi big birthday weekend

Bondi Beach’s favourite hangout spot turns five this September and is putting on a three-day party to celebrate the occasion. Kicking off on Friday, the team will be dishing out free beers, wines and spirits from 5pm to 6pm. Saturday will see free margs for those who book tables and spinning DJ sets from 1pm until late. Sunday is when the celebrations peak, though, with disco-funk DJ Touch Sensitive taking over the decks. You may have seen him on stage at Splendour or Laneway, or supporting the likes of RÜFÜS DU SOL and Flume (in other words, he’s a big deal!).

Where: Salty’s, 108 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach, NSW 2026.
When: Friday, September 19-Sunday, September 21.
Price: Free entry!

12. The Talented Mr. Ripley

Sydney Theatre Company’s The Talented Mr. Ripley has hit the stage at the Roslyn Packer Theatre with a dazzling cast of Australia’s top screen and stage talent. Will McDonald (Heartbreak High) stars as the enigmatic Tom Ripley, with Raj Labade (The Office Australia) taking on the role of Dickie Greenleaf. Director Sarah Goodes shared her thoughts on the success of the novel-turned-play, stating: “The stage is the perfect setting for such rich psychological material, his slippery identity, his shame and his cunning talent for impersonation.”

The Talented Mr. Ripley‘s season has only two weeks remaining in Sydney, so don’t miss your chance to watch this gripping psychological thriller come to life on stage.

Where: Roslyn Packer Theatre, 22 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay NSW 2000.
When: August 25–September 28, 2025.
Price: Tickets from $38.

READ MORE: Fans of Saltburn, meet your new obsession in The Talented Mr Ripley

13. LAST CHANCE: La Bohème

Puccini’s La Bohème is the opera that inspired Rent and continues to capture hearts more than a century later. Set in 1930s Berlin, a painter, a musician, a philosopher and a poet are having a night on the town. Expect sweeping arias, atmospheric staging, heartbreak and a bittersweet story that lingers long after the final note. As the program says, “some emotions are too big for words alone, and for that, we have music.”

After three weeks of dazzling Sydney audiences, La Bohème wraps up this Saturday, so don’t miss your chance to catch the breathtaking opera at Sydney’s most iconic music venue.

Where: Joan Sutherland Theatre
When: August 30 – September 20, 2025
Tickets: $49 – $355 from sydneyoperahouse.com

Cover Image Credits: Destination NSW