Spring in to Sydney: Fabulous festival season is here
By Jay Chabon
Spring heralds the arrival of some of our favourite Sydney events.
From the tried and true, to the fun and new, each boasts a brilliant location (this city of ours is hard to beat!) and a veritable feast of artists and attractions.
From food to fashion, music to movies, there is something for everyone at these festivals in Sydney.
Manly Jazz
At 38 years and counting, this festival is a stayer on the Sydney calendar.
And for good reason.
This festival just fits with the cool vibe that is always present in Manly.
Night and day, the place is always swinging!
The jazz just makes that awesome Manly appeal ooze.
Soak it up while having fish and chips at the beach, strolling along The Corso, or dining dockside at the wharf.
From roving performances and beachside concerts, to masterclasses – with Australian jazz great James Morrison no less – you’re bound to be clicking your fingers and tapping your toes.
September 25 to October 5 2015
Sydney Good Food Month
This Sydney food festival epitomises what the city’s culture and cuisine is all about – something for everyone!
Good food month celebrates everything from casual eats to fine dining, and the melting pot of multicultural influences that makes Sydney dining so diverse.
The perennially popular Night Noodle Markets are back for 2015 with a record 50 food stalls across Hyde Park.
There is something so simple but special about browsing the hawker-style stalls, picking up your favourite plate of noodles and sitting on the grass, chopsticks in hand, while the trees twinkle with fairy lights.
Ah, the romance!
Thirsts will be well and truly quenched as the festival’s Sydney Craft Beer Week serves up 130 free and ticketed events across 70 bars, restaurants, breweries and outdoor venues.
It’s a chance to celebrate and experience “just how awesome beer can be,” say organisers. Bottoms up!
October 1 to October 31 2015
The Rocks Markets and The Rocks Friday Foodies Markets
OK, so these aren’t festivals, but the open-air picture-perfect harbour side location of these Sydney markets is reason enough to celebrate!
Tempt the tastebuds between 9am and 3pm on Fridays with burgers, gozleme and other mouthwatering bites.
On Saturday and Sunday (10am-5pm) The Rocks’ cobbled lane ways give over to fashion, beauty, jewellery, home wares and art stalls.
Italian Film Festival
The gorgeous films and celluloid discussion will excite film buffs, but it’s the adorable Chauvel Cinema Paddington, one of three festival screening locations, that gets us going.
The former Town Hall ballroom, with its red velvet chairs and barrel-vaulted ceiling, has the cosy intimacy of cinemas of old.
No giant cups holders or eardrum shattering sound systems here!
But choc tops are in plentiful supply.
Other Italian gems are showing at the Palaces Verona Paddington and Norton Street, Leichhardt, Sydney’s little Italy.
September 15 to October 11 2015
Oz Comic-Con 2015
Nerd alert (we’re including ourselves in that).
Sci-fi geeks of all ages will come together at Sydney Exhibition Centre (Glebe Island) to celebrate with like-minded Star Wars and Game of Thrones groupies.
This pop culture extravaganza offers exhibitions, autograph and photograph sessions with celebrities, and panel events.
In keeping with the Comic-Con tradition of dressing up as one’s favourite character, attendees don weird and wonderful costumes, making them a sight to see.
September 26 and 27 2015
Sydney Celebrates Fashion
Sit in a coveted front row seat at a catwalk show, mingle with models backstage, or learn how to photograph the runway like a pro.
Fashion tragics can buy access to usually insider-only Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival Sydney events.
Being in Sydney during September’s celebration of fashion is about soaking up the glitz and glamour that goes alongside terrific textiles.
Run with the in crowd darlings!
Been to any festivals in Sydney, or organising one? Tell us about it in the comments below.