The Best Free Things to Do in Sydney This Summer
Swallow your disdain for crowds and curb your complaints about people who only go to exhibition openings for the complimentary drinks and get amongst these events, which you can attend gloriously cash-free.
Sydney may be one of the most expensive cities in the world, but that doesn't mean folks don't put things on for free. Especially in summer, when the nights are long and balmy and ideal for after-work activities.
January is probably one of the best times to be in Sydney — Sydney Festival takes over the city, and, lucky for you, a lot of the shows are free. And that's not even to mention the free art, free talks and free parties happening in other pockets of the city. So swallow your disdain for crowds and curb your complaints about people who only go to exhibition openings for the complimentary drinks and get amongst these summer events, which you can attend gloriously cash-free.
Image: Until by Nick Cave, shot by Zan Wimberley.
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Event
Cartographica: Sydney on the Map
Tuesday, December 18, 2018 - Sunday, September 1, 2019
Customs House, Sydney
Explore the beautiful historical maps of Sydney.
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Event
LA Pool Party
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, Sydney
A free rooftop rum party on a CBD rooftop that's usually closed to the public.
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Event
Chinese Film Week
Wednesday, February 27 - Sunday, March 3, 2019
Event Cinemas George Street, Sydney
Catch the latest hits from Chinese cinema without spending a dime.
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Event
Don't Kill Live Music Rally
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Hyde Park, Sydney
An estimated 10,000 Sydneysiders will descend on Hyde Park to protest the NSW Government's strict new music festival policy.
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Event
Chupa Chups Slurpee Giveaway
Saturday, February 23, 2019
7-Eleven Broadway, Haymarket
7-Eleven's slinging Chupa Chups-inspired Slurpees for zero dollars — if you're quick enough.
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Event
Yoga On The Pier
Wednesday, February 20, 2019, Wednesday, February 27, 2019, Wednesday, March 6, 2019 and Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Pier One Sydney Harbour, Walsh Bay
Get bendy by the harbour for free every Wednesday night.
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Event
Mardi Gras Festival Club
Saturday, February 16 - Friday, March 1, 2019
Seymour Centre, Chippendale
Keep the Mardi Gras celebrations going all night with DJs, drag and burlesque.
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Event
Queer Art After Hours 2019
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Celebrate Mardi Gras with a night of queer art, music and drinks at the Art Gallery of NSW.
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Event
Mardi Gras Fair Day 2019
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Victoria Park, Broadway
It's not Mardi Gras without it.
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Event
Mozzarella Making Demonstration
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Via Napoli Pizzeria Hunters Hill, Hunters Hill
Learn to make burrata, bocconcini, nodini and stracciatella while eating great pizza.
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Event
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2019
Friday, February 15 - Sunday, March 3, 2019
Various locations across Sydney
As well as the parade, this year's fearless program features pool parties, balls, colourful after-dark art and moving choral performances.
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Event
Tanqueray Terrace
Thursday, February 7 - Thursday, February 28, 2019
Taylor's Rooftop, Sydney
A lush rooftop oasis in the CBD slinging G&Ts for a tenner.
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Event
Halo Top X Grumpy Donuts Giveaway
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Grumpy Donuts, Camperdown
Snag one of 500 free doughnuts stuffed with Halo Top's new peaches and cream or choc-chip cookie ice cream.
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Event
Lunar New Year 2019 at the Art Gallery of NSW
Saturday, February 2 - Sunday, February 17, 2019
Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney
Ain't no party like an artsy Lunar New Year party.
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Event
Xiao Lu: Impossible Dialogue
Saturday, January 19 - Sunday, March 24, 2019
4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Sydney
Catch performance art from this contemporary Chinese artist — and then have congee for breakfast in Haymarket.
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Event
Lunar New Year at Darling Square
Saturday, February 2 - Saturday, February 23, 2019
Steam Mill Lane, Haymarket
Celebrate the Year of the Pig with all-you-can-eat feasts, glowing zodiac lanterns and mahjong competitions at Steam Mill Lane.
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Event
The Rocks Lunar Markets
Saturday, February 2, 2019, Sunday, February 3, 2019 and Friday, February 8, 2019
The Rocks Friday Foodie Market, The Rocks
Celebrate Chinese New Year with steamed buns and pig-shaped fairy floss on the cobbled streets of The Rocks.
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Event
Lunar New Year Night Market 2019
Friday, February 8, 2019
Sydney Fish Market, Sydney
The after-dark celebrations return to the Sydney Fish Markets with lanterns and a light show.
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Event
Lunar Lanterns 2019
Friday, February 1 - Sunday, February 10, 2019
Circular Quay, Sydney
Thirteen vibrant lanterns return to Circular Quay for CNY.
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Event
Whiteley Art Bus
Friday, February 1 - Sunday, February 3, 2019
Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney
Hit all of these artsy hot spots in one afternoon — all aboard.
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Event
Celebrity Talk: Wendy Whiteley
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Meet one of the most well-known muses in Australian art history.
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Event
Sundown Sunday Sessions
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Mamasan Bondi, Bondi Beach
Straight from the sand, into the jazz.
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Event
Aperol Sunset Sessions
Thursday, January 10 - Thursday, February 28, 2019
Bungalow 8, Sydney
Summer's not quite over yet — and these spots have affordable Aperol spritzes to prove it.
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Event
Jazz at Yulli's Brews
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Yulli's Brews, Alexandria
Get your fix of beer and vegan food over some smooth, free jazz.
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Event
Jazz at the Cricketers Arms Hotel
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
The Cricketers Arms Hotel, Surry Hills
Three guitars, two saxophones, one bassist — every Wednesday at this cosy Surry Hills pub.
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Event
Yabun Festival 2019
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Victoria Park, Camperdown
Australia's largest one-day celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, with dance, talks, music and an after-party at the Lansdowne.
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Event
Primavera 2018
Friday, November 9, 2018 - Sunday, February 3, 2019
MCA, Sydney
Eight young Australian artists take centre stage at the MCA.
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Event
Women's March Sydney 2019
Sunday, January 20, 2019
Hyde Park, Sydney
Join millions of people across the world in marching to protest violence against women.
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Event
Sydney Vegan Market
Sunday, January 20, 2019, Sunday, February 17, 2019, Sunday, March 24, 2019 and Sunday, April 28, 2019
Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park
A market where all the food and wares are 100 percent animal product-free.
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Event
Demand Action: Pill Testing Saves Lives Rally
Saturday, January 19, 2019
Sydney Town Hall, Sydney
An estimated 7000 Sydneysiders will descend on the CBD to throw their support behind pill testing and push for the government to also get on board.
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Event
Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre Open Day
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, Sydney
Try out the pools, fitness classes and giant inflatables at this Ultimo aquatic centre — for free.
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Event
'Mary Poppins Returns' at The Grounds
Sunday, December 30, 2018 - Sunday, February 3, 2019
The Grounds of Alexandria, Alexandria
Wander through cherry blossoms, London lamps and kites at The Grounds of Alexandria.
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Event
Lunar New Year at The Galeries
Thursday, January 31 - Saturday, February 9, 2019
The Galeries, Sydney
Welcome the Year of the Pig with art, dancing and a six-course roaming feast.
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Event
Disco in the Mirror Ball
Saturday, January 12, 2019, Friday, January 18, 2019 and Saturday, January 19, 2019
Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, Sydney
A series of free disco dance parties in the Sydney Festival Spiegeltent.
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Event
Symphony Under the Stars 2019
Saturday, January 19, 2019
Parramatta Park, Parramatta
Relax into the summery dusk for a night of music that will make you feel a bit like you're living in a film.
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Event
Yulli's Brewery Markets
Sunday, January 13, 2019, Sunday, February 10, 2019, Sunday, March 10, 2019 and Sunday, April 14, 2019
Yulli's Brews, Alexandria
A market with live tunes and brews at Alexandria's new all-vegan brewery.
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Event
Movies by the Boulevard 2019
Saturday, January 12 - Sunday, January 27, 2019
Sydney Olympic Park
Free outdoor films return to Sydney's inner west.
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Event
China: Moments in Time
Friday, February 1 - Sunday, February 10, 2019
541 Art Space, Sydney
An extensive photographic exhibition capturing life in China.
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Event
Summer Lates
Friday, January 4, 2019, Saturday, January 5, 2019, Friday, January 11, 2019 and Saturday, January 12, 2019
Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney
Free parties are coming to the Australian National Maritime Museum every Friday and Saturday night in January.
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Event
Borrowed Scenery
Wednesday, January 2 - Sunday, March 10, 2019
Campbelltown Arts Centre, Campbelltown
Campbelltown Arts Centre's first all-female exhibition.
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Event
Kings Cross Weekend Markets
Saturday, January 13, 2018, Sunday, January 14, 2018, Sunday, January 21, 2018 and Sunday, January 28, 2018
Kings Cross Organic Food Market, Potts Point
A weekend morning cornucopia of organic veggies, fruit, cheese and international dishes, plus fashion, homewares, books and more.
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Nick Cave: Until
Friday, November 23, 2018 - Sunday, March 3, 2019
Carriageworks, Eveleigh
The largest solo presentation for Carriageworks to date features five tonnes of crystals, beads and found objects suspended in the air.
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Event
Fly Me to the Moon
Wednesday, January 9 - Sunday, January 27, 2019
World Square, Sydney
Help Sydney blast off to the moon — using pedal power.
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Event
Sydney Festival 2019
Wednesday, January 9 - Sunday, January 27, 2019
Various locations across Sydney
The diverse and dramatic summer arts festival will include overnight vigils, Parisian-style nightclubs, moon pillows and world premieres.
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Event
Moon Drops
Wednesday, January 9 - Monday, January 28, 2019
Darling Harbour, Sydney
Five giant bouncing blobs will drop into Darling Harbour so you can feel as weightless as you would on the moon.
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Opera in the Domain 2019
Saturday, January 19, 2019
The Domain, Sydney
See some opera under the stars — entirely for free.
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Tomato Festival 2019
Saturday, February 16 - Sunday, February 17, 2019
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Sydney
A two-day festival dedicated to the best tomatoes in town.
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Event
Heliosphere — The Dream Engine
Friday, January 11 - Sunday, January 27, 2019
Prince Alfred Square, Parramatta
Watch a gravity-defying aerial performance of lunar proportions.
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Event
MAAS and the Moon
Wednesday, January 9 - Sunday, January 27, 2019
Riverside Theatres, Parramatta
Brush up on your lunar knowledge at this exhibition of astronomical history and design.
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Event
Bayala Free Language Courses
Sunday, January 13, 2019, Saturday, January 19, 2019 and Sunday, January 20, 2019
Sydney Observatory, Millers Point
Learn some phrases from Sydney's Indigenous languages at one of Sydney Festival's popular free classes.
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Event
Tamworth Country Music Festival 2019
Friday, January 18 - Sunday, January 27, 2019
Various locations around Tamworth, Tamworth
From old-school boot scootin' tunes to alt country.
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Event
Dance Workshops: Modern Art Movements
Wednesday, January 9, 2019, Wednesday, January 16, 2019, Wednesday, January 23, 2019 and Wednesday, January 30, 2019
AGNSW, Sydney
Dance like Picasso's watching.
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Event
Night Owls Film Festival
Friday, January 4 - Sunday, January 20, 2019
Village Green, Darling Quarter, Sydney
A free outdoor film festival in the CBD for kidults and adults alike.
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Event
Chandon S Garden at Helm Bar
Thursday, November 1, 2018 - Thursday, January 31, 2019
Helm Bar & Bistro, Sydney
Kick back in a garden oasis just a stone's throw from the city chaos.
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Event
The 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art
Saturday, November 24, 2018 - Sunday, April 28, 2019
GOMA, South Brisbane
GOMA's three-yearly survey of Asia Pacific art returns.
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Event
Frida Kahlo: Her Photos
Saturday, December 8, 2018 - Sunday, February 10, 2019
Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo
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Event
Heath Ledger: A Life in Pictures
Friday, August 10, 2018 - Sunday, February 10, 2019
National Film And Sound Archive, Acton
The National Film and Sound Archive's exhibition celebrating the too-brief career of local boy Heath Ledger.