Specific dates
October 12
- Spanish Day Lunch at Deux Frères celebrating Spain’s National Day. For $79 per person, guests can enjoy a set menu featuring traditional Spanish dishes like croquetas, tortilla, paella, and churros. An additional $45 offers bottomless drinks including sangria, wine, and beer.
October 17
- Vogue American Express Fashion’s Night Out 2024, a major free shopping event featuring runway shows, masterclasses, and special offers, will take place in Sydney’s CBD on October 17, 2024, offering attendees a night of fashion, beauty, and retail experiences.
October 27
- The Norton Street Italian Festa is an annual street festival in Leichhardt, Sydney’s “Little Italy,” celebrating Italian culture and community with food, entertainment, and activities for all ages, attracting over 180,000 visitors each year.
October 31
- Start of a new Halloween-themed Ghost Festival taking place in The Rocks, featuring spooky attractions, haunted experiences, and interactive events that blend Halloween tropes with the precinct’s eerie history.
Multiple dates
Oktoberfest | October 6 / 13 / 20 / 27
Concordia Club will celebrate Oktoberfest every Sunday in October, with two sessions per day featuring live entertainment. Requires advance bookings through Teresa (0434 941 778).
Round She Goes Vintage Market | October 12
Established in 2008, Round She Goes is a pioneering sustainable fashion market, and Australia’s premier destination for women’s preloved designer and vintage fashion and accessories. Held three times a year in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, each market features 60 stalls of both professional collectors and wardrobe clear-outs. The Round She Goes team meticulously handpick the sellers to ensure the public can choose from the highest quality and broadest range of second-hand fashion items. Round She Goes will be on again in Sydney on Saturday 12 October 2024 at PCYC Marrickville, 531 Illawarra Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204. The market is on from 10am-3pm. The market is indoors.
SXSW | October 14-20
SXSW Sydney 2024 is the second international iteration of the South by Southwest Festival in Sydney, Australia. SXSW is a global showcase for emerging talent and innovation across various fields. It will take place across multiple venues in Sydney’s CBD and surrounding areas. The festival covers tech, gaming, cinema, music, and culture.
Sydney Beer Week | October 18-25
Sydney Beer Week, returning in October 2024, is a week-long celebration of beer culture that brings together enthusiasts, brewers, and local businesses for tastings, workshops, and events aimed at fostering community and appreciation for craft brewing.
Sculpture by the Sea | October 18 to November 4
Sculpture by the Sea will return to the Bondi to Tamarama Beach coastal walk as the world’s largest free to the public sculpture exhibition in 2024. The spectacular coastal walk was once again transformed into a 2km long sculpture park over three weeks featuring more than 100 sculptures by artists from Australia and across the world.
The Sydney Ceramics Market | October 19-29
The Sydney Ceramics Market, a major event of Sydney Craft Week Festival 2024, is expanding to a two-day showcase featuring over 120 ceramicists from NSW and ACT, offering visitors the chance to explore, purchase unique ceramic pieces, and enjoy demonstrations.
Fear Island | October 25-27 / November 1-3
Cockatoo Island in Sydney is hosting Fear Island, a Halloween-themed event featuring spooky experiences like “Tunnels of Terror,” immersive activities, and themed food and drinks on select weekends in October and November.
Makers & Shakers Market | October 26-27
The Makers & Shakers Sydney Market is a two-day Christmas gift market event scheduled for October 26-27, 2024, at the White Bay Cruise Terminal in Rozelle, NSW. The market will feature 130 curated stalls selling handmade items, including homewares, sustainable fashion, food, and drinks. The event will also offer low-cost creative workshops. Categories include food and drink, fashion, homeware, art, jewelry, beauty products, and more with a diverse range of local artisans, craftspeople, and small businesses offering unique and handmade products.
Parramatta Lanes | October 23-26
Parramatta Lanes is a free 4-day street festival featuring:
- 16 festival sites
- 70+ street food stalls
- 8 music stages with 100+ performers (see Parramatta Lanes 2024 Music Lineup)
- Pop-up bars
- Art and light installations
The festival transforms laneways, car parks, and gardens into vibrant spaces filled with food, music, and art. It offers a diverse range of culinary options, music genres, and artistic displays. The event also includes a special “Powerhouse Lane” in partnership with Powerhouse, showcasing Western Sydney’s culinary and musical landscape.
The festival runs from 5 PM to 10 PM on Wednesday and Thursday, and until 10:30 PM on Friday and Saturday. Attendees are encouraged to use public transportation and explore all areas of the festival, following bird installations for guidance.
All October
Festival of Food at The Streets of Barangaroo
A month-long food festival called Festival of Food at The Streets of Barangaroo is taking place in October 2024. The festival features several events curated by Good Food Events:
- Rekodo x Levins: A revival of The Dip, featuring chef Andrew Levins and guest Mitch Orr.
- Part & Parcel: An international shared feast with Lotus, Born by Tapavino, and Oh! Boo Chocolates.
- Anason x Firepop x Brian Cole: A collaboration featuring Turkish, global, and open-flame cooking.
- Smoke on the Water: A whisky-tasting and dinner masterclass by NOLA Smokehouse and Bar.
Additionally, the festival includes Spring in the Streets, featuring live music and outdoor dining on select Fridays, and Bar Hop Barangaroo, highlighting happy hour specials at various venues. The events showcase a diverse range of culinary experiences, collaborations between chefs, and unique dining concepts.