August marks the final month of winter in Sydney, bringing crisp days and clear skies perfect for outdoor events like the City2Surf and whale watching season. While temperatures are cooler, the city comes alive with festivals celebrating everything from cherry blossoms to science, making it an ideal time to explore both indoor and outdoor activities.
Visitors will find accommodation rates are reasonable during this quieter winter period, and the smaller crowds make it easier to experience the city’s attractions.
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Annual Events in Sydney in August
Auburn Botanic- Gardens Cherry Blossom Festival
For 2 weeks each August, Auburn Botanic Gardens turns Japanese with a stunning display of Cherry Blossoms.
Celebrate Hello Kitty’s 50th birthday and enjoy a slice of Japan as you wander through the iconic Cherry Trail. Delight in the Japanese Food Village, serving cherry blossom-themed dishes and a wide selection of Japanese fusion foods. The festival features cultural performances, traditional Japanese music, dancing, kids activities, horticultural talks, and more.
Capture the perfect ‘cherry snap’ at the iconic Cherry Arbour in the Japanese Gardens and the Mt Fuji Torii Gate, perfect for ‘insta-ready’ photos and videos of the beautiful cherry blossoms.
Tickets, especially weekend dates, will sell fast, so get in quick!
When: 2025 dates not yet released
Where: Auburn Botanic Gardens, Auburn, NSW
Cost: $15.50 for adults, $6.60 for kids. Free for Cumberland Council area residents. Tickets available now at Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival
Festivals, Fairs and Community Events
Engadine Street Fair
One of the Shire’s biggest community events returns with over 200 stalls featuring artisan goods, fashion, food, and more. Enjoy live music throughout the day, carnival rides, and family entertainment.
When: Sunday 3 August 2025, 9am-3pm
Where: Engadine Town Centre l Cost: Free entry
Ferragosto Street Festival
Fivedock is home to some of the best of Italian culture and this festival has it all. Fantastic food, focusing strongly on cooking and over 300 stalls selling everything you could need in an Italian kitchen.
When: 17 August 2025
Where: Great North Road, Five Dock between Lyons and Queens Roads
Cost: Free, details here.
Cronulla Winter Market
A beachside weekend market showcasing local retailers and small businesses from Cronulla and across Sydney. Shop, eat, and enjoy the community atmosphere by the water.
When: August 16-17, 2025, 9am-3pm
Where: Don Lucas Reserve, Cronulla l Cost: Free entry
CollectFest
Australia’s first major collectables festival comes to Sydney, bringing together the biggest names in collecting including eBay, Goldin (from Netflix’s “King of Collectibles”), and Whatnot. This groundbreaking event unites collectors, traders, and enthusiasts under one roof, featuring rare items, trading opportunities, and expert panels.
When: August 23-24, 2025
Where: International Convention Centre Sydney
Cost: Visit collectfest.com.au for tickets
Penrith Show
Entertainment, rides, side show alley, trade stalls, competitions, exhibitions performances and so much more!
When: 30 August 2025
Where: 141-147 Station Street, Penrith
More: Check the website for more info
Dog and Cat Lovers Festivals
Australia’s premier pet events return to Sydney Showground with two incredible festivals running side by side.
The Dog Lovers Festival features the Vitapet Arena with live demonstrations, the exciting Kurgo Dockdogs splashing into a 100,000-litre pool, and the popular Pat-a-Pooch experience. Special guests include Farmer Dave Graham, Lara Shannon from Pooches at Play, and social media sensation Jamie the Dog Trainer.
Meanwhile, the Cat Lovers Festival showcases the WHISKAS® Stage, Kitty Cosplay parade, Championship Cat Show, and the Feline Natural Breed Showcase. Dr. Katrina Warren and social media stars Sonia Hankova & Kepler Copernicus will make special appearances.
Both festivals feature dedicated adoption zones, expert talks, and extensive shopping opportunities. Best of all, your ticket gives you access to both events!
When: Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August 2025, 9:30am-5pm
Where: Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park
Cost: $32.50 for adults, $24.50 concession, $17.50 for kids
Tickets: Available at dogloversfestival.com.au or catloversfestival.com.au
Sydney Science Festival
National Science Week (9-17 August 2025) brings an array of scientific adventures to Sydney under the theme “Decoding the Universe.” Here are some highlights:
Indigenous Science Experience
Explore Aboriginal astronomy, bush medicine, and 60,000+ years of Indigenous scientific knowledge. Features hands-on activities, Elder yarning sessions, and cultural performances.
When: Saturday 9 August, 10am-3pm
Where: Redfern Community Centre l Cost: Free
Soapbox Science Sydney
Meet 12 remarkable women in STEM sharing their discoveries and experiences in this outdoor event.
When: Saturday 9 August, 2pm-5pm
Where: Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour l Cost: Free
Decoding the Wild at Sydney Zoo
Discover animal communication, genetics, and microorganisms through hands-on activities and a special Discovery Trail.
When: 9-17 August, 9am-5pm daily
Where: Sydney Zoo, Bungarribee l Cost: Included with zoo entry
Beetle
An immersive production featuring giant puppets, circus, and animation celebrating nature and the Australian bush.
When: From 8 August
Where: Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Penrith l Cost: Bookings required
Find the full program of events at ScienceWeek.net.au
Musicals, Opera and Theatre in Sydney in August
Carmen
Bizet’s thrilling tale of passion and freedom comes alive in this bold new production by Anne-Louise Sarks. Four extraordinary performers, including Danielle de Niese and Rihab Chaieb, take on the iconic role of the rebellious Carmen across the season.
Performed in French with English surtitles, this visceral production asks urgent questions about opera’s most famous femme fatale.
When: Throughout August (multiple dates)
Where: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Tickets: From $79
Rusalka
Nicole Car makes her triumphant return to Australia in Dvořák’s enchanting opera about a water nymph who trades her voice for love. Director Sarah Giles creates a mesmerizing world of light and shadow in this new production.
Performed in Czech with English surtitles, this romantic masterpiece features the famous ‘Song to the Moon’.
When: Through August 11, 2025
Where: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Tickets: From $79
La Bohème
Set in the glittering cabarets of 1930s Berlin, Gale Edwards’ beloved production of Puccini’s masterpiece returns. Kang Wang and Olivia Cranwell lead the cast in this timeless story of young love and loss.
Performed in Italian with English surtitles, this classic production perfectly captures the joy and heartbreak of youth.
When: From August 23, 2025
Where: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes, including interval
Tickets: From $79
Once On This Island
A vibrant Caribbean-inspired musical from the creators of Seussical and Ragtime. Follow Ti Moune, a fearless peasant girl who saves a wealthy boy’s life, as she challenges the gods and social barriers for love.
Winner of the Olivier Award, this reimagining of The Little Mermaid blends tropical rhythms with Australian cultural influences.
When: August 2-30, 2025 (Tue-Sat 7:30pm, Thu 1pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm & 5pm)
Where: Hayes Theatre Co, Potts Point
Coriolanus
Bell Shakespeare presents Shakespeare’s political epic for the first time in nearly 30 years. Set in a 1990s Eastern European landscape, this timely exploration of power and democracy stars Logie winner Hazem Shammas in the title role.
The innovative traverse stage setup places audiences on two sides of the action, creating an immersive experience of this political drama.
When: Through August 10, 2025
Where: Arts Centre Melbourne
Cost: Tickets at bellshakespeare.com.au
Birdsong of Tomorrow
A whimsical and heartfelt exploration of birds and the rapidly changing environment, this play blends science, music, and storytelling.
Written by Nathan Harrison and directed by Emma McManus, it imagines what songs birds might sing in a future without humans.
When: August 21 to September 6, 2025
Where: Old Fitz Theatre, 129 Dowling St, Woolloomooloo
The Face of Jizo
Following a sold-out season at the Old Fitz, Omusubi Productions presents Hisashi Inoue’s acclaimed post-war masterpiece. This tender story of a father and daughter grappling with the ghosts of the past explores courage, first love, and healing in the aftermath of war.
When: August 21 to September 6, 2025
Where: Seymour Centre, Cnr City Rd and Cleveland St, Chippendale
How to Plot a Hit in Two Days
Melanie Tait’s world premiere starring Georgie Parker takes audiences behind the scenes of A Country Practice’s most famous episode.
Set in 1985, this nostalgic piece reveals how the writers crafted an episode that would break Australia’s heart.
When: August 29 to October 11, 2025
Where: Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall St, Kirribilli
Orlando
A bold new adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s beloved novel comes to the stage. Orlando, a young and wealthy courtier in Elizabethan England, embarks on an extraordinary journey through 400 years of history, questioning gender, identity, and time itself.
Created by Elsie Yager and Carissa Licciardello (A Room of One’s Own, Scenes from the Climate Era), this production stars Janet Anderson, Nyx Calder, and Shannen Alyce Quan.
When: August 30 to September 21, 2025
Where: Belvoir St Theatre, Surry Hills
Great Opera Hits
Enjoy a captivating concert featuring the best of opera. As the sun dips below Sydney Harbour, immerse yourself in the melodic sounds of renowned arias by composers like Bizet, Puccini, Rossini, and Verdi.
Talented singers from Opera Australia will grace the stage, accompanied by piano, delivering a delightful 90-minute performance. Relax and let the music transport you to the enchanting world of opera against the backdrop of Sydney’s stunning skyline.
When: Every Sunday afternoon in August + Friday 29 August
Where: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Tickets: here
Music, Comedy And Dance
Emily Sun & Slava Grigoryan at Bundanon
Four-time ARIA Award winner Slava Grigoryan joins London-based violinist Emily Sun for a spellbinding evening of romantic masterworks. The Australian musicians will perform pieces by Paganini, Piazzolla, and Sarasate, plus a world premiere by Sydney composer Andrew Howes.
Set in the award-winning Boyd Education Centre overlooking the Shoalhaven River, this unique collaboration is part of the inaugural Boyd Music Series presented with Sydney Opera House.
When: Saturday August 16, 2025
Where: Boyd Education Centre, Bundanon
Tickets: Available at bundanon.com.au/boyd-music-series
Art and Exhibitions
Warraba Weatherall: Shadow and Substance
The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia presents the first solo museum exhibition by Kamilaroi artist Warraba Weatherall. Through dynamic installations, sculptures, and video works, Weatherall explores the complex history of Indigenous cultural materials in museum collections.
The exhibition features several major works including Trace (2025), a new sculptural installation examining scientific racism, and Dialectic (2025), a powerful video installation challenging institutional archives.
When: Until September 21, 2025
Where: MCA Australia, Level 1 South Gallery l Cost: Free
Bundanon: RIVERSCAPE Weekend
Experience two powerful exhibitions at Bundanon during the special RIVERSCAPE stay weekend. See Betty Kuntiwa Pumani’s first major museum survey maḻatja-maḻatja (those who come after) featuring works spanning from 2012 to present, alongside David Sequeira’s The Shape of Music, which explores the intersection of geometry, color, and sound.
When: August 16-17, 2025 (exhibitions run through October 5)
Where: Bundanon, Shoalhaven River
Cost: Visit bundanon.com.au for ticket information
Food and Drink Events
Sport and Outdoor events
Sydney International Boat Show 2024
The Sydney International Boat Show is a family-friendly event with a range of exciting highlights.
When: TBC
Where: Darling Harbour, Sydney
City2Surf
City2Surf Run, the city’s favourite fun run draws more than 80,000 people. Runners and walkers make their way along a 14-km route from Hyde Park to Bondi Beach.
When: 10 August 2025
Where: Hyde Park to Bondi Beach
Cost: $65, check the website for training schedules and more
Yoga in the Park
Get fit and flexible every Sunday morning with FREE Yoga in The Park! The focus on breathing, the concentration required to find balance in certain poses, the flow of the movements – it’s all an active meditation that can help clear the mind, quieten anxieties and strengthen your body.
When: 9:30 am, every Sunday (All Year)
Where: Corner of Lower Fort St and George St at Dawes Point Park, right under the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Tickets: Free, more info here
Regional Events
Regional Art Exhibitions at BAMM
Bank Art Museum Moree presents three compelling exhibitions this August:
- “Boundaries: Transcended” – An installation of 700 tiny ceramic homes created by Hunter Valley communities celebrating refugee resettlement.
- “New Horizons” – Works by five emerging artists from Gamilaroi Country exploring connections to culture, land, and wildlife.
- “Conversation Starters” – A unique collection of framed personal objects and heirlooms curated by Moree framer Kerrie Matchett.
When: August 1-September 13, 2025
Where: Bank Art Museum Moree l Cost: Free
New events and updated content are added to these pages as it becomes available. If you would like to add your event to Sydney Expert, please email us.
Plan Ahead
- What’s on in Sydney in September
- What’s on in Sydney in October
- What’s on in Sydney in November
- School holidays in Sydney
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Feature image credit: Destination NSW
