Looking for things to do in Sydney in August? We have searched far and wide to come up with a variety of things to do from comedy to sport so get comfortable, and let’s plan your month!
From prime whale-watching season to our the city’s favourite road race, the City to Surf you will find something fun to do, we are sure.
If you are visiting Sydney this month, you will find that accommodation prices are reasonable in August, and you won’t have to deal with the enormous crowds that summer brings.
It’s the last month of winter, which means it’s still pretty chilly, so it’s a good idea to bring a jacket. Having said that, we have plenty of gorgeous blue skies and sunny days.
Average Temperatures: 18-9°C (64-48°F)
While each year varies the last August saw only four days of rain.
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.
This page contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for more information.
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: August 17-25, 2024
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
South Eveleigh Winter Series: A Month of Immersive Experiences
Celebrate winter at South Eveleigh with a fun month-long series of community events.
When: 5-31 August 2024
Where: South Eveleigh, Sydney For more information, visit South Eveleigh.
Forage The Rocks
Forage The Rocks, the precinct’s annual celebration of food and drink, invites us to enjoy the charming, inner-city heritage area with fantastic deals and experiences. You can sip on $25 cocktails and canapés, sample NSW’s best wines at the new NSW Wine Cellar Door at The Rocks Markets, and explore the best easy eats.
There is so much happening!
When: Across August – check the website
Where: In venues across The Rocks
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: 18 August 2024
Where: Great North Road, Five Dock between Lyons and Queens roads
Cost: Free, details here.
Festival of Dangerous Ideas
The Festival of Dangerous Ideas (FODI) returns to Sydney’s Carriageworks this month with the theme Sanctuary. This event brings together thought-leaders and artists from around the world to engage with the ideas behind the headlines of the 24-hour news cycle.
In addition to the main event, special satellite partner events will be held at UNSW and the State Library of NSW from 21 to 27 August.
When: 24-25 August 2024
Where: Carriageworks, Sydney
Carriageworks Night Market
Curated by Australia’s leading sustainable chef Matt Stone, the market will showcase over 45 stalls celebrating sustainable food practices and the best produce from across NSW, in line with Vivid Sydney 2023’s theme – Naturally.
Showcasing an exciting and diverse array of Sydney’s food scene including Native Australian, Middle Eastern, Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, French, vegetarian and vegan, Carriageworks is set to come alive with local hospitality, food demonstrations and live entertainment.
When: 2 August 2024
Where: Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh
Tickets: Tickets $15 + fee. Check more details here.
TEDxSydney Youth
After a successful 2023 run, TEDxSydney Youth is back with an event that promises to inspire with a lineup of young, brilliant speakers.
With the theme “CTRL > SHIFT”, TEDxSydney Youth provides a platform for some of the country’s brightest minds to share their unique perspectives on the future. From a 22-year-old CEO to an up-and-coming Netflix actress, the future leaders, change-makers, and visionaries of today are set to take to the stage in Western Sydney this August.
When: Wednesday, 29 August
Where: Riverside Theatre, Parramatta
Time: 9:30 am – 2 pm l Tickets: Available now via the TEDxSydney website
Penrith Show
Entertainment, rides, side show alley, trade stalls, competitions, exhibitions performances and so much more!
When: 24 August 2024
Where: 141-147 Station Street, Penrith
More: Check the website for more info
Dog Lovers Festival
The Dog Lovers Festival, featuring over 800 dogs and exciting attractions, is a fun two-day event that includes pup-inspired entertainment, education zones, and renowned animal experts, promising to delight dog owners of all kinds.
Dog lovers can also access half-price tickets to the Cat Lovers Festival, running concurrently next door in its own dedicated venue.
When: Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 August 2024, 9:30am-5pm
Where: Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park
Cat Lovers Festival
Can’t have the dog lovers having all the fun! As Australia’s largest kitty-focused event, the cat lovers festival aims to educate, inspire, and entertain cat parents across a two-day celebration.
Cat enthusiasts can also access discounted tickets to the Dog Lovers Festival, running concurrently next door.
When: Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 August 2024, 9:30am – 5pm
Where: Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park
Cost: $32.50 for adults, $24.50 concession, $17.50 for kids.
Sydney Science Festival
Enjoy a curated program of free (and one-ticketed) events that include talks, workshops, and activities. This nine-day festival will run across various venues in the city and explore the theme of Revival.
UNSW x National Science Week
The UNSW inaugural SciFest has something for everyone, from curious kids to inquisitive adults. During National Science Week, they are opening laboratory doors and bringing science into everyday life with a number of events.
Date: Friday 16 August 2024
Location: Roundhouse, UNSW, Anzac Parade, Kensington
Price: This is a free event, but registration for a ticket is required. Please note, some experiences within the festival require an additional ticket to reserve a space. Tickets available for purchase here. Please visit UNSW Events to discover and learn more.
Musicals, Opera and Theatre in Sydney in August
Tosca
In the seething heart of Rome, Scarpia’s ominous whisper, “Tosca,” reverberates with sinister intent. Amidst political turmoil, Tosca grapples with a harrowing choice: how much of her soul will she sacrifice to save her captive lover?
Through soaring melodies and heart-wrenching arias, Puccini paints a portrait of love tested to its limits. Opera North’s spellbinding production delves deep into the human psyche, weaving a tale of courage, sacrifice, and redemption against a backdrop of breathtaking grandeur.
When: 25 June–16 August 2024
Where: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Tickets: $115 can be purchased here
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: 4, 11, 17 August
Where: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
The Turn of the Screw
Set in a secluded English manor, this gripping tale unfurls as a young governess arrives to care for orphaned siblings, Flora and Miles. She uncovers eerie apparitions haunting the estate and the children. As she battles to shield them from sinister forces, the boundary between sanity and madness blurs thrillingly.
Britten’s evocative score melds tension, blending haunting melodies with discordant harmonies, capturing the ghostly aura of Henry James’s gothic novel.
When: 16 August – 15 September
Where: Hayes Theatre Co, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point
Tickets: $75-89
Hamlet
Shakespeare’s timeless introspection on humanity finds a new resonance in Brett Dean’s operatic adaptation of “Hamlet.” Dean’s expansive score, premiered at Glyndebourne and graced prestigious stages like the Metropolitan Opera, ingeniously captures the prince’s unravelling psyche.
When: 2, 5, 9 August 2024
Where: Dame Joan Sutherland Theatre Sydney Opera House
Mozart’s Così fan tutte
Is love a fickle friend or a steadfast ally? Is it a winding road or a straight path? Can it withstand the whims of fate and the trials of time?
Through disguises and deceit, they navigate the labyrinth of affection, seeking to unravel its mysteries. Yet beneath the surface of frivolity lies a profound exploration of the human heart, its joys and its sorrows.
When: 1–17 August 2024
Where: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard is a gripping stage show that tells the story of Norma Desmond, a faded silent film star who dreams of making a triumphant return to the screen. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she meets Joe Gillis, a struggling screenwriter, leading to a complex relationship marked by ambition, illusion, and desperation.
When: 28 August
Where: Sydney Opera House
Arlington
From the Tony Award-winning writer of Once, Empress Theatre and Seymour Centre present the Australian premiere of Arlington.
Arlington follows Isla as she waits out her days in a state-controlled tower block, trading her memories for a chance to live. Her only companion is the anonymous young man who records her stories from the other side of the wall. As he offers glimpses of the world beyond the tower, an unexpected love story takes hold, forcing an unthinkable fate.
When: 2-24 August, Tues to Sat at 7.30pm; Saturdays (except 3 August) at 1.30pm.
Where: Reginald Theatre, Seymour Centre, Corner City Rd and Cleveland St, Chippendale
Tickets: Full $54 / Concession $44 / Previews $38 / Under 35s, Groups 8+ $40
La Bohème
Riverside Theatres and Opera Australia are thrilled to present Puccini’s La Bohème, a captivating story of young Bohemian love, at Riverside Theatres Parramatta for one performance. This exclusive Sydney production, directed by award-winning Dean Bryant, breathes fresh life into Puccini’s classic score.
When: Saturday 24 August 2024, 7:30pm
Where: Riverside Theatre Parramatta – Corner of Church and Market St, Parramatta
Tickets: Riverside Members from $54.50 | Non-members from $59 here
Murder for Two
After two sold-out seasons at Hayes Theatre Co, the smash hit Murder for Two comes to Parramatta. Murder for Two is an outrageous blend of music, mayhem, and murder. In this hilarious 90-minute show, two performers play 13 roles and the piano in a rip-roaring parody of classic murder mysteries.
Follow Officer Marcus Moscowicz as he tries to solve the murder of Great American Novelist Arthur Whitney at his surprise birthday party. With suspects, including Arthur’s wife, a prima ballerina, and an overly friendly psychiatrist, Marcus has a short time to find the killer before the real detective arrives.
When: 9-10 August 2024, Friday 7:30pm; Saturday, 2pm & 7:30pm
Where: Riverside Theatre, Corner Church & Market St, Parramatta
Tickets: Riverside Members from $60 | Non-Members from $65
Film Festivals
Lebanese Film Festival
Experience the enchanting allure of Lebanese cinema and its lively essence at the extraordinary 11th iteration of the Lebanese Film Festival Australia. Immerse yourself in a range of compelling films that provoke thought, partake in cultural festivities, and engage in enlightening conversations.
When: 15-31 August 2024
Where: Bankstown Arts Centre 5 Olympic Parade Bankstown, NSW
Cost: Free, full guide here
Music, Comedy And Dance
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony
Experience a concert of dramatic contrasts led by Pietari Inkinen, Chief Conductor of the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, featuring the return of renowned soloist Alban Gerhardt.
The concert will open with the debut of Australian composer Liza Lim’s Salutation to the Shells.
When: 2 & 3 August 7pm
Where: Sydney Opera House
Cost: Tickets from $72.00, concessions available. (Plus booking fee)
Sydney Opera House UnWrapped 2024
Sydney Opera House’s UnWrapped series will showcase 14 works, including 11 new commissions, from over 20 cutting-edge independent Australian artists and technologists. The season, which runs until mid-September explores notions of identity, artistic ownership, and concepts of time via multidisciplinary mediums spanning film, dance, performance, AI-generated choreography, music, and installation.
Tickets are on sale now for all performances. Skip ahead to our September page for details of other shows.
This month you can catch:
Class Act Experience a tongue-in-cheek comic theatre show challenging the Australian class system, created by writer, performer, and co-director of Melbourne’s APHIDS, Mish Grigor.
When: 28-31 August
Where: Studio, Sydney Opera House
Cost: From $25 + $8.95 booking fee
Art and Exhibitions
Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Exhibition
This free exhibition at the South Australian Museum showcases the stunning diversity of flora, fauna, and landscapes across Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, and New Guinea. Featuring over 95 finalist images selected from more than 2,882 submissions, it highlights the natural world’s beauty, ferocity, and fragility.
The Museum will also offer Digital Wildlife Photography Workshops led by Angela Robertson-Buchanan, teaching both foundational and advanced techniques in ethical wildlife photography.
When: 22 June – 13 October 2024
Where: Hintze Hall, Australian Museum
Cost: Free for the exhibition – workshops attract a fee
Thin Ice VR at the Australian Museum
Thin Ice VR, is an immersive virtual reality experience following Sir Ernest Shackleton’s famed Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Created by adventurer Tim Jarvis AM, this award-winning 22-minute film uses advanced VR technology to bring Shackleton’s incredible journey to life.
Experience the challenges Shackleton and his crew faced as their ship, Endurance, was trapped in Antarctic ice. This VR film also highlights the environmental changes in Antarctica today, emphasizing the urgent need for climate action.
When: 6 July – 13 October 2024
Where: Australian Museum, Sydney
Cost: Included with museum entry
Food and Drink Events
Chefs of the House
The Sydney Opera House has announced Chefs of the House, a new dining experience uniting all four acclaimed Opera House chefs – Matt Moran, Peter Gilmore, Mark Olive, and Danielle Alvarez.
Launching in August, each chef will host two intimate shared-table dinners, showcasing their culinary excellence and innovation. With 270-degree projections and live music performances, each event promises an immersive dining experience.
The line up includes:
- Danielle Alvarez – Winter Harvest Symphony – 1 & 2 August, 7pm
A seasonal gastronomy experience, with a menu crafted from directly sourced ingredients, paired with wines and string quartet entertainment. - Mark Olive – Dreamtime – 8 & 9 August, 6:15pm
Inspired by indigenous Australian cuisine, featuring native ingredients and First Nation performers Marimayi, with projections of indigenous constellations. - Peter Gilmore – The Icons of Bennelong – 15 & 16 August, 6pm
A celebration of 50 years of Bennelong’s culinary history with premium Australian produce, fine wines, and jazz music. - Matt Moran – Ocean to Table – 29 & 30 August, 7:30pm
A seafood-focused menu with sustainably sourced ingredients, accompanied by bioluminescent-inspired projections.
Check the Sydney Opera House website for fill menus and reserve your spot now for a uniquely personal and unforgettable dining experience at the Sydney Opera House!
Sport and Outdoor events
Sydney International Boat Show 2024
The 2024 Sydney International Boat Show returns to Darling Harbour from August 1-5, offering a family-friendly event with a range of exciting highlights.
- Main Stage: Delve into the world of fishing with daily demonstrations and masterclasses by Australia’s leading fishing experts. Hosted by Paul Burt and other notable personalities, visitors can also snap photos with their fishing heroes.
- Shimano Fishing Tank Show: Hosted by Dave ‘Mossy’ Moss, this engaging show offers top fishing tips and over AUD$1,000 in giveaways.
- Discover Sailing & Paddling Hub: Explore sailing and paddling with expert talks, interactive activities, and information on courses and clubs.
- On-Water Demonstrations: Witness vessels of all shapes and sizes in action, showcasing their performance and handling.
- Speciality Vessels: Step aboard maritime vessels, including environmental services and marine rescue boats, for an inside look.
- Climate Action Now: Visit Lisa Blair’s ocean racing yacht and learn about her record-setting adventures.
- Boating Safety Zone: Get the latest maritime safety information from Transport for NSW.
- Maritime Museum: Explore Australia’s rich maritime heritage with interactive activities for children.
Enjoy special deals at Darling Harbour cafes and restaurants, and consider booking a stay, play, and save package for a fun-filled weekend. Early bird tickets start from $25, with free entry for children under 16 accompanied by a paying adult. Early bird ticket holders also have a chance to win $10,000 in ‘Boat Show Dollars’ to spend at the Show.
When: August 1-5, 2024
Where: Darling Harbour, Sydney
Cost: Early bird tickets from $25, children under 16 free with a paying adult.
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: 11 August 2024
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
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
Have questions about things to see and do in Sydney?
Head over and join our Facebook Group and we will be happy to help.
Feature image credit: Destination NSW
