Beer Footy & Food Fest, Plant Swaps, Shrek Rave & School Holiday Fun

The Beer Footy & Food Festival returns to Henson Park this Saturday, marking ten years since the idea came to fruition. What began as a simple pairing of rugby league with craft beer and good food, minus stadium prices and corporate boxes, has grown into one of my favourite fixtures on the Inner West calendar.

Newtown Jets have called Henson Park home since 1936, and this year they take on the Newcastle Knights in the main game. The entertainment doesn't stop at full time, with Pro Wrestling Australia bringing their ringside show back to the hill and the Streaker Bullrush returning for another round of its usual chaos. Add a solid lineup of craft brewers, street food stalls, DJs and family activities, and your day is set from midday.

Tickets are required this year, given the expected anniversary crowd, so be sure to grab yours before you head out.

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_{COMMUNITY & SOCIAL}
Beer Footy & Food Festival: The tenth birthday blowout returns to its spiritual home at Henson Park, and if you've never been, this is the year to fix that. Pro Wrestling Australia and the legendary Streaker Bullrush are also back for the occasion.
📅 Sat 18 July, 12:00pm
📍 Henson Park, 32 Centennial St, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
Fungi Drawing Workshop: Invisible Forest Exhibition: An opportunity to connect with nature as you draw various types of fungi, in a room full of like-minded individuals, sounds like a winner to me. No experience needed, just a willingness to get a bit obsessive about mushrooms for an afternoon.
📅 Sat 18 July, 3:00pm
📍 31A Pidcock Street, Camperdown
💰 Ticketed

_{COMMUNITY & SOCIAL}
Crop Swap: Plants, Seeds & Produce: If you’ve amassed a collection of pot plants like me, this is your opportunity to bring whatever's overflowing in your garden or balcony, take home what others have spare, and connect with the community.
📅 Sat 18 July, 12:30pm
📍 7 Prospect Rd, Summer Hill
💰 Free

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
DIY Dumplings: Chinese Dumpling Making Workshop: An afternoon learning to fold dumplings properly so that you can skip the frozen ones is an afternoon you’re unlikely to regret.
📅 Sat 18 July, 12:00pm
📍 2A Gordon Street, Rozelle
💰 Ticketed

_KIDS
Fang-tastic School Holiday Fun: Bloodsuckers: My pick for the weekend if your kids are the type who are inquisitive about how bugs work. Workshops, family films, and hands-on science, all built around nature’s bloodsuckers.
📅 Fri 17 - Sun 19 July, various times
📍 1 William St, Darlinghurst
💰 Ticketed

_{ARTS & CULTURE}
A Very Very Very Dark Matter: Martin McDonagh's dark satire imagines Hans Christian Andersen hiding a horrifying secret behind his fairy tales, at Flight Path Theatre.
📅 All weekend, various times
📍 9b/142 Addison Road, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

_{ARTS & CULTURE}
Black Myth: White Rabbit Gallery's group show draws on the viral video game Black Myth: Wukong to ask what role myth still plays in a tech-saturated age.
📅 All weekend, 10:00am
📍 30 Balfour Street, Chippendale
💰 Free

_{ARTS & CULTURE}
The Complete Works of Jane Austen (Abridged): Three actors race through six Jane Austen novels with every romance and scandal compressed into under 90 minutes.
📅 All weekend, various times
📍 2B Gordon Street, Rozelle
💰 Ticketed

_MARKET
Sweet Tooth Corner Store Art Market: Harold Park Community Hall hosts this small-scale art market for one day only.
📅 Sat 18 - Sun 19 July, 10:30am
📍 1 Dalgal Wy, Forest Lodge
💰 Ticketed

_{ARTS & CULTURE}
Mad Hatter's Tea Party: An immersive circus-cabaret spins Wonderland into chaos at the Grand Electric, with acts suitable for all ages.
📅 All weekend, various times
📍 199 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills
💰 Ticketed

_NIGHTLIFE
Wavy: Afrobeats, Hip Hop & RnB: Students get in free until 11pm, and happy hour specials headline this weekly hip hop and RnB night.
📅 Fri 17 July, 8:00pm
📍 The Cliff Dive, Darlinghurst
💰 Ticketed

The Place is a new creative studio at 12 Victoria St, Lewisham, built on a simple idea that working artists and musicians share what they know, directly with other musicians.

The Saturday acoustic jam, led by Sydney musician Nick Gell, is a testament to that. Sessions run every Saturday from 2pm to 3pm, starting 18 July, with no ongoing commitment.

If you've got a guitar gathering dust or you've been meaning to find your people musically, come along.

READ MORE

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
Healthy Garden Series: Pruning Perennial Food Plants: Learn the basics of pruning, from technique to tool care, at the Inner West Sustainability Hub.
📅 Sat 18 July, 10:00am
📍 7 Prospect Rd, Summer Hill
💰 Ticketed

_NIGHTLIFE
Shrek Rave Sydney: Fairy tales meet mud-slick beats at Oxford Art Factory to bring out your inner ogre.
📅 Sat 18 July, 8:00pm
📍 Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst
💰 Ticketed

_{COMMUNITY & SOCIAL}
Saturday Night Kirtan & Dinner: Live mantra music followed by a nourishing plant-based dinner. No experience or prior knowledge needed.
📅 Sat 18 July, 7:00pm
📍 146 Abercrombie Street, Redfern
💰 Ticketed

_{FOOD & DRINK}
RNBrunch 2026 Series at Soda Factory: Bottomless cocktails and old-school RnB and hip hop from a rotating cast of DJs and hosts.
📅 Sat 18 July, 1:00pm
📍 The Soda Factory, Surry Hills
💰 Ticketed

_TOURS
Inside the Maritime Collection Tour: Don the white gloves for a guided tour through the Maritime Museum's storage facility and its 160,000-strong collection, not usually on public display.
📅 Sat 18 July, 10:30am
📍 Wharf 7 Heritage Centre, Pyrmont
💰 Ticketed

_{COMMUNITY & SOCIAL}
Greek Music Nights with Sotiris Procopiou: Sotiris Procopiou brings traditional Greek sounds to Mali Ston Wine Bar, alongside wine and shared plates.
📅 Sat 18 July, 6:30pm
📍 489 Marrickville Road, Dulwich Hill
💰 Free

_{COMMUNITY & SOCIAL}
Sydney Speed Dating Night: Singles Event 25-37: Singles aged 25 to 37 can break the ice over nibbles and cheese platters.
📅 Sat 18 July, 5:00pm
📍 125 Redfern St, Redfern
💰 Ticketed

_COMEDY
Celebrating Queer Icons: An Unscripted Comedy Show: LGBTQ+ icons of history come alive, unscripted, based entirely on audience suggestions.
📅 Sat 18 July, 7:00pm
📍 44-54 Botany Rd, Alexandria
💰 Ticketed

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
World on Fire Conference: A day of talks tackling socialist politics and current world events. Speakers include a US Senate candidate for the Party for Socialism and Liberation and a session marking 100 years since Fidel Castro's birth.
📅 Sat 18 July, 12:00pm
📍 11/13 Darley St, Newtown
💰 Free

_WELLNESS
Women Leaders Safari: Frequency Lab Alchemy Session: This sound and light experience leans into somatic and holistic practice to sharpen focus and settle the nervous system.
📅 Sat 18 July, 10:00am
📍 Level 1/241 King St, Newtown
💰 Ticketed

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
Beyond the Bedroom: Curious minds gather for intimate conversations, whether you're in a relationship, dating, or just curious.
📅 Sat 18 July, 6:00pm
📍 160 St Johns Rd, Glebe
💰 Ticketed

_NIGHTLIFE
Date Night II: Burlesque, circus, drag, dance and vocals return to the Red Rattler for round two. This one is strictly for adults only.
📅 Sat 18 July, 7:00pm
📍 6 Faversham St, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

_WELLNESS
Breakthrough Breathwork: A 9D Experience: A three-hour guided experience that uses 9D conscious connected breathing to help you disconnect and reset.
📅 Sat 18 July, 11:00am
📍 73 Pitt St, Redfern
💰 Ticketed

_WELLNESS
Free Retro Burn: An 80s and 90s-inspired sculpt Pilates class in the hot room at Scout Studios.
📅 Sat 18 July, 11:30am
📍 245 Chalmers St, Redfern
💰 Free

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
DIY Outdoor Furniture from Reclaimed Timber: A full-day hands-on workshop building outdoor furniture from recycled timber at The Bower. No experience required.
📅 Sat 18 July, 9:00am
📍 7 Prospect Rd, Summer Hill
💰 Ticketed

_{COMMUNITY & SOCIAL}
Sydney Women's Brunch Society: Not-So Secret Society: Brunch, cocktails and new friends at Li'l Darlin Surry Hills.
📅 Sat 18 July, 12:00pm
📍 420 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills
💰 Ticketed

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
Japanese Knot Bag Workshop: A mindful one-day workshop making your own Japanese knot bag whilst developing practical sewing skills.
📅 Sat 18 July, 10:00am
📍 2A Gordon Street, Rozelle
💰 Ticketed

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
Understanding Your Pelvic Floor: A free introductory workshop on pelvic floor health at Sydney Community College.
📅 Sat 18 July, 10:00am
📍 2A Gordon Street, Rozelle
💰 Free

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
Bike Tune-Up: Free bike servicing at Marrickville Organic Market so that you can get your ride sorted while you shop.
📅 Sun 19 July, 8:30am
📍 142 Addison Rd, Marrickville
💰 Free

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
Lighting Fundamentals with Maxed Out Films: A hands-on introduction to lighting for up-and-coming videographers and filmmakers, covering shaping, modifiers and diffusion.
📅 Sun 19 July, 3:30pm
📍 18-22 Sydney St, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

_MARKET
Salvage Sundays: Hundreds of free textiles, trims, garments and more up for grabs for makers and creatives to reuse and repurpose.
📅 Sun 19 July, 1:00pm
📍 7 Prospect Rd, Summer Hill
💰 Ticketed

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
Jeanius Ways to Denimise Your Home: Turn old jeans into homewares in this hands-on upcycling workshop at the Sustainability Hub.
📅 Sun 19 July, 11:00am
📍 7 Prospect Rd, Summer Hill
💰 Free

_WELLNESS
Childbirth & Parenting Workshop: Papaya Group: A childbirth and parenting workshop for expecting parents at Papaya Clinic.
📅 Sun 19 July, 9:00am
📍 Shop 6/32/72 Alice St, Newtown
💰 Ticketed

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
DIY Tiling: One Day Workshop: Learn to tile your own projects at The Bower, which includes surface preparation, laying tiles, grouting, and finishing touches.
📅 Sun 19 July, 10:00am
📍 7 Prospect Rd, Summer Hill
💰 Ticketed

_{COMMUNITY & SOCIAL}
Winter Book Swap: Bring the books you've finished and take home someone else's, hosted by Mood Reader Sydney.
📅 Sun 19 July, 11:00am
📍 1 Swanson St, Erskineville
💰 Free

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
Open Mic Comedy Preparation Course: A course built for anyone serious about preparing for their first open mic set.
📅 Sun 19 July, 2:00pm
📍 Level 1/457 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills
💰 Ticketed

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
Adult Improv and Drama Workshop: Sunday sessions building confidence through improvisation and scene work with no experience needed.
📅 Sun 19 July, 2:00pm
📍 12 Victoria Street, Lewisham
💰 Ticketed

Enjoying this weekend’s guide to the Inner West? Do you have a friend or family member living in the area who might also enjoy it?

If the answer to both questions is yes, I would be eternally grateful if you could forward this email on to them or copy and share the link below so that they can stay across all the fun things happening in the Inner West every weekend.

SHARE WITH A FRIEND

_FAMILY
Family Heritage Tours: A special family-friendly heritage tour of South Eveleigh built for little explorers these school holidays.
📅 Sat 18 July, various times
📍 Locomotive St, Eveleigh
💰 Free

_KIDS
Comets Stadium: 4 Weeks Free Basketball Info Session: A free taster session for kids aged 5 to 15 keen to try basketball, with four weeks of free training on offer for new players.
📅 Sat 18 July, 12:00pm
📍 City of Sydney Basketball Association, Alexandria
💰 Free

_YOUTH
Youth Bible Talk: Dinner, Games & Connection: A Friday night youth gathering with dinner and games at a Glebe Christian meetup.
📅 Fri 17 July, 7:00pm
📍 6 Darghan St, Glebe
💰 Ticketed

_KIDS
PCYC Marrickville School Holiday Program: Learn, play and grow with activities including NERF and laser tag, gymnastics, disco dance, mini-Olympics, futsal, and STEM.
📅 Fri 17 - Sun 19 July, 8:00am
📍 531 Illawarra Road, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

_KIDS
Youth Songwriting Workshop with Malaika Mfalme: A relaxed, beginner-friendly session turning feelings into songs, for ages 14 to 25.
📅 Sat 18 July, 1:00pm
📍 Ashfield Library, Civic Centre, Level 3/260 Liverpool Road, Ashfield
💰 Ticketed

_KIDS
Saturday Create: Dash Robots (Ages 8-12): Discover science and tech through hands-on activities including robots, circuits, 3D printing, coding, science experiments, and much more.
📅 Sat 18 July, 2:00pm
📍 30 Shoreline Dr, Rhodes
💰 Free

_KIDS
Creative Art and Craft Club Workshop (5-9 Years): An activity for kids to dive into painting and sculpture, with parents able to drop off and pickup at the end of the session.
📅 Sat 18 July, 10:00am
📍 G01, 507-515 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills
💰 Ticketed

_KIDS
Kids Pottery Wheel Classes: An opportunity for your child to learn the art of pottery making at Glaze Galleria. Parents are also welcome to participate.
📅 Fri 17 & Sat 18 July, 10:30am
📍 110 Lyons Rd, Drummoyne
💰 Ticketed

_KIDS
Kids Creative Art and Craft Club Course (5-9 Years): A hands-on activity that includes painting, sculpting, drawing and crafts.
📅 Sat 18 July, 10:00am
📍 507 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills
💰 Ticketed

_KIDS
Balance Bike Clinics: Drop-in clinics helping kids aged 3 to 8 transition from balance bikes to pedal bikes, bikes and helmets provided.
📅 Fri 17 - Sun 19 July, 9:00am
📍 410-416 Sydney Park Road, Alexandria
💰 Ticketed

_KIDS
Bunnings Kids Workshop: Free craft workshops for kids at the Ashfield store.
📅 Sat 18 & Sun 19 July, 11:00am
📍 Cnr Parramatta Rd & Frederick St, Ashfield
💰 Ticketed

_{BAR SPOTLIGHT}
Fortunate Son: Fresh off the back of four finalist nominations in the 2026 Australian Bartender Bar Awards, this Enmore favourite is proving why it's one of my picks for a late night drink. I'd back their banana split old fashioned for something genuinely different in the area, though the spicy marg is equally delicious. It's a small, dimly lit space that exudes atmosphere and is great for a date night.
📅 Open every day from 5:00pm
📍 212 Enmore Rd, Enmore

_{NEW OPENING}
Tam Jiak: Ho Jiak Group has brought its Singaporean street food concept to the new Sydney Fish Markets, serving up Malaysian surf and turf, fresh seafood, and a genuinely good truffle menu if that's your thing.
📅 Open daily from 11:00am
📍 Shop E1A/1 Bridge Rd, Glebe

_FESTIVAL
Bastille Festival: Sydney's biggest French festival returns to Circular Quay and The Rocks for four days of raclette, crêpes, champagne, mulled wine and over 130 food stalls.
📅 All weekend from 10am
📍 Circular Quay & The Rocks

Lazy Thinking: Disparo! with Dark Horse and Six Month Search Party, 6pm.
📍 380 New Canterbury Road, Dulwich Hill
💰 Ticketed

Gasoline Pony: Luke O'Shea, 7pm.
📍 115 Marrickville Road, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

The Lansdowne: The Poor with Necko, Boys at the Back and Untamed, 7pm.
📍 2-6 City Road, Chippendale
💰 Ticketed

Bootleggers @ Kelly's On King: SILVAS with Inaugural and Sammy Luka's Sundown Band, 7pm.
📍 283-285 King St, Newtown
💰 Ticketed

Sneaky Possum: Orange Empress with Twin Palace and Stratus, 7pm.
📍 86 Abercrombie St, Chippendale
💰 Ticketed

Moshpit Bar: Hekate with Daredevil and Levage, 7:30pm.
📍 642A King St, Erskineville
💰 Ticketed

The Bridge Hotel: Belrose with Skirtless and Cate Guirguis, 7:30pm.
📍 119 Victoria Road, Rozelle
💰 Ticketed

Buddy's Bar: Ghazza with Retail Therapy and Stormy Petal, 7:30pm.
📍 391 King St, Newtown
💰 Ticketed

Camelot Lounge: Victor Valdes Mexican Mariachi Band, 7pm. Also, Ladies of the 80s, 7pm.
📍 103 Railway Parade, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

Petersham Bowling Club: Mass Control, 8pm.
📍 77 Brighton St, Petersham
💰 Ticketed

Crowbar: Leaf Dog & BVA (UK) with Jay Orient, 8pm.
📍 345 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt
💰 Ticketed

Butchers Brew Bar: Soul Fidelity, 8pm.
📍 499 Marrickville Road, Dulwich Hill
💰 Ticketed

The Lord Gladstone: Hypnosis Therapy (KOR), 8:30pm.
📍 115 Regent St, Chippendale
💰 Ticketed

Vic on the Park: Poltergeist 9000, 9pm.
📍 2 Addison Road, Marrickville
💰 Free

The Duke of Enmore: My Velvet Exit, 11pm.
📍 148 Enmore Road, Enmore
💰 Free

Gasoline Pony: Solomon Barbar, launching the venue's new monthly singer-songwriter series The Soloists, 3pm.
📍 115 Marrickville Road, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

Butchers Brew Bar: The Martini Shakers, 3pm. Also: Aidan Glover Band, 8pm.
📍 499 Marrickville Road, Dulwich Hill
💰 Ticketed

The Lansdowne: Nekrosurgeon, 5pm.
📍 2-6 City Rd, Chippendale
💰 Ticketed

Chateau Wah Wah: Kirin J. Callinan "The Squeeki Wheel (Gets the Grease)" with Escape-ism, 6pm.
📍 75 Mary Street, St Peters
💰 Ticketed

The Lord Gladstone: Dirty Harry "Love and Piss" EP Tour, 6:30pm.
📍 115 Regent St, Chippendale
💰 Ticketed

Studio Killa: April Elwyn "Deep End" Single Launch Party, 7pm.
📍 47a Chalder Street, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

The Eveleigh Hotel: Micah Jey "Ask Me To Dance" Single Launch with Killian and Kika Garcia, 7pm.
📍 158 Abercrombie Street, Redfern
💰 Ticketed

Waywards Ballroom: Salty (Big Magic Tour), 7pm.
📍 324 King St, Newtown
💰 Ticketed

Camelot Lounge: The Album Show, 7pm. Also: The Foreday Riders with special guest Ray Beadle, in the Django Bar, 7pm.
📍 103 Railway Parade, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

Petersham Bowling Club: Folk Runs in the Family: Song Brother & Annuir, 8pm.
📍 77 Brighton Street, Petersham
💰 Ticketed

Botany View Hotel: Earl Gray, 8pm.
📍 597 King St, Newtown
💰 Ticketed

The MiTCH: Malaika Mfalme with Rim, 8pm.
📍 50 Mitchell Rd, Alexandria
💰 Free

Crowbar: Between the Buried and Me (USA), 8pm.
📍 345 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt
💰 Ticketed

The Duke of Enmore: Temperate, 9pm.
📍 148 Enmore Road, Enmore
💰 Free

Vic on the Park: Sloan Peterson, 9pm.
📍 2 Addison Road, Marrickville
💰 Free

The Abercrombie: Playnice Confidential 006, 10pm.
📍 Level 2/100 Broadway, Chippendale
💰 Ticketed

Petersham Bowling Club: Thomas & Friends Big Band, 2pm.
📍 77 Brighton Street, Petersham
💰 Ticketed

Salisbury Hotel: Lozz Benson, 3pm.
📍 118 Percival Rd, Stanmore
💰 Free

Botany View Hotel: Geoff Bull & The Finer Cuts, 4pm.
📍 597 King St, Newtown
💰 Free

Gasoline Pony: The Right Amount of Wrong, 5pm.
📍 115 Marrickville Road, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

Crowbar: Prince Daddy & the Hyena (USA), 6pm.
📍 345 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt
💰 Ticketed

The Lansdowne: Lindsey, 7pm.
📍 2-6 City Rd, Chippendale
💰 Free

Butchers Brew Bar: Loud Women, 7pm.
📍 499 Marrickville Road, Dulwich Hill
💰 Ticketed

Public transport disruptions are constantly changing. Below is a guide based on available information at the time of publishing and specifically for impacted transport in the Inner West. Stay up to date at Transport NSW.