The October Long Weekend is here and Sydneysiders are spoiled for choice when it comes to big events, ranging from video games to music to food and drink. Good Food Month has begun; the EB Expo is on; Listen Out is on Saturday. There's so much going on around the city, and here are some of our favourites.
EB Expo (Friday-Sunday)
Three days of video game and pop culture fun at the Sydney Showgrounds, EB Expo is back for another year and once again looks to have expanded to meet demand. Playable code will be available for many of the most exciting upcoming games, including Fallout 4, Starfox Zero, Halo 5, and Star Wars: Battlefront. You can also expect live stage shows of Adventure Time, performances from The Umbilical Brothers for some reason, and Amusement Sideshow. Plus there will be that super sweet area with an unbelievable amount of retro games and systems just waiting for you and your nostalgia.
READ: THE FIVE GAMES WE'RE MOST EXCITED TO PLAY AT EB EXPO
More info: http://www.ebexpo.com.au/
Cost: from $39.95 per session (each session is around half a day)
EQ Food Truck Jam (Saturday)
Most of Sydney's beloved food trucks are gathering all in one place as part of a program which also features trapeze performers, live music, coffee, alcohol, and free 2 hour parking. Those crazy Tella Ball shakes that are now world famous will be there, as will be the much adored Knafeh Bakery. Have a Tella Ball milkshake for us.
More info: HERE
Cost: Free Entry
Listen Out (Saturday)
Over the past few years, Listen Out has more than made up for the dissolution of Parklife, bringing in a more boutique approach to the festival scene while still maintaining that larger-than-life park vibe. This year's line up is also their biggest yet, with the likes of Childish Gambino and SBTKRT.
Check out our review of the Perth event HERE and get ready for Saturday with 5 tracks by 5 artists you can't miss HERE
More Info: www.listenout.com.au
Barangaroo Welcome Celebration Giant Picnic (Sunday)
From 11am to 5pm, Sydney's new harbourside parklands will host their second Giant Picnic as part of an ongoing Welcome Celebration. Barangaroo will be home to live music, entertainment, art, food, and drink in a family-friendly environment, celebrating this month's theme of 'sea' in honour of Barangaroo's 200-year history of maritime activity. Some of the city's finest chefs will be dishing up picnic-style food on Stargazer Lawn while free music is located in The Cutaway alongside multi-media art. Tours of the historic James Craig ship will also be running during the day.
More Info: www.barangaroo.sydney
Cost: Free Entry
Good Food Month (Throughout October)
Good Food Month has officially begun for 2015, kicking off a massive program events that includes, of course, the Night Noodle Markets later this month, a brand new dessert festival, and a Whiskey & Sugar Bar from Singleton and the world famous Momofuku Milk Bar from New York. There are many events on this weekend as part of it, including the great Grower's Market "Best of the Brunch" on Saturday.
READ: OUR TOP 12 PICKS FOR GOOD FOOD MONTH
More Info: http://sydney.goodfoodmonth.com/
Sydney Architecture Festival (Saturday)
Head along to Sydney's new urban playground, The Goods Line, between Harris St and Darling Drive, for the flagship event of the Sydney Architecture Festival. Expect Drawing classes, photography workshops, a zine fair, and evening film screenings, alongside talks and panels from leading thinkers and practitioners involved in Australia architecture.
More info: http://www.sydneyarchitecturefestival.org/
Cost: Free Entry
The Star's Sky Terrace (From Friday)
The very popular Sky Terrace at The Star will re-open for the spring/summer season starting this long weekend, once again providing access to the some of the best food (more BBQ pulled pork and cheese quesadilla's please), drink, and entertainment The Star has. There will be several bars set up - including a dedicated Wine Bar - set against that breezy view. Those heading along can also be the first to try the new Veuve Clicquot "Rich" champagne as the famous Champagne House sets up a small pop-up.
More Info: http://www.star.com.au/skyterrace
Darling Harbour Fiesta (Friday-Sunday)
Sydney's biggest annual celebration of Latin culture will be located at Darling Harbour all weekend with free entry to enjoy movies, musci, dance, food, and culture. This is the first weekend of the event, with the second happening 10th and 11th of October; but this first few days will feature free outdoor screenings from the Sydney Latina American Film Festival as a bonus.
A few international acts like Tonolec and Ola Fresca will be performing as part of the fiesta alongside various local acts spanning live music and dance.
More info: http://www.darlingharbour.com/
Cost: Free Entry
The Star Epsom Day (Saturday)
Fashion, hospitality, and entertainment is what this day at Royal Randwick is known for. There will be a Chandon pop-up bar, some on-course action, a huge screening of the AFL Grand Final, and The Bucket List will be coming all the way from Bondi to help move things along; plus there’ll be three Group 1 races, including The Star Epsom Handicap, which has doubled in prize money to $1 million.
More info: http://www.theraces.com.au/
Cost: $40 GA ($20 concession)
AFL Grand Final Screening at Zanzibar, Newtown (Saturday)
If you're big on watching the AFL Grand Final with some mates on one of the best rooftops in Newtown while you're sharing (or not sharing) a 1kg bucket ($10) of sticky sesame chicken wings then head to Zanzibar. There's also a corona buckets for $25 and all long weekend the venue will be offering some specials for Oktoberfest (like $10 Leffe Goblets).
Surf Disco at The Collaroy (Friday)
If you're up north and don't feel like coming into the city on a Friday then head along to The Collaroy for their Fear of Dawn Surf Disco with Carlton Dry. You'll get $5 Carlton Draught specials and local DJs until the venue shuts at 3am.
Cost: Free Entry
Long Weekend Trading Hours
As always, the long weekend is met with a slight change in trading hours so here are the opening times for some of the best venues in the city:
Zeus Street Greek - Open 11:30am - 10:00pm Friday-Sunday, and Open 11:30am - 9:30pm Monday
Opera Bar - Open Friday and Saturday 8:00am - 01:00 am, Open Sunday 9.00am - 12:00 am, Open Monday 8:00am - Midnight
Monopole - Open for Lunch and Dinner (from 6pm) on Saturday and Sunday, and open for dinner on Monday
Yellow - Open for Breakfast and Brunch (8am-3pm) and Dinner (from 6pm) on Saturday and Sunday, and open for dinner on Monday
Bentley - Open for dinner Saturday and Sunday, and will be closed Monday October 5th.
Biota - will be open as usual on Saturday & Sunday (brunch, lunch, dinner - Wild Picnic on on Sunday too), and will be closed on Monday.
ARIA - Open Saturday 5pm-11pm, Sunday 5.30pm-10pm, and Monday for lunch from 12:00pm 2:30pm and dinner from 5.30pm-11pm
North Bondi Fish - Open for lunch (from 12pm) and dinner Saturday, Sunday and Monday
CHISWICK - Open Saturday for lunch (12pm-3pm) and dinner (5.30pm-10pm), open Sunday for lunch (12pm-3pm) and dinner (6pm-9pm), Open Monday for lunch (12pm-3pm) and dinner (6pm-10pm)
CHISWICK at the Gallery - Open Saturday, Sunday and Monday for lunch (12pm-3.30pm)
Bondi Hardware - will be open from 9am-12am on Saturday, 9am-10pm on Sunday, and open 9am-11pm on Monday
The Botanist - will be open for lunch and dinner all long weekend, and will be open 11am-10pm on Monday.
SoCal - open 12pm-2am Saturday, 12pm-12am Sunday, and will be closed Monday
The Butler - will be open 12pm-12am Saturday, 12pm-10pm on Sunday, and will be closed on the Monday.
MoVida - Open Saturday 12pm-late, closed Sunday and Monday
Automata - Open for dinner Friday and Saturday from 6pm, Open for lunch on Sunday from 12pm, closed on Monday
Silvereye - Open for dinner Friday and Saturday, Closed Sunday and Monday
Sepia - Open for lunch Saturday (from 12pm) and dinner (from 6pm), Closed Sunday and Monday
Guillaume - Open for lunch and dinner on Saturday, Closed Sunday and Monday
Din Tai Fung:
World Square: Sat & Sun Lunch: 11:00am - 3:00pm, Saturday Dinner: 5:00pm - 10:00pm, Sunday Dinner: 5:00pm - 9:00pm, Monday Lunch 11:30am - 2:30pm and Dinner 5:30pm - 9:00pm
Chatswood: Sat & Sun Lunch 11:00am - 3:30pm, Saturday Dinner 5:00pm - 9:00pm, Sunday Dinner 5:00pm - 8:30pm, Monday Lunch 11:00am - 2:30pm and Dinner 5:00pm - 8:30pm
Central Park: Sat & Sun Lunch 11:30am - 2:30pm, Saturday Dinner 5:00pm - 9:00pm, Sunday Dinner 5:00pm - 8:30pm, Monday Lunch 11:30am - 2:30pm and Dinner 5:00pm - 8:30pm
Miranda: Saturday 11:00am - 9:30pm, Sunday 11:00am - 8:30pm*, Monday Lunch 11:00am - 2:30pm and Dinner 5:00pm - 8:30pm