While we still bemoan the lockouts and wish we could go to a bottle shop after 10pm in Sydney, alas the future is not completely bleak friends. The fabulous Sydney Festival returns to us this month, running from the 7th to the 29th of January.
As per usual, the amount of stuff on is out of control for a little three week period, but there are some you just have to chuck on your radar.
#1 House of Mirrors
Cost: $10 (buy at the entrance)
When: Open the whole festival, 4:30pm to 11pm
Timing: Give yourself 30 minutes
Where: Around the Meriton Festival Village
Perfect for a curious wander, this maze of mirrors will get you in a serious mood. Good for a solo walk, perhaps even better with a bunch of equally curious mates, House of Mirrors is an epic way to start or even finish a day of exploring. It’s only a sneaky tenner to get in, so use your time inside wisely. (Maybe bring a cheeky flask with you too.)
#2 Night Market
Cost: $10 (book online)
When: 28 January, 5pm to 10pm
Timing: Give yourself 1.5 hours
Where: Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St Eveleigh 2015
I love street food, you love street food. We love our Asian delicacies here in Aus and the Night Market will be serving up the best Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai street food for your naughty selves. Hosted in Carriageworks, which has to be one of the best venues across Sydney, you’ll need some time and an empty stomach to smash through the food on offer. It’s only on for the one night so be sure not to miss it. Oh and bring some cash too, you won’t be eating cheap.
#3 Soul of Sydney Series
Cost: Free
When: Sundays 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th January, 12pm to 5pm
Timing: You want to spend a solid 2-3 hours there
Where: Venue Village Stage
If you live in Sydney and haven’t heard of Soul of Sydney yet, what are you doing with yourself?! It’s almost irrespective to whether you love a bit of funk and groove, but SoS return to the Syd Fest lineup in 2017 to throw weekly day jams perfect for a cheeky Sunday session. Think afrobeat, New York disco, early Chicago house and 90s hip-hop – and it’s f*cking free. Yes bloody please.
#4 The Beach At The Cutaway
Cost: Free 10am to 5pm, $15 for specific and 18+ sessions
When: Tuesday to Sundays all festival, 10am to 5pm. 18+ Only sessions Friday & Saturdays in January, 6:30pm to 8pm + 8:30pm to 10pm
Timing: 45 minutes, 18+ sessions go for 90 minutes
Where: The Cutaway at Barangaroo Reserve
Let’s be real, while we have grown up (most of us anyways), it’s hard to not have a soft spot for the ol’ ball pit at your local jungle gym. Well Syd Fest knew this and decided to make a huge man made beach full of white.. err.. balls. One million polyethylene balls to be exact, all set for your inner gangsta child to come out. It’s free during the day on Tuesday to Sunday during the fest, but it might be worth forking out the extra $15 for an after dark experience. Try to go early though, don’t want to be in a dodgy ball pit on the last weekend.
#5 Wafia Live & Acoustic
Cost: $40
When: 27th January, 7pm (6:30pm doors)
Timing: Give yourself 1.5 hours
Where: St Stephen’s Uniting Church
If you’re craving some live music vibes, go no further than what will surely be a magical live performance from you girl Wafia. You’ll know her from her 2016 collab work with Ta-Ku, and let me guarantee you her voice is angelic – perhaps fitting she’ll be performing in a church. Coming off a set of festival appearances, she’ll be ditching the production for a stripped back piano-acoustic set that’ll get you going big time. While a bit dearer at $40, it’ll be well worth the outlay.
Image Source: Sydney Festival, Farrow Photography, TEDx Sydney
