Norton Street Festa, International Jazz Festival & Halloween Festivities

Halloween is taking over the Inner West, with spooky kids’ trails, street parties, drag spectaculars and late-night costume raves popping up across the hood.

I’ve rounded up 80+ ways to celebrate, from free family-friendly fun to hidden gems and big nights out. Find your next Halloween adventure, whether you’re planning a daytime outing or a night of debauchery. 🎃

READ MORE

_{COMMUNITY & SOCIAL}
Norton Street Festa: Leichhardt’s much-loved Italian street festival turns 40 this weekend, bringing hundreds of market stalls, classic cars, roving performers and plenty of gelato to Norton Street that’ll derail even the best-laid diet plans.
📅 Sun 25 Oct, 10:00am
📍 Norton St, Leichhardt
💰 Free

_NIGHTLIFE
It’s All Love Halloween Party: A 90s and noughties horror-themed blowout featuring retro arcade games, pinball, N64 setups, and live hip-hop sets from local emerging artists at Astro’s.
📅 Sat 24 Oct, 6:00pm
📍 Astro's Arcade Bar, 24 King St, Newtown
💰 Ticketed

_NIGHTLIFE
T4T Wrestling: Smash Repair: Forget the footy and head straight to Marrickville Slipway, where trans wrestlers will bring two hours of athleticism, drama and unforgettable entertainment to the ring.
📅 Fri 23 - Sat 24 Oct, various times
📍 Slipway @ the Mothership Courtyard, 24 Sydney St, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

_{COMMUNITY & SOCIAL}
The Link Up: Sydney Creative Experience: A massive afternoon of local culture featuring live music sets, a DJ battle hosted by Ride.ez, 1v1 dance jams, and a creative pop-up market.
📅 Sat 24 Oct, 4:00pm
📍 Cha & Zak's Clubhouse, Unit 2/12 Rich St, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

_{COMMUNITY & SOCIAL}
Marrickville Singles Walk: Ditch the dating apps and tackle a civilised five-kilometre stroll along the Cooks River instead. A low-pressure way to meet locals who'd rather get to know someone on a riverside walk than over awkward pub small talk.
📅 Sun 25 Oct, 9:00am
📍 Mackey Park, Richardsons Cres, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

_{ARTS & CULTURE}
Film Club: Balmain Library hosts its monthly afternoon film screening, a relaxed outing for local film buffs.
📅 Fri 23 Oct, 2:00pm
📍 370 Darling St, Balmain
💰 Free (booking required)

_{COMMUNITY & SOCIAL}
Ashfield - Leichhardt SES Unit 65th Anniversary: Drop by the Ashfield Service Centre to check out early 1960s photographs, vintage uniforms, and volunteer stories marking 65 years of the local SES.
📅 Fri 23 Oct, 8:30am
📍 260 Liverpool St, Ashfield
💰 Free

_{COMMUNITY & SOCIAL}
Trans and Gender Diverse Swim Night: Celebrate the annual Trans and Gender Diverse Swim Night and enjoy exclusive pool access with tunes, inflatables, a high-energy aqua class, and a sausage sizzle.
📅 Fri 23 Oct, 7:00pm
📍 27 Black St, Marrickville
💰 Free

_{COMMUNITY & SOCIAL}
Australian Finska Championship 2026: Petersham Bowling Club plays host to 128 timber-tossing teams battling it out for the grand trophy: a thousand-dollar cash prize, and B-plate bragging rights.
📅 Sat 24 Oct, 9:00am
📍 77 Brighton St, Petersham
💰 Ticketed

_{ARTS & CULTURE}
Echoform: Twisted Element brings its immersive dance theatre to a Marrickville warehouse for a raw, visceral exploration of darkness and ritual.
📅 Sat 24 Oct, various times
📍 43 Sydney St, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

_{COMMUNITY & SOCIAL}
For the Girls + Friends: The annual car and bike celebration rolls into Marrickville Metro, bringing together local automotive culture, art and street food.
📅 Sat 24 Oct, 5:00pm
📍 20 Smidmore St, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

_NIGHTLIFE
Superslam 3: Live Pro Wrestling: High-flying athleticism and old-school entertainment return to the Polish club this Saturday.
📅 Sat 24 Oct, 7:15pm
📍 182 Liverpool Rd, Ashfield
💰 Ticketed

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
Electrify Inner West: Free Home Energy Expo: Peter Garrett opens the expo with an address and Q&A, followed by the chance to speak with independent specialists about solar, batteries and moving away from gas.
📅 Sat 24 Oct, 10:00am
📍 107 Norton St, Leichhardt
💰 Free

_{COMMUNITY & SOCIAL}
Lesbian Film Club Sydney Trivia Night & Halloween Dress-Up: Dust off your best costume, grab some mates to form a team of up to five, and settle in for a substance-free trivia night, with snacks included.
📅 Sat 24 Oct, 6:00pm
📍 11/13 Darley St, Newtown
💰 Ticketed

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
Side Quest: Make a Plan, Find Your People, Get It Done: Grab a coffee outside Bourke Street Bakery, walk to a nearby park, turn your vague project idea into an actionable 1-on-1 plan, and lock in your deadline with the group.
📅 Sat 24 Oct, 10:00am
📍 633 Bourke St, Surry Hills
💰 Ticketed

_{ARTS & CULTURE}
The Shakesbeer Sessions: A Midsummer Night's Dream: Sydney's pub Shakespeare troupe serves up a fast-paced, interactive 90-minute adaptation complete with sing-alongs and of course, a pint in hand.
📅 Sat 24 Oct, 7:30pm
📍 54 Norton St, Leichhardt
💰 Ticketed

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
Intro to Carpentry: Working with Reclaimed Timber: Learn the basics of measuring, sawing, and power tool operation while building your own custom storage crate from recycled materials.
📅 Sat 24 Oct, 9:00am
📍 7 Prospect Rd, Summer Hill
💰 Ticketed

The Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival returns for ten days of boundary-pushing performances, celebrating women and gender-diverse artists redefining contemporary jazz. Expect everything from intimate sets to adventurous improvisation and unexpected musical collaborations across Inner West venues and beyond.

This year’s line-up brings together acclaimed international artists and local innovators, offering plenty to discover whether you're a dedicated jazz fan or simply keen to try something different. Catch performances from 22-31 October.

READ MORE

_{COMMUNITY & SOCIAL}
Maple Social Club: Line Dancing: Sydney's newest obsession returns to the basketball court at Vic on the Park for an afternoon of lessons and dancing with the Social Dance Company.
📅 Sun 25 Oct, 4:00pm
📍 2 Addison Rd, Marrickville
💰 Free (booking required)

_{ARTS & CULTURE}
Spoken Word and Poetry Open Mic: Head to the Upstairs Radish Lounge at We Three Bar for a relaxed monthly poetry open mic.
📅 Sun 25 Oct, 2:00pm
📍 329 Illawarra Rd, Marrickville
💰 Free

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
Rainforest Terrarium Workshop: Build a self-sustaining, fully enclosed rainforest ecosystem to take home during this immersive, beginner-friendly workshop.
📅 Sun 25 Oct, 2:00pm
📍 189b St Johns Rd, Forest Lodge
💰 Ticketed

_WELLNESS
Retro Burn Social: Combine a 45-minute retro movement class with post-class refreshments, taking home a complimentary Pilates mat, socks and ball.
📅 Sun 25 Oct, 11:30am
📍 661 King St, St Peters
💰 Ticketed

_{ARTS & CULTURE}
Halloween Costume Flip: If your little one’s costume is half-finished and held together with a prayer and hot glue, get down to Replace Inner West this Sunday.
📅 Sun 25 Oct, 2:00pm
📍 Replace Inner West, 7 Prospect Rd, Summer Hill
💰 Ticketed

_WELLNESS
Sydney Girls Social Turns One: Celebrate a full year of Sydney Girls Social with a mat Pilates class led by Hanna, followed by a picnic in the park.
📅 Sun 25 Oct, 12:00pm
📍 Enmore Park, Between Enmore Rd and Black St, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

_TOURS
A Walking Tour of Water, Wastewater and Poo Chimneys: Back by popular demand, water engineers Sally Williamson and Gemma Keane lead a 5km walk from Tempe to Sydenham, uncovering hidden wastewater infrastructure and ventilation shafts.
📅 Sun 25 Oct, 9:00am
📍 1A Old St, Tempe
💰 Free (booking required)

_WELLNESS
Tea meet Sound: Cenk and Carol host a sanctuary of stillness combining a traditional tea ceremony with a resonant soundbath.
📅 Sun 25 Oct, 11:30am
📍 20 Merton St, Rozelle
💰 Ticketed

_TOURS
Yaralla Estate Open Day: Explore the historic Edwardian estate with expert-led tours of the grounds, dairy and stables, complete with homemade scones and Devonshire tea.
📅 Sun 25 Oct, 10:00am
📍 Nullawarra Ave, Concord West
💰 Ticketed

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
Your Story: A Women’s Writing Workshop: Award-winning writers Karli Evans and Kerrie Simon-Lawrence lead a supportive session helping women turn real-life experiences into personal memoirs.
📅 Sun 25 Oct, 10:30am
📍 134 Oxford St, Darlinghurst
💰 Free

_{COMMUNITY & SOCIAL}
Discover our Community Book Exchange: Clear out your overloaded shelves or score your next read at this weekend-long community book swap in Pyrmont.
📅 All weekend, various times
📍 Corner John and Mount Streets, Pyrmont
💰 Free (booking required)

_{ARTS & CULTURE}
Art & About Pop-Up Performances: Oxford Square turns into an outdoor stage loaded with live music, physical theatre, interactive neon installations, and the one-of-a-kind Gramophone Man.
📅 All weekend, various times
📍 1 Burton St, Darlinghurst
💰 Free

_{ARTS & CULTURE}
May Street Open Studios 2026: Wander through private and shared artist workspaces in St Peters, meet the makers behind the craft, and snap up original works straight from the source.
📅 Fri 23 - Sat 24 Oct, various times
📍 23-25 May St, St Peters
💰 Free

_{ARTS & CULTURE}
The Golden Mile Grotto by The Sirens Collective: Dive into an immersive underwater sanctuary inspired by marine mythology and queer creativity, complete with drop-in workshops and character creation.
📅 All weekend, various times
📍 277 Bourke St, Darlinghurst
💰 Free

_{TALKS & WORKSHOPS}
Disco Never Dies: Movement and Culture Workshop: Master the essential elements of waacking, styling, and expressive floor poses with the crew from Dancekool.
📅 Sat 24 - Sun 25 Oct, various times
📍 134 Oxford St, Darlinghurst
💰 Free

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

If the answer to both questions is yes, I’d really appreciate you passing it along. Click the link below for your very own referral link and once you have 3 confirmed referrals, I’ll send you a little thank you to show my appreciation.

SHARE WITH A FRIEND

_FAMILY
The Nicho Halloween Festival 2026: Balmain East's long-running school festival returns with a haunted house, disco diva dance zone, phantom funfair, and a dedicated Mini Monsters area for the little ones.
📅 Sat 24 Oct, 3:00pm
📍 23 Nicholson St, Balmain East
💰 Free

_KIDS
Halloween at South Eveleigh: South Eveleigh takes a weird and wonderful turn with a Mad Hatter-inspired Halloween craft workshop.
📅 Sat 24 Oct, 2:30pm
📍 2 Locomotive St, Eveleigh NSW 2015
💰 Ticketed

_FAMILY
Daytime Santa Photos at The Grounds of Alexandria: Santa’s trading in his traditional suit for a mint-green flavour, ready for your five-minute session, which includes printed snaps and digital copies.
📅 All weekend, 9:30am
📍 7a/2 Huntley St, Alexandria
💰 Ticketed

_FAMILY
Amazing Astro Animals: Author and illustrator James Foley joins astrozoologist Prof Vupshe Dazchy to uncover the real history of animals in space.
📅 Sat 24 Oct, 2:00pm
📍 49 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe
💰 Free (booking required)

_FAMILY
Kids Halloween Costumes - Clothes Swap: Bring down clean, wearable kids' costumes and accessories to swap for something new-to-you before Halloween night rolls around.
📅 Sat 24 Oct, 10:00am
📍 7 Prospect Rd, Summer Hill
💰 Free

_FAMILY
The Power of Musical Play: Early childhood music leader Julie Wylie runs an interactive practical workshop based on her latest book.
📅 Sat 24 Oct, 10:30am
📍 Yabsley Av, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

_KIDS
Me and My Violin: First Steps: Introducing children aged 3 to 6 to classical music and the violin through games and imagination ahead of an eight-week term program.
📅 Fri 23 Oct, 10:00am
📍 12 Victoria St, Lewisham
💰 Free (booking required)

_FAMILY
Grandma! There's a Pig in My Room!: Celebrate Grandparents Day with a reading from siblings Gary and Karen Eck, kids' entertainment from Emily Who, and signed books for the first 20 grandmas.
📅 Sun 25 Oct, 10:00am
📍 313 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville
💰 Free

_FAMILY
Official Opening of the Upgraded 36th Battalion Park Playground: Check out the newly built multi-play units, bike loop, nature play area, and fitness station, alongside a free barbecue and face painting.
📅 Sat 24 Oct, 12:00pm
📍 MacKenzie St, Leichhardt
💰 Free

🍴 Gluten-free / Coeliac-safe restaurants?: Reddit locals share their top local picks for coeliac-safe dining around King Street. Got one of your own? Share it.

🐒 What's the Story with the Monkey in Newtown?: Solving the mystery of the painted primate keeping watch over King Street.

_{FOOD & DRINK}
Spanish Wine Tasting at Goblin Wine Shop: Goblin Wine Shop is pouring a curated selection of white wines straight from one of the most famous wine regions in Spain: Jerez, this Friday night.
📅 Fri 23 Oct, 6:30pm
📍 234 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville

_{FOOD & DRINK}
Bottomless Brunch at KiKi Darlinghurst: KiKi Darlinghurst has a little-known bottomless brunch featuring a delicious Pan-Asian banquet, alongside an hour and forty-five minutes of free-flowing wine and beer. The menu features wok-charred edamame, stracciatella and prawn toast if that helps pique your interest.
📅 Sat 24 - Sun 25 Oct, 12:00pm
📍 58 Riley St, Darlinghurst

_{FOOD & DRINK}
Beginner’s Japanese Tea Workshop: Certified instructor Taka Kaneko leads a hands-on session covering tea history and production before you whisk your own bowl of matcha.
📅 Sat 24 Oct, 1:30pm
📍 11-13 Darley St, Newtown
💰 Ticketed

The Fusebox @ The Factory: Cismic with Playne Jayne and Kaunta, 7:00pm.
📍 105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

Buddy's Bar Newtown: Tommy Gun, 7:30pm.
📍 391 King St, Newtown
💰 Ticketed

Church St Studios: Meremba, 7:30pm.
📍 62-68 Church St, Camperdown
💰 Ticketed

The Lansdowne: HEAVENSGATE and Jaded State, 7:00pm.
📍 2-6 City Rd, Chippendale
💰 Ticketed

The Bridge Hotel: The Angels, 8:30pm.
📍 135 Victoria Rd, Rozelle
💰 Ticketed

The Lord Gladstone: Freaks to the Front, 6:00pm.
📍 115 Regent St, Chippendale
💰 Ticketed

Crowbar: The Buoys, 8:00pm.
📍 345 Parramatta Rd, Leichhardt
💰 Ticketed

Camelot Lounge: Mike Rudd and A Retro Spectrum with Mike Rudd, 7:00pm.
📍 19 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

The Vanguard: Rowena Wise, 7:00pm.
📍 42 King St, Newtown
💰 Ticketed

Bootleggers @ Kelly's On King: Ultraviolet, 7:00pm.
📍 283-285 King St, Newtown
💰 Ticketed

Kiss My Brass: Niven Band with Ace on Fire and Kalen Hogan Narliyarn, 6:00pm.
📍 59 Sydenham Rd, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

Sneaky Possum: Lake Crook Mouth with Witch Doctor and Avalon Rose, 7:00pm.
📍 86 Abercrombie St, Chippendale
💰 Ticketed

Lazybones Lounge: MALAM, 7:00pm.
📍 294 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

The Eveleigh Hotel: Jane Dire, 7:30pm.
📍 158 Abercrombie St, Redfern
💰 Ticketed

The Chippo Hotel: Halfway Down with Darling Street and Speaking of Which, 7:30pm.
📍 87-91 Abercrombie St, Chippendale
💰 Ticketed

Enmore Theatre: The High Kings, 8:00pm.
📍 128 Enmore Rd, Newtown
💰 Ticketed

Palomino Lounge: Hawkes & Washingmachine, 8:00pm.
📍 134A Enmore Rd, Newtown
💰 Free

Vic on the Park: Supahoney, 9:00pm.
📍 2 Addison Rd, Marrickville
💰 Free (booking required)

The Duke of Enmore: Haxan, 7:00pm.
📍 148 Enmore Rd, Enmore
💰 Ticketed

Mixtape Brewing & Bar: Wifey, 7:00pm.
📍 142a Victoria Rd, Marrickville
💰 Free

MoshPit Bar: Dark Clouds, 7:00pm.
📍 642A King St, Erskineville
💰 Ticketed

Factory Floor @ Factory Theatre: Sterling Drake, 7:30pm.
📍 105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

Church St Studios: Bukhu and Nosh, 8:00pm.
📍 62-68 Church St, Camperdown
💰 Ticketed

Marrickville Bowling Club: Chris Masuak's Dog Soldier, 7:30pm.
📍 91 Sydenham Rd, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

Sappho Books Cafe and Bar: Alina Grace, 7:00pm.
📍 51 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe
💰 Free

Botany View Hotel: Grandmaster Gucci, 8:00pm.
📍 597 King St, Newtown
💰 Ticketed

Red Rattler: Gigged Out After Dark, 6:00pm.
📍 6 Faversham St, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

Knox St Bar: Rae Santos, 7:30pm.
📍 11 Knox St, Chippendale
💰 Ticketed

The Abercrombie: Secretsundaze with James Priestley, 10:00pm.
📍 100 Broadway, Chippendale
💰 Ticketed

Crowbar: Bob Evans, 8:00pm.
📍 345 Parramatta Rd, Leichhardt
💰 Ticketed

Butchers Brew Bar: Dead Horse Gap Band, 3:00pm.
📍 499 Marrickville Rd, Dulwich Hill
💰 Ticketed

Stucco Housing Cooperative: Arcadia Bleeds with Berzerker, Counterspell and Fixxer, 1:00pm.
📍 207 Wilson St, Newtown
💰 Ticketed

Gasoline Pony: The IT Grrrls with Unseen, 5:00pm.
📍 117 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville
💰 Free (booking required)

Trocadero Room: NOF, 6:00pm.
📍 156 Enmore Rd, Enmore
💰 Ticketed

The Chippo Hotel: Five Buck Kid, 7:30pm.
📍 87-91 Abercrombie St, Chippendale
💰 Ticketed

Bootleggers @ Kelly's On King: Willowbank Grove, 7:00pm.
📍 283-285 King St, Newtown
💰 Ticketed

Waywards Ballroom: Hot Machine with Starcrazy and Avalanche, 7:00pm.
📍 320 King St, Newtown
💰 Ticketed

Portugal Madeira Club: Mad Racket's Saturn Return Birthday with Annabelle Gaspar and Sameer Sengupta, 7:00pm.
📍 1-3 Denby St, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

Lazybones Lounge: Motown and Beyond, 7:00pm.
📍 294 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville
💰 Free

Gifts of Mercy Emporium: Vampire Vampire with RTF, Yes Chef and TTT, 7:00pm.
📍 452 Parramatta Rd, Petersham
💰 Ticketed

The Duke of Enmore: Ragnarök & Roll, 12:00pm.
📍 148 Enmore Rd, Enmore
💰 Free

The Fusebox @ The Factory: Mother Earth with After Hours Band, 7:00pm.
📍 105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

Kiss My Brass: Peduli Flores, 6:00pm.
📍 59 Sydenham Rd, Marrickville
💰 Free

MoshPit Bar: BLAME!, 7:30pm.
📍 642A King St, Erskineville
💰 Ticketed

Golden Barley Hotel: Whopping Big Naughty, 8:00pm.
📍 165-169 Edgeware Rd, Enmore
💰 Free

The Townie: Remit, 8:45pm.
📍 326 King St, Newtown
💰 Free

Petersham Bowling Club: Singer-Songwriters for 2SER Radiothon, 3:00pm.
📍 77 Brighton St, Petersham
💰 Ticketed

Young Henrys Brewery: Stand Atlantic, 1:00pm.
📍 76 Wilford St, Newtown
💰 Ticketed

Crowbar: Evergrey, 7:00pm.
📍 345 Parramatta Rd, Leichhardt
💰 Ticketed

Balmain Town Hall: The Cellists of The Metropolitan Orchestra, 3:00pm.
📍 370 Darling St, Balmain
💰 Ticketed

Butchers Brew Bar: Izy Fay with Indi Kendall Joy and Haley Holgate, 7:00pm.
📍 499 Marrickville Rd, Dulwich Hill
💰 Ticketed

Goodspace @ The Lord Gladstone: LÂLKA with Gendi, Doki Doki, LEON and djAudionics, 3:00pm.
📍 115 Regent St, Chippendale
💰 Ticketed

MoshPit Bar: Trauma Cats with Low Dogs and Punxsie, 4:00pm.
📍 642A King St, Erskineville
💰 Ticketed

Lazybones Lounge: Quentin Angus & MSFS and Joel Jenkins Trio with Mazbou Q, Zoe Sparks, Moto Fukushima, Kenneth Salters, Steph Russell and Ruby Jackson, 5:00pm.
📍 294 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

Gasoline Pony: Blue Ren and Tom Harrington, 5:00pm.
📍 117 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

The Vanguard: Kisses, 7:00pm.
📍 42 King St, Newtown
💰 Ticketed

Palomino Lounge: Jill Jackson, 7:30pm.
📍 134A Enmore Rd, Newtown
💰 Free

Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre: Kimberly Bear, 12:00pm.
📍 27 Black St, Marrickville
💰 Free

Gifts of Mercy Emporium: Shaampoo records with JJune, Ari Alibi and JAXAD, 6:00pm.
📍 452 Parramatta Rd, Petersham
💰 Ticketed

Enmore Hotel: The Yayako, 7:00pm.
📍 192 Enmore Rd, Enmore
💰 Free

The Fusebox @ The Factory: Brittany Holt, 1:30pm.
📍 105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

Union Hotel: Green Mohair Suits, 4:00pm.
📍 576 King St, Newtown
💰 Free

Factory Floor @ Factory Theatre: Ixaras, 12:30pm.
📍 105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville
💰 Ticketed

Public transport disruptions can change at short notice. Here’s a guide to the planned changes affecting Inner West services this weekend, based on information available at the time of publishing. Check Transport for NSW heading out for the latest updates.