What's On This Weekend - 21 to 23 Aug

Sydney, your weekend plans just filled up.

From cherry blossoms and foodie markets to emo anthems, Madonna throwbacks and live music, there’s plenty happening across the city this weekend, we’ve rounded up some of the best things to do in Sydney from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 August.

Here’s what’s worth adding to your weekend plans.

1. Emo Night Pub Crawl 🖤

📍 The Scary Canary, 469 Kent St, Sydney
🗓 Friday 21 August
⏰ From 8pm
💰 $35 online (+ booking fee)

It was never just a phase.

Dust off the skinny jeans, bring out the black eyeliner and prepare to scream every word to the songs that defined your emo era.

The Emo Night Pub Crawl kicks off at The Scary Canary before taking you through four Sydney bars and clubs, with your ticket covering four drinks, free pizza, temporary tattoos, chokers, games and prizes. The night finishes at Side Bar, where you'll also save $20 on entry. Just make sure you arrive by 8:30pm to collect your first drink voucher.

2. Love Club: Dating Apps Off, Dancefloor On 💘

📍 Side Bar, Sydney
🗓 Friday 21 August
⏰ 8pm–4am
💰 Tickets available

Forget the dating apps for one night.

Side Bar’s Love Club is swapping endless swiping for a real-life dance floor, DJs and a little bit of romantic chaos.

Grab a bracelet when you arrive — green means you're single, orange means it's complicated and red means you're taken but still ready to have fun. There are also $15 buckets and $8 drinks from 7–9pm, plus guestlist entry before 9pm.

Whether you're looking for a meet-cute, playing wingman or simply want an excuse to dance until 4am, this one has potential.

No swiping. Just vibes.

3. The Little Food Market 🍜

📍 Carriageworks, Eveleigh
🗓 Friday 21–Sunday 23 August
⏰ Fri 12pm–8pm | Sat 10am–7pm | Sun 10am–5pm
💰 Tickets from available ticket options

Calling all foodies: your weekend just got a whole lot tastier.

The Little Food Market is taking over Carriageworks for three days, bringing together Australian food makers and tastemakers for a weekend dedicated to eating, drinking, discovering and shopping.

Expect everything from small-batch salumi and farm-fresh produce to pantry goodies, sweet treats, wine, beer and non-alcoholic drinks. There’s also plenty to browse beyond the plate, with lifestyle products and independent makers joining the lineup.

Choose your ticket, grab your Bettercup and prepare to spend the day saying “okay, but I have to try that.”

Come hungry. Leave with a very full tote bag.

4. Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival 🌸

📍 Auburn Botanic Gardens, Auburn
🗓 Saturday 22 August–Sunday 30 August
⏰ From 9am
💰 Free for Cumberland residents | Tickets for other visitors

Sydney is going pink.

The Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival returns to Auburn Botanic Gardens from this weekend, transforming the gardens into a celebration of Japanese culture, food, entertainment and, of course, cherry blossoms.

The Cherry Blossom Trail features more than 150 blossoming trees, while the festival also brings a Japanese Food Village, performances and activities across the gardens.

If your camera roll is looking a little dull, this is your sign to fix it.

Just remember: the blossoms are for looking, not picking. 🌸

5. Kirribilli General & Fashion Market 🛍️

📍 Kirribilli Bowling Green, cnr Burton St & Alfred St, Kirribilli
🗓 Saturday 22 August
⏰ 8:30am–3pm
💰 Free entry

Need a Saturday morning activity that doesn't involve spending $14 on a coffee before 10am?

Head across the harbour to the Kirribilli Markets.

This weekend's General & Fashion Market brings together new and second-hand fashion, antiques, collectables, homewares and plenty more, with more than 220 stalls regularly featured across the markets.

Add live entertainment, food and those iconic harbour views and you've got an easy Saturday plan.

Go for a browse. Stay because you found something you absolutely did not need.

6. Alex Lahey: B-Grade University Tour 🎸

📍 Manning Bar, University of Sydney
🗓 Saturday 22 August
⏰ Doors from 8pm | Main act 10:20pm
💰 Tickets available

Ten years later, B-Grade University is getting its moment all over again.

Alex Lahey is bringing her Australian tour to Manning Bar to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her breakout EP, performing it in full alongside fan favourites and brand-new songs.

The night also features Retail Therapy and Suzi before Alex takes the stage at 10:20pm.

Whether you've been listening since 2016 or are discovering the EP for the first time, this is one for the live-music calendar.

A university night out, but this time you actually want to be there.

7. Dragons vs Bulldogs 🏉

📍 Allianz Stadium, Moore Park
🗓 Saturday 22 August
⏰ 7:35pm
💰 Tickets available

Sydney's sporting crowd is heading to Allianz Stadium.

The St George Illawarra Dragons take on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in Round 25 of the NRL, with kick-off at 7:35pm on Saturday night.

Round 25 is getting serious as the season heads towards the finals, making this a solid option if your ideal Saturday night involves a packed stadium, plenty of noise and absolutely no quiet conversations.

Grab your mates, pick a side and settle in for the game.

Just don't blame us when the group chat becomes 90% footy commentary.

8. Into The Groove: Madonna Appreciation Party 💃

📍 Universal Sydney, 85 Oxford St, Darlinghurst
🗓 Friday 21 August
⏰ Doors from 9pm
💰 Tickets available | 18+

Vogue. Dance. Repeat.

Universal Sydney is dedicating an entire night to the Queen of Pop with a Madonna appreciation party bringing the biggest throwback pop hits to the dance floor.

Expect Madonna on repeat alongside Kylie Minogue, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Prince, Mariah Carey, the Spice Girls and plenty more.

Basically, if you know the words to Like a Prayer, you're already qualified.

One important note: this is an appreciation night dedicated to Madonna's music — Madonna herself will not be performing.

9. Fruit Bats (USA) Solo 🎶

📍 Oxford Art Factory, Main Room
🗓 Sunday 23 August
⏰ From 7pm
💰 $59.64

Ease into your Sunday with some indie folk-rock.

US act Fruit Bats is bringing their solo show to Oxford Art Factory, led by singer-songwriter Eric D. Johnson, for an intimate night of live music.

The show kicks off at 7pm and is an easy pick for anyone looking to swap the Sunday scaries for live music and a night out in the city.

Just a heads-up: the event is 18+.

Because Sunday doesn't always have to mean staying home.

10. A Very Laufey Day - White Rabbit Gallery 🎭

📍 Black Myth Gallery, Sydney
🗓 Sunday 23 August
⏰ (10am-5pm) Throughout the day
💰 Free entry

Calling all Lauvers — this one’s for you. 🐰🎻

Make your Sunday a little more beautiful with a visit to Black Myth Gallery, which is joining this year’s A Very Laufey Day as an official Celebration of the Arts stop.

The gallery is opening its doors for a day of art and inspiration, with free entry to its latest exhibition, Black Myth. And there’s an extra treat for the early birds — the first Lauvers through the doors might even walk away with an A Very Laufey Day poster signed by Laufey herself. 🪄

So grab your fellow Lauvers, come see something beautiful and spend the day soaking up a little art, music and creativity.

From emo throwbacks and Madonna classics to cherry blossoms, markets and live gigs, there’s something for every kind of weekend mood — and plenty of reasons to bring your mates along.

Now all that’s left to do is pick your plans, round up the group chat and get out there.

Send the link to your friends and make your weekend one to remember.