Annual Cultural Festivals

Travel the world and experience exotic arts, culture and cuisine without leaving Sydney! Throughout the year Darling Harbour hosts a series of free festivals that celebrate Australia's cultural diversity. Festival dates are updated on this page once confirmed* so be sure to check back regularly and plan your next international experience!

Spring festivals
Summer festivals
Autumn festivals
Winter festivals

*Dates are subject to change.

SUMMER  
Polish Christmas

Polish Christmas Festival
4 December 2011

Polish Christmas comes to Darling Harbour with Christmas market stalls, traditional Polish food and folkloric dance performances.

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year
Parade Fireworks: 29 January 2012
Dragon Boat Festival: 4-5 February 2012

Join in the celebrations and competition of the Chinese New Year Festival dragon boat races on Cockle Bay. The festival also features a variety of food stalls along the foreshore. Plus, don't miss the spectacular Chinese New Year Twilight Parade which lights up the streets of Sydney with international performers, huge lanterns and magnificent costumes. Darling Harbour's beautiful Chinese Garden of Friendship also features a range of unique events to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Greek Festival

Sydney Greek Festival
25-26 February 2012

Bring your family, appetites and dancing shoes to enjoy music, fine food and Greek festivities. Darling Harbour comes alive to the sound of fabulous Greek music, the aromas of sumptuous Greek food, dazzling displays of Greek dancing and many surprises for the children. This is the perfect way to celebrate the vibrant multiculturalism of Sydney and to explore the beauty of Greek culture.

AUTUMN  
Thai Grand Festival Buddha

Thai Grand Festival
11-12 March 2012

Celebrate the Thai Grand Festival at Darling Harbour with music, food, religion and dance. Dancing performances depicting cultural traditions and folklore will be accompanied by live music and Sydney's favourite Thai cuisine will be served throughout the festival.

Indian dancer

Indian Festival
23-25 March 2012

Bhavan Australia invites everyone to celebrate friendship and harmony at the annual Holi Mahotsav festival. The festival features cultural workshops, prayers, meditation and yoga demonstrations, dance and music. Stalls will also sell delicious Indian food as well as sumptuous Indian clothing and jewellery.

Capoiera Festival

International Capoeira Festival
21 April 2012

Head down to Darling Harbour for the International Capoeira Festival and enjoy a spectacular display of Brazilian culture through the dance and beats of the vibrant art of capoeira. The performances include a display of acrobatics, Brazilian drumming, music and dance.

Buddha's Birthday

Buddha's Birthday
12-13 May 2012

Enjoy majestic services, ceremonies and performances as well as a selection of arts, crafts and vegetarian food stalls.

WINTER  
Taiwan Festival

Taiwan Day Festival
26 August 2012

Enjoy traditional and modern singing and dancing from Australia- and Taiwan-based artists that will surprise and delight. Bring your family and friends for a great fun day out.

SPRING  
Indonesian Festival

Indonesian Festival
Be transported to the island nation with dance, music and the yummiest of Indonesian cuisine including satay, bakso, siomay, otak-otak, gudeg yogya and mie goreng.

 

Burmese Festival

Burmese Festival
The Burmese Festival showcases all of Burma's cultural diversity and the rich tradition, culture and arts of the people. Tantalise your taste buds, be entertained with live performances and pick up some nice souvenirs for yourself or your loved ones. Come and join in the fun, everyone is welcome!

Brazil Dancers

Brazilian Festival
Darling Harbour comes alive with the tastes and sounds of Brazil. The festival features cultural performances, art and craft stalls and traditional cuisine. Capoeira dancers show their 'ginga', bands play the best of Brazilian music and dancers showcase their moves with samba, pagode, axe, forro, lambada olodum.

Lebanon Carnival

Lebanon Carnival
The Cedars of Lebanon Folkloric Group present the annual Lebanon Carnival featuring performances from belly dancers, Lebanese folk dancing, singers and much more. Enjoy an entertaining day for the whole family.

Malaysia Festival Malaysia Festival
Celebrate Malaysia's cultural diversity with tasty foods and cultural performances. Bring your empty stomach and feast on an assortment of delicacies. Enjoy a range of performances including traditional Malay, Chinese and Indian dances and listen to modern-day music. Organised by Malaysian students from the University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney and Macquarie University.
Japanese Festival

Japanese Festival
Experience a Japanese spring festival featuring folk music and dance, taiko drumming, karate and sumo demonstrations, an anime parade and much more. Plus enjoy delicious Japanese festival food. Put on your yukata, come along and join in the fun!

Egyptian

Egyptian Festival
The Australian Egyptian Council Forum of Sydney presents a cultural festival that packs thousands of years of history into one day at Darling Harbour. Enjoy folkloric dance, music, artefacts, displays and some of the best cuisine Egypt has to offer.

Thai Food

Thai Food Festival
The Thai Food Festival lets Sydneysiders experience and explore Thai culture through traditional dance, food, art and craft, demonstrations and much more.

Contact Print this page Reduce font size Increase font size
 
Sydney Harbour Foreshore AuthorityBrand logos divider icon therocks.com Brand logos divider icon darlingharbour.com