G’day listeners! Welcome to Things to Do in Sydney—your daily audio passport to the quirkiest, wildest, and downright coolest happenings in Australia’s most electrifying city. I’m Oly Bennet, and today is Sunday, October 19th, 2025. Sydney is waking up to blue skies, spring warmth, and a city absolutely buzzing with festivals, live music, and enough adventure to make even a professional thrill-seeker break a sweat. So, caffeinate those dreams, lace up your walking shoes, and let’s dive into a city where the only thing more unpredictable than the weather is the next event on your list.

The big headline today? It’s all about the action in the streets and down on the sand. The iconic Crows Nest Fest is back and bigger than ever, drawing crowds from all corners to bask in awesome live music, gourmet food stalls that would make a MasterChef weep, markets brimming with weird and wonderful treasures, and a dedicated Kids Zone packed with circus fun, face painting, and even a canine parade for your four-legged mates. Want artisanal cheese at 10am? Sorted. Want to challenge a stranger to a spontaneous hula hoop showdown in the middle of Ernest Place? Crows Nest Fest is your stage.

Now, if you fancy yourself a ceramicist—or just appreciate mugs that double as modern art—the Sydney Ceramics Market at Carriageworks is a high-octane, clay-fuelled adventure. Over 130 makers, all under one historic roof, promise a hands-on, hands-dirty deep dive into the art of pottery. Watch live demonstrations, chat with artists who literally eat, sleep, and breathe clay, and discover one-off pieces that could transform your kitchen from bland to boujee.

Beach lovers, armchair sommeliers, and families with a taste for the finer things will flock to Balmoral for Hunter Valley Uncorked. Picture this: award-winning wine, mouthwatering bites, all while your toes dig into the soft sand and mellow live music drifts by. If you’ve never enjoyed a crisp Hunter Valley Semillon with a soundtrack of crashing waves and smooth jazz, are you even living?

Music devotees—if you scored a ticket, you’re the chosen ones: Bear’s Den graces The Vanguard tonight with intimate, soul-stirring folk. Just you, a glass of something nice, and the spellbinding sounds echoing through one of Sydney’s cosiest venues.

And for families on the hunt for adventure, Hyde Park transforms into a treasure-hunter’s dream with Kid Quest Adventure, a quest-style event built for pint-sized adventurers aged four to eight who love puzzles and playgrounds with a twist.

This week in city news, the public transport gods smile upon you: Sydney Trains have added more frequent weekend services to cater for these mega-events. Inner Westers, rejoice—the light rail will run late, meaning those festival shenanigans won’t end at sunset. For foodies, Surry Hills welcomes “Hops & Chops,” a brand-new gastropub opening its doors with enough craft beer to make your tastebuds do the samba. Plus, pop-up exhibitions are bringing vibrant Indigenous street art to the laneways around Redfern—an absolute must for culture vultures on the go.

If you’re plotting your perfect Sunday, don’t miss a classic Sydney Harbour ferry ride—because nothing says “I’m a local legend” like having an ice cream while speeding under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Snag a coffee at a hidden café in Barangaroo, or hunt for treasures at Rozelle Markets. If you’re feeling spicy, hunt down some okonomiyaki at the Big Japanese Market in Crows Nest, running alongside the festival yesterday and filling the neighbourhood with serious umami vibes.

Here’s a hot tip: Most major events today are easily accessed by public transit, so ditch the car and zip around like you own the city. And for pub trivia armory, did you know Sydney has the world’s largest natural harbour? That means you’re legally obligated to snap a selfie with the Opera House at least twice a...