G’day, listeners! You’re tuned into Things to Do in Sydney with Oly Bennet—the only guide who’s corner-flagged every oddball event from ferret legging to underwater hockey. It’s Thursday, October 23, 2025, and Sydney is absolutely buzzing. The sky is showing off that classic spring blue, there’s just a whiff of ocean on the breeze, and the cafes are already cranking out flat whites faster than a Wallaby on the break.

Today, the city’s energy is riding high—between sun-drenched afternoons and a jam-packed lineup of cultural, musical, and quirky adventures. According to ArtsHub Australia, this week Sydney’s in full festival mode, with everything from Beethoven to improv comedy filling our theatres and parks.

If you fancy a symphonic thrill, the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra is unleashing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in Chatswood—a total goosebumps moment for classical buffs. Meanwhile, the Improv Comedy Festival at Improv Theatre Sydney is promising rapid-fire wit, belly laughs, and probably at least one Spiderman impression before the evening’s out. For families, the Australian Museum is a top pick with free dino-riffic adventures, glittering megafauna displays, and hands-on science fun designed to unleash your little one’s inner Indiana Jones.

Art lovers—don’t blink or you’ll miss Sculpture by the Sea, the world’s most spectacular outdoor sculpture exhibition stretching along those famous Bondi clifftops. It’s a sea breeze-powered gallery with a sunrise side of wow, as artists from around the globe transform rock ledges into an epic sculpture hunt, running all the way through November.

For Korean rock fans, the iconic Boohwal band is rocking City Recital Hall. Their 40th anniversary show is set to deliver powerhouse vocals and nostalgia by the bucket load. Over at Café Del Mar, you can groove to summer anthems as Talum Australia returns—think Afro House beats, cocktails, and Darling Harbour fireworks. There’s even a Diwali Festival of Lights competition bringing some luminous family fun to Parramatta Lanes, mixing food, art, music, and lantern-lit joy across the evening.

Speaking of good news, Sydney’s food scene just got even spicier—several new eateries have flung open their doors this week in Surry Hills and Newtown, and the Aussie burger wars are hotter than a Bondi beach BBQ. City Transit has announced express light rail services to major venues tonight, so leave your car behind and thank me later when you breeze past the gridlock. Also, there’s a new pop-up vintage market outside Town Hall for those with treasure-hunting tendencies.

Craving a must-do? You can’t beat the classic Bondi scavenger hunt—start at the Icebergs pool, follow cryptic clues along the coastal path, and unlock Sydney secrets between sun-kissed surf stops. If it’s tranquility you’re seeking, detour to Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden, a hidden Lavender Bay oasis where fairy tales and local legend bloom behind every turn. Or for something seasonally Sydney, take a sunset stroll and see if you can spot a sausage sizzle at any of the harbourside parks—I guarantee there’s one somewhere.

Here’s a local tip: if you want to avoid the caffeine queues, duck into a corner bakery instead of the big-name cafes. You’ll find the best flat white this side of the equator and learn the true meaning of “morning tea”—with a lamington on the side.

Before I sign off, mark tomorrow’s calendar for Pillow Talk Bondi Beach Club’s marathon sundown party, pop-up jazz in the Botanic Garden, and the Fisher’s Ghost Art Award kicking off with some of the city’s brightest creative sparks. Keep your sneakers by the door and your sense of adventure fully charged, because Sydney never chills for long!

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