Welcome back, globe-trotting listeners! It's Friday, September 26, 2025, and you’ve landed on Things to do in Sydney with Oly Bennet, where every day in Sydney is a new adventure waiting to happen. The city is awake early with a fresh spring buzz—in true Sydney style, the weather’s tossing out blue skies, a soft breeze, and that sweet scent of jacarandas hinting at full bloom. Locals are shaking off the winter and gearing up for a weekend packed tighter than a kangaroo’s pouch with quirky fun, big events, and surprise spectacles.

Today, Sydney’s vibe is a mix of creative chaos and community buzz. Sydney Fringe Festival is still in full swing, transforming more than 70 venues into an explosion of colour, music, theatre, and wild new ideas—a kaleidoscope of 450-plus events giving everyone from mimes to mind-bending street artists their fifteen minutes of fame. If you fancy swapping mainstream for mind-blowing, find the nearest pop-up and dive in according to the official Fringe Festival guide.

If you want to get your kids high on fairy dust or just escape the ordinary, The Royal Botanic Garden is hosting ‘Tinkerbell and the Dream Fairies’, and the Darling Harbour Drone Show lights up the sky tonight with more neon than my suitcase after Mardi Gras. That’s every Saturday in September, so set your alarms—or your drones!

On the musical front, Sydney Opera House is busting out the legendary musical ‘Rent’. Forget Netflix—get your crew together and belt out Broadway anthems with superfans soaking up the electric atmosphere. Tomorrow’s the official launch, but tonight’s preview energy already has the Harbour sparkling brighter than a cricket trophy.

Feeling fancy or hungry? There’s a full-blown Moon Festival at the Chinese Garden of Friendship with cultural performances, music, and plenty of dumplings to dunk. Or, for a splash of Balkan soul, Cardea Barangaroo is pulsing with live music—think wild rhythms, electric accordion solos, and the kind of dancing that’ll work off every baklava calorie.

For families itching for sporty action, Sydney Olympic Park is buzzing today with everything from gymnastics for budding champions to sharp-shooting archery and the Australian Volleyball Super League. Plus, legendary comedian Kevin Hart is bringing his 'Acting My Age' tour—so if you hear snorting laughter echoing down Bicentennial Drive, you've found the party. And speaking of Bicentennial Park, tonight's the 35th Annual Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence Gala, which will see over 600 movers and shakers networking until the kangaroos head home.

On the local scene, word is a few new hotspots are popping up in Surry Hills this week—keep your eyes peeled for surprise restaurant launches that merge Japanese street food with Sydney’s rooftop beer gardens. Transit-wise, the City of Sydney reports expanded night bus routes this weekend, making it easier to bar-hop or catch late-night gigs without chasing down a rare cab.

If you’re keen to blend in with Sydney’s boldest, try the secret Sydney CBD Bar Crawl, where every stop reveals a new local legend and a cocktail worth scanning your passport for. For a left-field seasonal experience, take the Brickpit Ring Walk at Sydney Olympic Park—hear the frogs, marvel at the architecture, and invent your own frog-hopping championship as Oly Bennet would: bonus points for style.

Here’s your Sydney fact of the day: the Opera House isn’t just a global icon, it was inspired by an orange! Danish architect Jørn Utzon sketched the shells after peeling one during lunch—proof that serious creativity starts with a snack.

Tomorrow promises more surprises: Japan Expo and International Kimono Competition sweeps into Town Hall, plus the opening of the Lane Cove Art Award Finalists Exhibition. Stay tuned for tales of dumpling battles, kimono twirl-offs, and more festival fever.

Thanks for listening,...