G'day listeners and welcome to Things to Do in Sydney with your mate Oly Bennet! Today is Saturday, October 25th, 2025—and let me tell you, Sydney is absolutely buzzing right now. The morning’s kicked off with that classic spring feeling: blue skies, a gentle breeze, and just enough sunshine to have the beachgoers and café sitters sharing weather updates like they're their own personal meteorologists.

What's setting the tone today? Sydney’s energy is off the charts, thanks to a wild variety of events scattered across town. Whether you fancy a family outing, artsy adventure, a foodie frenzy, or a show that’ll leave you grinning, Sydney’s dialed it up to eleven.

First up—Parramatta Lanes is closing out four wild nights of street food, pop-up bars, disco lights, and live music acts all over Parramatta’s CBD. If you like your festivals with a dash of viral snacks and cheeky rooftop hangs, this is Sydney’s answer to turning a car park into an adult playground. It’s free, it’s sprawling, and there’s even glow-in-the-dark food—now that’s a party trick! Don’t forget to check for car park closures and jump on public transport unless your spirit animal is a traffic cone.

For my artsy listeners, Sculpture by the Sea is back, stretching from Bondi to Tamarama. It’s like a treasure hunt with giant sculptures—some weird, some wonderful, and all perfect for those “look mum I’m cultured” selfies. And don’t miss the Seeing Sydney, Knowing Country exhibition at the State Library of NSW—it’s totally free and wraps you up in the city’s story from the ground up.

For the music heads, tonight’s a treat at the Sydney Opera House: Daniel Müller-Schott, one of the world’s top cellists, is serving up Tchaikovsky with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. That’s some high-voltage drama—for the ears! If you’re more of a musical theatre legend, Rent is running at the Opera House, ready to belt out hits and pull your heartstrings like a tug-of-war at a country fair.

If you want flavours that’ll take your taste buds globetrotting, the St George the Minor BBQ is lighting up Rose Bay with Greek roasts, octopus on the grill, and drinks that’ll turn your “Opa!” into an opera. Up for a drive? Rockdale hosts a massive Diwali: Festival of Light bash this evening—think fairy lights, sizzling food, dazzling performances, and the kind of festive spirit that could light up the Southern Hemisphere.

Car lovers and thrill seekers, don’t snooze on the United Festival and Tuned X Launch Party at Sydney Motorsport Park tonight. It’s a five-hour drift-a-thon with giveaways, rides, a car meet, and enough high-speed revving to make your FitBit do a victory lap.

For local news, Sydney’s restaurant scene is stirring things up with new openings popping up like spring flowers. If you’re heading to Parramatta Lanes or Sculpture by the Sea, keep an eye out for pop-ups and fusion eats—because Sydney chefs are in attack mode. Public transit’s running smooth, but expect some extra action near festival zones, so be ready to tap on and ride the rails in true local style.

If you want the classic Sydney experience, visit Circular Quay and let the Opera House and Harbour Bridge flex for your travel photos. Feeling cheeky? Sneak over to Glebe for the annual art show at Tramsheds—real local vibes with coffee on the side. The Royal Botanic Garden’s Aboriginal Harbour Heritage Tour offers history, beauty, and enough wild stories to make you wish plants could talk.

Here’s my Oly Bennet insider tip: Every café has its own take on flat white, but ask for a “magic” and you’ll get a short, strong coffee beloved by the locals—a secret handshake in a cup!

Tomorrow, keep your eyes peeled for the Wahroonga Food & Wine Festival and the bustle of Bondi as Sculpture by the Sea rolls another day. Plus, there’s a stack of art exhibitions, Sunday workshops, and more local music ready to kick off. Tune in...