Outdoor activities – the best family friendly events this Spring

Celebrate Spring with these family-friendly outdoor activities and events

It’s officially Spring – the season when Sydney comes to life with gorgeous Jacarandah trees in bloom, dazzling warm days, and bright blue skies. If the balmy weather is making you itch to get outside, we’ve listed some of the best outdoor activities and events to help you celebrate the start of Sydney’s warm weather season.

Swim at an outdoor pool

The Andrew (Boy) Charlton Aquatic Centre swimming pool (image courtesy of City of Sydney)

Andrew Boy Charlton Pool in Woolloomoolo Bay re-opens on 2 September for the Summer swim season and it’s the perfect spot for enjoying gorgeous views of Sydney Harbour whilst you swim. There’s a 50m heated pool for mums and dads wanting to get in some laps, as well as a 20m heated shallow pool where little ones can have a splash.

Dawn Fraser Baths (image courtesy of Inner West Council)

Want something closer to home? Dawn Fraser Baths in Balmain re-opens on September 30, whilst Ashfield Aquatic Centre has both outdoor and indoor heated pools, as well as splash playground for the kids.

Experience a festival

Food trucks. Live music. Entertainers. Sunshine. Is there a better way to enjoy the first heady days of Spring than at an outdoor festival? September sees the start of festival season in Sydney with events like the Festival of the Winds at Bondi and Cabramatta’s annual Moon Festival. Here’s our pick of the family friendly festivals to see this September.

Festival of the Winds (image courtesy of Waverley Council)

⭐ Festival of the Winds Bondi, 10 September

For kids and adults who love kites, this year’s Festival of the Winds at Bondi will see the east coast skyline ablaze with dazzling colour and movement from hundreds of airborne kites. Whilst professional kite flyers (yes that’s a thing) will be showcasing their aerial prowess, families and kids join in too. So bring your own kite, pack a picnic and make a day of it at this iconic beach location.

Kids holding lanterns at Cabramatta Moon Festival (image courtesy of Cabramatta Moon Festival)

⭐ Cabramatta Moon Festival, 17 September

Head to Cabramatta for the annual Moon Festival for a mix of mouth-watering South-East Asian food, cultural performances, and family friendly entertainment. Expect dragon dancing, Bubble tea, market stalls and fireworks at the end of the day. T

Sydney Fringe Kids at Darling Harbour (image courtesy of Darling Harbour)

⭐ Sydney Fringe Festival – Fringe Kids, 15 September – 1 October

Fringe Kids – the little sister to Sydney’s largest independent festival, Sydney Fringe – is back in 2023 and bursting with live performances, music and colour.

Expect to see the Monkey Baa Theatre Company at the ARA Darling Quarter Theatre during the school holidays for a range of family-friendly performances including magician Aiden Schofield, 101 ways to annoy your parents comedy show and more.

At the ever-popular Spiegltent Festival Gardens at the Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park, families can enjoy a prehistoric comedy act, mad scientist show, and Dinosaur Time Machine to name a few.

Celebrate History Week

From 2-10 September, councils across Sydney will be celebrating History Week – an annual, state-wide celebration of history organised by the History Council of NSW. This year’s theme ‘Voices from the Past’ is about engaging with the histories of those who were often voiceless in the past – like women, migrants, workers, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Here’s our pick of the must-do History Week events for families.

Culture Walks App (image courtesy of City of Sydney)

⭐ Take a self-guided walking tour

The City of Sydney’s Sydney Culture Walk app is where history and high tech meet for the ultimate DIY adventure. Whether you’re into history, love architecture or want to find some outdoor art, this app allows you to play tourist in your own backyard with interactive maps and audio guides.

Don’t know where to start? Select the ‘walks’ option and let the app map out a specific route – distances and durations are included so you can factor those little legs in your planning.

Laser cut printing using archival photos (image courtesy of City of Sydney)

⭐ Create a laser cut print from an archival photo, 7 September

Recreate a historic image using modern laser-cut printing techniques at this history meets tech event. Led by experienced facilitators in the Darling Square Library makerspace and a city archivist, this workshop is a great introduction to laser-cut printmaking and the City of Sydney Archives. You’ll be guided through how to access historical images from the City Archives to make a laser-cut etching plate – and when you’re happy with your final design, they’ll help you print it on their press.

⭐ Learn to unearth your house’s history, 9 September

Ever wondered if your house had a secret history? Who lived there before you? And what did they do? Join local historian Gabby Richards at Marrickville Library workshop to learn how to use land title records and online resources to find the previous residents and owners of your house. Gabby will also walk through some genealogical techniques and how to use old newspapers to provide the colour that will complete your house’s story.

Embrace your inner flower child at Floriade

Floriade at Commonwealth Park (image courtesy of ACT Government)

Celebrating Spring and the great outdoors doesn’t get any bigger than Canberra’s annual free flower show, Floriade, running from 16 September – 16 October. If you’re a Floriade newbie, you’ll want to head straight to Commonwealth Park in Canberra to take in the million flowers in bloom, live music and food stalls. But this 30-day celebration of Spring has grown over the past three decades to include even more family-friendly events – here are some of our top picks.

⭐ Gnome Painting Competition

Join the family fun or challenge your artistic talents by painting a gnome at Floriade – and raise funds for the Rotary Club too! With 8 categories starting from kids aged 5 and under to best group entries, everyone can join in. The competition closes on October 8 with the winner announced on October 15.

⭐ Floriade Sensory Hour

For families who need a less hectic experience, 9.30am and 10.30am each day has been designated as ‘Sensory Hour’ – a period when no stage programming or loud amplified music will be broadcast. It’s a great way to experience the flower show without the bells and whistles that can often overwhelm families who have sensory needs.

⭐ Dogs Day Out, 15 October

Who said Rufus had to miss out? Floriade will welcome pooches big and small on 15 October for this year’s Dogs Day Out. If you have a fur baby at home who you’re keen to bring, this is the day for you. There’ll be pet retailers, a dog friendly programme on stage and around the park, and of course the chance for your fur-child to enjoy the flowers in bloom.

Glenbernie Family Farms (image courtesy of Daily Mail)

Want more flower based events? Just an hour from Sydney, Glenbernie Family Farms in the Hawkesbury region has become the go-to destination for Insta influencers who have been flocking to the farm’s sunflower fields to create the type of flower photos you’d swear had been Photoshopped. ‘Gram-worthy pics aside, this ‘slow flower farm’ which promotes the farming of local, seasonal and sustainable flowers also offer a family-friendly pick-your-own flower experience. So take the kids and wander the golden sunflower fields, picking a perfect bunch to take home – and they certainly won’t mind if you take a happy snap or too either!

Have you recently attended an outdoor event or festival that you absolutely loved? Leave a comment below or email us at info@theinnerwestmums.com.au and tell us all about it. We love hearing about family friendly activities in the Inner West and beyond.

About Author

Francesca Millena

Writer, foodie and ideas-sponge, Francesca grew up in the Inner West and loves writing about all things IW related from playgrounds and podcasts, restaurants and retail, bubble tea and basketball courts. Mum to an active child, she also knows a thing or two about keeping a little one entertained on a rainy day.

See author's posts