At a glance
- Who it’s for
- Families, runners, walkers and theatre-goers in Penrith and western Sydney planning the weekend of Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November 2026
- What to do now
- Book the Fernhill Estate walk ahead, because capacity is limited; the two parkruns need a free parkrun registration and a printed barcode to get a timed result; call the Museum of Fire on (02) 4731 3000 before you go, because its own site lists different fire engine ride dates from the council calendar
- When
- Saturday 14 November: parkruns at 8am, Alice in Wonderland at 2pm and 7pm. Sunday 15 November: Fernhill trail from 10am, Alice in Wonderland at 2pm and 7pm (Sydney time)
- Where
- Tench Reserve and the Sydney International Regatta Centre (parkruns), the Museum of Fire, Melrose Hall in Emu Plains, and Fernhill Estate
- Price
- Parkruns and the Fernhill trail are free; fire engine rides, if they run, cost $4.50 per person on top of museum admission; Alice in Wonderland tickets are sold through Ruby Productions (price not on the Visit Penrith page)
- Last checked
- Monday 9 November 2026, against the Visit Penrith event pages, which Penrith City Council runs
- Not yet confirmed
- Alice in Wonderland ticket prices, and whether the Museum of Fire runs fire engine rides this weekend: the council calendar lists Saturday 14 November, but the museum’s own site names Saturday 28 November as its next rides
Four Penrith events have official dates for Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November 2026: two free 5km parkruns on Saturday at 8am, four performances of Alice in Wonderland: The Musical, and a free walk through Fernhill Estate on Sunday. This guide lists each one with its time, place and what the official page says to expect, based on the council-run Visit Penrith events calendar, checked on 9 November.
What is on, and when?
| When | Event | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 14 Nov, 8am | Nepean River parkrun (5km) | Tench Reserve, Tench Avenue, Penrith | Free |
| Sat 14 Nov, 8am | Penrith Lakes parkrun (5km) | Gate A, Sydney International Regatta Centre | Free |
| Sat 14 Nov, 2pm and 7pm; Sun 15 Nov, 2pm and 7pm | Alice in Wonderland: The Musical | Melrose Hall, 169 Great Western Highway, Emu Plains | Tickets through Ruby Productions |
| Sun 15 Nov, 10am to 3pm | Fernhill Walking Trail (2.6km) | Fernhill Estate, Hayshed gate, Mulgoa Road, Mulgoa | Free; book ahead |
Prices are as of November 2026. The Visit Penrith calendar also lists the Nepean Growers and Makers Market on Friday 13 November from 10am to 1pm at The Orchard on Tench Avenue, Jamisontown, if you want a Friday plan before the weekend.
How do the two Saturday parkruns work?
Parkrun is a free, weekly 5km timed run for runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. The organisers say it is not a race, and you can run with a pram, a dog or friends. To have your time recorded you register once for free and bring a copy of your unique barcode. Both events start at 8am on Saturday 14 November.
The Nepean River parkrun starts at the playground near the boat ramp at Tench Reserve. The event page says the briefing is at 7:45am for an 8am start, that it runs every Saturday rain, hail or shine, and that the course is 5000m over a mixture of concrete paths, bitumen paths and grass, with mud, leaves and puddles possible after rain. Parking is at the Tench Reserve boat ramp car park and along Tench Avenue; it asks you not to park in the restaurant precinct car park behind Coffee Club, and says parking may be limited so you should arrive early. Public toilets are at Tench Reserve, 50m from the start and finish line. The page asks you to walk, jog, cycle or use public transport where possible, and to consider car-sharing if you have to drive, to reduce the impact on the environment and on other park users. It lists the Penrith Lakes parkrun and the Werrington Lakes parkrun as the next closest events.
The Penrith Lakes parkrun starts from Gate A at the Sydney International Regatta Centre. Its page says the event is generally held every Saturday morning, but cancellations and course changes often happen, so check the Penrith Lakes parkrun Facebook page for any changes before you set off. Our Regatta Centre guide covers parking, the 20kph speed limit and the venue rules.
Are the fire engine rides on this weekend?
The two official sources disagree. The council’s Visit Penrith calendar lists Fire Engine Rides at the Museum of Fire on Saturday 14 November from 10am to 2pm, but the museum’s own website says the next fire engine rides are on Saturday 28 November from 10am to 2pm, and that rides otherwise run every Tuesday and Friday, subject to volunteer availability. The museum says rides are not guaranteed when you visit and gives (02) 4731 3000. The rides use a vintage Ford D200 fire engine and cost $4.50 per person, not including museum entry. Because the two official sources disagree, we have not counted the rides among this weekend’s events; call the museum before you plan around them.
What is Alice in Wonderland: The Musical?
Ruby Productions, which the page calls a long-standing theatre company in the Penrith region, presents a family-friendly stage musical at Melrose Hall in Emu Plains. The page names the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts among the characters. The performance runs for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes including an intermission, a snack bar will be available, and the page says plenty of free parking is available nearby. The four weekend performances are on Saturday 14 November at 2pm and 7pm and on Sunday 15 November at 2pm and 7pm. The page’s early bird code, ALICE10, was valid before 24 October only, so it no longer applies. Tickets and full details are on the Ruby Productions website.
Can I walk through Fernhill Estate?
Yes, on Sundays. The 2.6km Fernhill Walking Trail is open on Sundays between 10am and 4pm, though the calendar lists 10am to 3pm on 15 November and the page says site access will not be provided for visitors arriving after 3pm. Entry is free, but capacity is limited, so book ahead. The walk takes in the estate’s green setting and the exterior of the homestead. The page says the trail includes stairs and uphill sections, so wear enclosed walking shoes and have a good level of fitness. Bring your own food and drinks because there is no on-site catering, take your rubbish away, and note that alcohol and dogs are not permitted. There are 6 picnic tables, and parking and toilets are limited. Use the Hayshed gate: there is no public access through the main gate. The site is managed by Greater Sydney Parklands, whose phone number on the listing is 02 9895 7500.
How do I get around Penrith this weekend?
Visit Penrith says Penrith station is on Sydney’s T1 Western Line, with direct connections to the Sydney CBD, and that Penrith has stations at St Marys, Werrington, Kingswood, Penrith and Emu Plains. The event pages do not give train or bus advice for these events, so use the Transport for NSW trip planner. For the city centre car parks, see our Penrith parking guide.
Sources
- Visit Penrith — Alice in Wonderland: The Musical (dates, venue, running time; checked 9 November 2026)
- Visit Penrith — Fire Engine Rides
- Visit Penrith — Nepean River parkrun
- Visit Penrith — Penrith Lakes parkrun
- Visit Penrith — Fernhill Walking Trail
- Visit Penrith — Nepean Growers and Makers Market
- Visit Penrith — Getting to and around Penrith
Featured image: An Australasian grebe on Penrith Lakes (photo: JJ Harrison / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Penrith City Council, Visit Penrith or the event organisers. Event details can change; check each organiser’s page before you go.