Festivals

EVENT · ENDS 1 NOVRooty Hill

Pasifika Unity Festival 2026 at Blacktown Football Park: Free Entry, Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November, 3pm to 10pm, No Car Access, Park at Rooty Hill (Sydney, NSW)

Crowd at a Pasifika Festival in Auckland, New Zealand, 2015 (a different festival, text added)

You can go to the Pasifika Unity Festival for free on Saturday 31 October or Sunday 1 November, from 3pm to 10pm each day at Blacktown Football Park, but you cannot drive to the gates: the City of Blacktown says there is no vehicle access to the site, so you either park at Rooty Hill off Eastern Road or walk from Rooty Hill station, about 1.3km. Sydney is on daylight saving time (AEDT) at this time of year, so all times below are Sydney times.

EVENT · ENDS 1 NOVSurfers Paradise

Gold Coast Greek Festival 2026 at HOTA: Adult Tickets $11.60, Children 13 and Under Free, Saturday 12pm to 10pm With Fireworks, Sunday 11am to 4pm (Surfers Paradise, QLD)

HOTA, Home of the Arts, in 2020, shown for orientation

The first Gold Coast Greek Festival in 13 years runs at HOTA in Surfers Paradise on Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November 2026, with adult tickets at $11.60 on HOTA’s page, free entry for children 13 and under, and fireworks on Saturday night.

EVENT · ENDS 1 NOVManly

Manly This Weekend 2026: Free Sounds of Manly Music 9am to 5pm and Free Surf + Sound Boardriders Surfing, Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November, Plus Ferry Times and Parking (Manly, NSW)

Manly Beach (photo: Hardlinerr, text added)

Manly has three separate things on the same weekend: free live music across the town centre, a free surf teams competition on the beach, and a pink beach fitness morning on Saturday. Sounds of Manly runs from 9am to 5pm on Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November, and the Surf + Sound Boardriders Competition runs on Manly Beach on both days. The quickest way in without a car is the Manly Fast Ferry, which takes 20 minutes from Circular Quay. Sydney is on daylight saving time, so every time below is local Sydney time.

EVENT · ENDS 31 OCTParramatta

Foundation Day Parramatta 2026: Free, Saturday 31 October 9am to 2pm at Hambledon Cottage Reserve, Take the Light Rail to Robin Thomas (Parramatta, NSW)

Hambledon Cottage grounds, Parramatta (photo uploaded 2005, text added)

Foundation Day is free and runs from 9am to 2pm on Saturday 31 October 2026 at Hambledon Cottage Reserve, 63 Hassall Street, Parramatta. The City of Parramatta recommends taking the Parramatta Light Rail to the Robin Thomas or Tramway Avenue stop and walking the short distance, because parking in the streets around the reserve is limited.

CLOSURES · UNTIL 1 NOVCampbelltown

Fisher’s Ghost Festival 2026 Campbelltown: Parade 2pm Saturday 31 October, Queen Street Closed 7am to 5pm, Drone Show 8pm, Free Entry (Campbelltown, NSW)

Intercity train at Campbelltown station

The Fisher’s Ghost Parade steps off at 2pm on Saturday 31 October 2026 at the corner of Dumaresq Street and Queen Street in Campbelltown, Sydney, and finishes in Cordeaux Street. Queen Street between Cordeaux and Allman Streets is closed from 7am to 5pm, and Campbelltown City Council asks spectators to arrive from 1.45pm for the official opening ceremony. Campbelltown is on Sydney time, which is daylight saving time (UTC+11) in October, and every time in this guide is Sydney time.

EVENT · ENDS 31 OCTCivic · Canberra City

SpringOUT Fair Day 2026: Free at Glebe Park 11am to 5pm Saturday 31 October, Light Rail Closed, Pet Parade 1pm (Canberra, ACT)

Canberra Theatre Centre complex, next to Glebe Park

SpringOUT Fair Day is free and runs from 11am to 5pm on Saturday 31 October 2026 at Glebe Park in Canberra City. It falls on a day when no light rail services are running, so anyone who normally takes the tram into Civic needs another way in.

CLOSURES · UNTIL 31 OCTSydney CBD · The Domain

Oktoberfest in the Gardens Sydney, 31 October 2026: Sold Out, 1pm to 9pm, Art Gallery Road Closed From 7pm, Alight at Town Hall (Sydney, NSW)

Oktoberfest at The Domain seen from Sydney Tower, 2019

Oktoberfest in the Gardens runs in The Domain, Sydney, from 1pm to 9pm on Saturday 31 October 2026, and the organiser’s website lists the Sydney date as sold out. The closures still matter if you are not going: Art Gallery Road closes to inbound traffic from 7pm, and Transport for NSW lists seven more CBD streets closed from 8pm to 10pm. Sydney is on daylight saving time (AEDT) at this time of year, so all times here are Sydney time.