Top Free Things to See and Do in February
February serves up a whole new month of community-wide festivals and events as we bid fond goodbye to
Australia Day and the close of
January. Get into the mood for love as cupid draws his bow at Darling Harbour; celebrate the
Lunar New Year with the City of Sydney; go crazy about tomatoes; learn more about asylum seekers and refugees; see the V8 Supercars and their teams; enjoy movies in the park with the City of Ryde; and support the Sydney Gay and Lesbian community. Whatever event or activity suits your fancy, you'll find something for FREE this month in Australia's most cosmopolitan city.
Happy Mardi Gras! Photographic Exhibition - from 3 Feb
Photo courtesy of City of Sydney
Surry Hills Library will be hosting a FREE photographic exhibition in support of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival 2015. You can view works from Photographer C. Moore Hardy who has been captured 20 years worth of Mardi Gras images from 3 February to 27 March.
Hardy will also share her recollections with a slideshow of her iconic images on 19 February between 6.30pm to 8pm at the Library. She will be joined by author and historian Garry Wotherspoon who will discuss how gay/queer identity has changed over time. Phone 02 9265 9333 or book
here to join the special FREE session.
When: Mon, Wed & Fri 10am - 6pm / Tue 10am - 8pm / Sat & Sun 10am - 4pm
Where: Surry Hills Library, 405 Crown Street, Surry Hills
V8 Supercars Weekend - 7 & 8 Feb
Photo courtesy of V8 Supercars
Fans of the V8 Supercars will be thrilled with a FREE adrenalin-filled weekend to kicks off the 2015 season. Head over to the Sydney Motorsport Park for the V8 Supercars sydney.com SuperTest. You and your family can go behind the scenes and see how teams prepare for the 2015 Championship. You will also see all the teams and drivers in their new liveries as they take to the track for the first time in 2015. Visit the
website for the full schedule.
Where: Brabham Drive, Eastern Creek NSW 2766
Lunar New Year Festival - from 7 Feb
Photo courtesy of City of Sydney
The Lunar New Year season is a great time to be in
Sydney. Over the years, the City of Sydney has staged one of the largest celebrations outside China and its no different this year as the city celebrates with a month-long program of events. You and your family can welcomed the Year of the Goat through popular events like the Festival Launch at Dawe Point, the Twilight Parade along George Street, Dragon Boat race competition at Cockle Bay and many more. With over 40 FREE events from 7 February to 1 March, you and your family will be spoiled for choice. Check out this
article for more details.
Where: Various venues around Sydney
Darling Harbour Month of Love - from 7 Feb
Darling Harbour is playing cupid and helping everyone get into the romantic mood with its Month of Love from 7 February to 7 March. Returning for a second year, visitors can look forward to FREE activities and events in the lead up to Valentine's Day and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival. Highlights include the giant rose sculpture at Cockle Bay Wharf, love songs and a large red pulsating heart on Pyrmont Bridge, heart-shaped fireworks display and many more. Visit the
website for more details.
Where: Various venues in Darling Harbour
Tomato Festival - 14 & 15 Feb
Instead of paying to throw tomatoes, head over to the Royal Botanic Gardens for a FREE weekend of events that celebrate the humble fruit. You and your family can enjoy talks, workshops, cooking classes, guided walks, activities for the kids and a taste test of over 20 varieties. A range of local and organic produce are available for purchase. Competitive visitors can also cook up their meanest sauces for the Chutney/Relish Challenge and the Passata Sauce Challenge or put up their prized tomatoes for the popular Best in Show Competition. Phone 02 9231 8111 or visit the
website for more details and competition bookings.
When: 10am - 4pm on both days
Where: Band Lawn, Royal Botanic Garden, Mrs Macquarie's Road Sydney 2000
Seeking Humanity Art Exhibition - from 17 Feb
Photo courtesy of Asylum Seekers Centre INC
Asylum Seekers Centre will be staging a FREE art exhibition with renowned Australian artist and previous Archibald winner, Wendy Sharpe. Entitled 'Seeking Humanity', the exhibition will create public awareness and put a human face to the issue of refugees and asylum seekers in
Australia. Former Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser will to officially open the portrait exhibition and you can share enjoy 39 portraits drawn by Wendy till 12 March. All the portraits will also be on sale with proceeds going to the Centre to help provide practical and personal support for asylum seekers.
When: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm
Where: The Muse, Sydney TAFE, Cnr Harris & Mary Anne Streets, Ultimo, Sydney
Cinema in the Park - 20, 21, 27 & 28 Feb
Photo courtesy of City of Ryde
Grab the family and head over to Ryde for FREE screenings of popular family movies. Organised by the City of Ryde, the annual Cinema in the Park event features a 8 metre screen with stereo sound and captions for the deaf and hearing impaired community. The February line up of films include:
ET - 20 February, Morrison Bay Park Putney
Ghostbusters - 21 February, Eastwood Plaza
The Big Lebowski - 27 February, Macquarie University
Matilda - 28 February, Yamble Reserve Ryde
Phone 02 9952 8222 or visit the
website for more information.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day - 22 Feb
Photo courtesy of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
This is the biggest gay day in Victoria Park with an annual turnout exceeding 80,000 visitors. You can join Sydney's gay and lesbian community in a fun-filled day of live entertainment, kiddy rides, comedy, market stalls and food. Highlights include the annual Tug of War for the TOW Shield and a alcohol and drug free socialising platform through DiversiTea. Even the pet pooch can enjoy Fair Day with the DoggyWood dog show. If you're having too much fun to stop, there's always the post-Fair Day party at the Newtown Hotel and the Bank Hotel in Newtown.
When: 10am - 8pm
Where: Victoria Park, City Road, Chippendale NSW 2008
