| Sydney is the capital of the New South Wales | | | | ceili dancing, folk music to a U2 tribute band. |
| state, and is widely regarded as the oldest city | | | | The Sydney Royal Easter Show |
| (and the most populated) on the continent. A | | | | The Sydney Royal Easter Show takes place at |
| vibrant business and art sector, along with a busy | | | | the Sydney Showgrounds and Sydney Olympic |
| nightlife, make it a perfect place to spend your | | | | Park from the 9th to the 22nd of April 2009. It's |
| holiday to Australia. The hosting of the 2000 | | | | a great day out for all the family with so much on |
| Olympic Games brought Sydney to the attention | | | | offer for you all to enjoy. There will be a carnival, |
| of the world, and visitors have come in their | | | | animal displays, live music and stage shows, and |
| droves even more since the Olympic Torch held | | | | plenty to activities for the kids to enjoy along |
| court in the city. | | | | with food and wine tasting! |
| Sydney hosts several cultural and social events | | | | The Sydney Home Show Expo |
| that are of huge interest; many of these events | | | | The Sydney Home Show exhibition takes place at |
| are annual and attract large numbers year after | | | | the Sydney Convention and Visitor Centre from |
| year. | | | | April 30th to the 3rd of May 2009. If you're |
| What are the major events to look forward to in | | | | interested in home design then this is the place to |
| 2009? | | | | go to |
| The Sydney Festival | | | | The Sydney Writers Festival |
| The Sydney Festival takes place from January | | | | The Sydney Writers Festival 2009 will take place |
| 10th to January 31st 2009. Regarded as the | | | | from the 18th to the 24th of May. There are no |
| premier event of music and culture in Australia, | | | | event details as of yet. It's expected that event |
| the festival is now in its 32nd year. The January | | | | details will be announced in March 2009. |
| 2009 Festival will showcase over 300 | | | | Sydney Italian Festival |
| performances in the genres of theatre, dance, | | | | The Sydney Italian Festival is a celebration of |
| film and music. | | | | Italian culture and food. The dates for the 2009 |
| The festival kicks off on January 10th with a Free | | | | event have yet to be confirmed. |
| Festival First Night showpiece, which will create a | | | | Sydney has a large Italian population, and this |
| huge party atmosphere on Sydney's streets, with | | | | festival is a very popular annual event. Held |
| performances by Grace Jones and The Cat | | | | around the time of the Italian Day Celebrations on |
| Empire to name but a few. It's estimated that | | | | June 2nd, this three week festival has in the past |
| more than 200,000 people enjoyed the first night | | | | incorporated more than 300 events. |
| shows in 2008. Event organizers are hopeful of | | | | Visitors to the festival can explore all things Italian |
| hitting the magical figure of 250,000 at the | | | | with many art and cultural exhibitions, cinema and |
| opening night street party in 2009! | | | | more. |
| The 3 week festival will feature many esteemed | | | | Byron Bay Writers Festival |
| international music perfromers including US artist | | | | Traditionally held on Byron Beach Bay Resort, the |
| Bon Iver, French singer Camille, UK group The | | | | 2009 event will be held somewhere new. This |
| Cinematic Orchestra, and the stars of the critically | | | | new venue has yet to be confirmed but bear the |
| acclaimed Irish film "Once" which highlights the | | | | dates in mind - 31st July - 2nd August 2009. |
| great talent of singer songwriters Glen Hansard | | | | The Byron Bay Writers Festival is a celebration of |
| and Marketa Irglova. | | | | Australian literary genius and the respective |
| The Sydney Theatre Company has endorsed the | | | | authors. It will incorporate arts and culture and the |
| production of the "War of the Roses", which will | | | | best literary writing that Australia has to offer. |
| feature leading Hollywood actress Cate Blanchett | | | | Sun Herald City 2 Surf Festival |
| and Robert Menzies. This production incorporates | | | | The Sun Herald City 2 Surf Festival takes place |
| many of Shakespeare's lead play characters, and | | | | on Sunday August 9th 2009. Since its inception in |
| is over seven hours in length! | | | | 1971, this race has increased in size to be, |
| There will also be many events and free | | | | perhaps, the largest fun run in Australia. Over |
| performances for children and younger audiences | | | | 60,000 runners have competed in the past. |
| throughout the festival. | | | | Basically it's a 14km fun run from William St in |
| Big Day Out Sydney | | | | Sydney to Bondi Beach. There has been a great |
| The Big Day Out Sydney takes place on the 23rd | | | | amount of money raised for charity in the past |
| of January 2009 at Homebush Bay's RAS | | | | few years, and this is always a popular event in |
| Showgrounds. Due to huge demand, tickets were | | | | Sydney. |
| sold out quickly. The Big Day Out is part of a | | | | The Blackmores Sydney Running Festival |
| music tour showcasing some of the best | | | | The Blackmores Sydney Running Festival (Sydney |
| Australian and International acts, and travels | | | | Marathon) will take place on Sunday 20th |
| throughout Australia and New Zealand during this | | | | September 2009. Over 25,000 runners took part |
| month. The line up for the Sydney concert is | | | | in Australia's biggest running festival in 2008, and |
| very impressive - Neil Young, Arctic Monkeys, | | | | helped raise over 1 million dollars for various |
| The Prodigy, The Vines, Hot Chip and the Ting | | | | charities. |
| Tings. | | | | Sydney World Masters Games |
| The Saint Patricks Day Parade & Festival | | | | The World Masters Games are held every four |
| Sydney | | | | years, and has grown to become one of the |
| The 2009 Saint Patrick's Day Parade & | | | | biggest international sporting events. It is |
| Festival takes place on Sunday March 15th. Yes, | | | | expected that possibly 12,000 competitors will |
| Ireland may be thousands of miles away, but | | | | take part in the 2009 games. The dates for the |
| Sydney has its very own Saint Patricks Day | | | | festival are October 10th to the 18th 2009. |
| Festival on the feast day of Ireland's patron saint. | | | | The sporting events will take place at Sydney |
| The event has a wonderful and vibrant parade, as | | | | Olympic Park as well as other sporting arenas |
| well as free street entertainment for all the | | | | throughout the city. There are 28 sporting |
| family. | | | | subjects in the masters games, from archery and |
| The festival attracts huge numbers each year, | | | | athletics to tennis, soccer, volleyball and |
| and in the past Sydney's Hyde Park has played | | | | watersports. |
| host to wide variety of Irish themed acts, from | | | | |