The Sydney year is interspersed with festivals, both sporting and cultural, with summer the peak time for big events. The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race starts on Boxing Day (December 26); then there's the New Years Eve fireworks , eclipsed by the big extravaganza of the Australia Day celebrations (January 26). Running throughout January is the Sydney Festival whose highlight is the free outdoor Opera in the Domain concert. The summer winds up in a whirl of feathers and sequins at the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras , held in late February/early March. An entirely different side of Sydney life is on view at the impressive summer surf carnivals , staged regularly by surf life saving clubs; check the newspapers for details.

City Infoline (tel 9265 9007, www.sydneycity.nsw.gov.au ) has details of events including the rundown of the Sydney Festival, and The Official Sydney Events Guide, published quarterly, is an excellent source for listings and festival information (available at newsagents; $2.95).

January
New Year The New Year begins with a spectacular multi-million dollar fireworks display on Sydney Harbour, focusing on the Harbour Bridge. People crowd out vantage points including North Head, South Head, The Rocks, Cremorne Point, Blues Point and...
read more >>

February
Chinese New Year Towards the end of January or in the first weeks of February, Chinese New Year is celebrated in Chinatown - firecrackers, dragon and lion dances, food stalls and music. Tropfest End of February; hugely popular...
read more >>

March/April
Royal Easter Show The Royal Easter Show, an agricultural and garden show, moved in 1998 to the Sydney Showground at the Olympic site at Homebush Bay. For fourteen consecutive days in late March/early April (the Easter weekend is neatly...
read more >>

May-July
Biennale of Sydney Every alternate (even-numbered) year, this international contemporary art festival takes place over six weeks from mid-May until early July, featuring artists from every continent. Provocative contemporary exhibitions and...
read more >>

August
City-to-Surf Race A newspaper-sponsored 14km fun-run from Park Street in the city to Bondi, held on the second Sunday of August. About 30,000 participants. Entry around $25; tel 9282 3606, www.sunherald.com.au.
read more >>

September-October
Festival of the Winds In September, as the skies get bluer, Australia's largest kite festival takes over Bondi Beach. More details on tel 9130 3325 or 9368 1253. Carnivale Carnivale is a state-funded multicultural festival,...
read more >>

November
Glebe Street Fair Second-last Sunday in November. Thousands flock to one of Sydney's great eat-streets, Glebe Point Road, for a vibrant street festival - notably fabulous food for sale, representing the local restaurants and cafés, plus lots of...
read more >>

December
Homebake Australian music is celebrated in The Domain with a line-up of bands from around the country. Tickets $50; tel 9266 4800 . Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race It seems almost half of Sydney turns out at around...
read more >>