Just because it’s cold out doesn’t mean that the Beaches are closed for business – we’ve gathered all the best winter-themed events on locally and beyond this season:
Ice Cold Classic 2026, Manly
On the 2026 Winter Solstice, take the plunge into the chilly waters of Manly Beach to raise money for One Meal, a charity initiative providing healthy meals and support services for Australians doing it tough in this cold weather. If you’re not swimming, you can also donate and support a swimmer, or just cheer them on from the sidelines as they make a splash!
And don’t worry – after your 1K swim, One Meal will be providing hot soup as a thank-you to those who braved the cold waters.
📍 Manly Beach and Shelly Beach – see website for race times and locations.
📅 Sunday 21st June 2026, from 10am
🌐 https://coleclassic.com.au/icecoldclassic/
NSHS P&C Car Boot Sale, Narrabeen
Join NSHS for their Winter P&C Car Boot Sale! It’s perfect for picking up a bargain, clearing out your home, or just engaging with the community in a fun and sustainable way. Treasures include clothing, homewares, toys, books, and much more, with all profits supporting the school community. Plus, enjoy treats and lunch from food stalls and live buskers keeping the vibes going.
📍 Narrabeen Sports High School, 10 Namona St, North Narrabeen
📅 Sunday 28th June 2026, 7am – 1pm
Brookie Hoedown @ The Brookie Trail
‘One of Sydney’s most distinctive winter events returns this July, as Brookie Hoedown delivers a full day of boots, brews and country music across the Brookvale breweries.Transforming Brookvale’s industrial precinct into a high-energy country takeover, the Hoedown will activate multiple venues across the Brookie Trail with live music, themed programming and local craft brews.
Held on Saturday 18 July, the Brookie Hoedown will showcase the precinct’s evolution into one of Sydney’s most vibrant emerging nightlife destinations – powered by a collective of local breweries, distilleries and venues working together to deliver a unique experience.’
📍 9 Powells Road, Brookvale
📅 Saturday 18th July 2026. Check their socials (@thebrookietrail) for specific event times.
🌐 https://thebrookietrail.com.au/whats-on/
Belrose Winterfest
Step into a winter wonderland of rides, games, activities and entertainment at Belrose Public School’s biggest annual fundraising event! Show off your skating skills at the ice rink, or test your luck with games in the sideshow alley. All the while, enjoy live entertainment, good food and local market stalls run by the school community and beyond – with all proceeds going back to the school.
📍 Belrose Public School, 26 Ralston Ave, Belrose
📅 Sunday 26th July 2026
🌐 https://belrosewinterfest.com.au/
Winter Feasts & Mulled Wine at Q Station, Manly
There’s plenty on at the iconic Q Station over winter – bring an appetite!
Mulled Wine Specials
Q Station’s Boilerhouse Kitchen & Bar is offering rich, spiced mulled wine to enjoy by the fire as you admire the views of North Harbour. This treat is $13 during regular trading hours, but falls to $9 during Happy hour, so bring a crowd and enjoy a dinner at this iconic historical site.
Bastille Day
Celebrate Bastille Day at Q Station on Saturday 11th July from 12pm, with a four-hour lunch special complete with French-style delicacies and fine wine all accompanied by live music at the Hospital Precinct. Be sure to book in quickly so you don’t miss out on this Parisian treat!
Christmas In July
The party isn’t over yet – on Friday 24th July, keep the European spirit going with a delicious midwinter feast for Q Station’s Christmas In July celebration at the Hospital Precinct. From 6pm, guests can step into the heart of the Alps for an Alpine Raclette night, celebrating the charm of the Swiss and French mountain regions, and dine together around two long communal tables to spark conversation and joyous vibes all night long. Guests can learn to create and serve their own raclettes at a series of dedicated machines, and enjoy a festive evening of wintery cheer.
📍 Q Station, 1 North Head Scenic Drive, Manly
🌐 https://qstation.com.au/whats-on/
Rise Manly
Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean that our neighbouring beachside suburb of Manly is going into hibernation! From the 19th – 28th June, dozens of Manly’s most popular and iconic local businesses are coming together for 10 days of celebration, showcasing all the amazing shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, artists and services that Manly has to offer.
With light installations, street performances, and crazy highlights including a Ferris Wheel and a silent disco, there’s more than enough to keep you busy!
📍 Manly Corso and surrounds – see website for specific event locations.
📅 From 19th – 28th June 2026 – see website for specific event times.
🌐 https://hellomanly.com.au/rise-manly/
Festa Julina 2026, Dee Why
Come enjoy a lively day packed with live performances, entertaining activities, and mouthwatering Brazilian treats — all in a warm, family-friendly setting. Celebrate one of Brazil’s most iconic rural festivities right here in Sydney. You won’t want to miss it!
Enjoy food stalls with mouth-watering food and live musical performances at this stunning outdoor venue.
This is a sell-out event, so buy your tickets now!
📍 Time and Tide Hotel, 30 Campbell Avenue Dee Why
📅 Saturday 11th July 2026, 12pm – 9pm
🌐https://events.humanitix.com/festa-julina-2026
Beach2Beach Charity Fun Run & Festival
Beach2Beach is more than a scenic run along the stunning Northern Beaches. Since 1994, our incredible participants have raised over $7 million for charitable organisations. Giving back to the community is the heart and soul of what they do. Choose between four different run options (14km, 6km, 3km, and for the first time, a Half-Marathon!), or just come and cheer the runners on!
📍 Starting lines vary depending on event – see website for specific race details.
📅 Sunday 23rd August 2026, starting times vary.
Winter Events Worth Travelling For…
Titanic: A Voyage Through Time, Sydney Olympic Park
This Winter, Sydneysiders are invited to embark on one of history’s most unforgettable journeys as Titanic: A Voyage Through Time makes its highly anticipated Sydney debut at Fever Pavillion, Sydney Olympic Park from May 28. This groundbreaking virtual reality experience doesn’t just tell the story of the world’s most legendary ship – it puts guests aboard it!
Slipping on a VR headset, guests find themselves transported to 1912: wandering the ship’s grand promenades, moving through its opulent interiors, and coming face-to-face with the passengers and crew whose stories have echoed through generations. In a world first, the experience descends beyond the surface – 4,000 metres beneath the ocean – to explore the Titanic’s haunting wreck exactly as it rests today.
Fever Pavillion, Olympic Boulevard, Sydney Olympic Park
Open from May 28th 2026. See website for session times.
https://titanicexperiencevr.com/sydney/
The 2026 Archibald Exhibition, Art Gallery of NSW
It’s a lovely way to spend a wintery day immersing yourself in the talents of our Australian artists (a few local ones this year as well)!
The winners and finalists of the prestigious Archibald Prize for 2026 are on display in the Art Gallery of NSW until the 16th August 2026.
Out of 1034 entrants, just 59 of the best portraits have been selected for display, including this year’s winner – Richard Lewer’s evocative portrait of Pitjantjatjara elder Iluwanti Ken. The exhibition also features a work by Redlands alumni Amelia Carroll, whose work ‘Morning Class 2’ (pictured) depicts her sister, a ballerina with the Australian Ballet (pictured).
📍 The Art Gallery Of NSW, Art Gallery Road, The Domain
📅 Exhibition open until the 16th August 2026. Museum open daily 10am – 5pm, Wednesdays until 10pm
🌐 Tickets can be purchased from https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/archibald-wynne-and-sulman-prizes-2026/
The Bondi Festival 2026
For those willing to travel a little further out of town, the iconic Bondi Festival is back on the beachfront for another year of winter-themed music, activities, workshops and more! The most anticipated offering is of course the return of the ice rink, where you can show off your ice skating skills – right on the beach! Other highlights include the return of the Ferris wheel and food markets – the perfect ingredients for a lovely night out with the ones you love.
📍 Bondi Beach, Sydney
📅 Festival runs from the 3rd – 19th July 2026. See website for specific event times
🌐 https://www.bondifestival.com.au/
Bastille Festival 2026, Circular Quay
Since 2013, this festival of all things French has drawn Francophiles from far and wide to experience the food, wine and cultural atmosphere of the Bastille Day season.
Sip on authentic wines, snack on authentic croissants and pastries, and peruse traditional artisan goods as you enjoy the life music and performers of this free-to-enter event.
The Rocks and Circular Quay, Sydney
Open from July 16th – 19th 2026. Thursday 12pm – 10pm, Friday and Saturday 10am – 11pm, Sunday 10am – 9pm
https://bastillefestival.com.au/sydney/
