What’s On in the Sutherland Shire & Sydney This September 2026

Big news first: Cronulla is officially staying up later.

From 4 September, Cronulla becomes NSW’s first beachside Special Entertainment Precinct, kicking off a 12-month trial designed to bring more live music, dining and entertainment into the town centre and waterfront.

Eligible indoor venues can now trade until midnight Sunday to Thursday and up to 2am on Friday and Saturday nights, while outdoor areas can run until 11pm.

Translation: expect a lot more dinners in Cronulla turning into cocktails afterwards.

And that’s just the start. Spring is properly here, the days are getting longer, outdoor markets are back, festival season is kicking off and the school holidays land at the end of the month.

Whether you want somewhere to take the kids, a reason to organise a girls’ day, a date-night idea or simply an excuse to get out of the house, here’s what’s happening across the Shire and Sydney this September.

What’s on in the Shire

Eat Drink Nights Kirrawee

Friday 4 & Saturday 5 September | 5pm–9pm | Biddy Giles Park

A new one for the Shire, and it sounds like such a good way to welcome spring.

Biddy Giles Park is turning into a night food market for two evenings, with around 40 street-food vendors, live music and free family entertainment.

Think tacos, dumplings, Japanese pancakes, Malaysian satay, desserts and plenty of options for an easy Friday or Saturday night with friends or the kids.

Best part? Entry is free.

Menai Foodies Night Market

Friday 11 September | Menai

Another one for the food lovers.

Menai’s Foodies Night Market returns with global street food, desserts, drinks, handmade goodies, live music, rides and alfresco areas to sit and actually enjoy the evening rather than rushing home with takeaway.

An easy family Friday night — and there’s free parking too.

CronullaFest

Friday 25 – Sunday 27 September | Cronulla

Probably the biggest local date on the calendar this month.

CronullaFest takes over Cronulla Street and Cronulla Park for three days, with market and food stalls, amusement rides and plenty of entertainment.

Friday night kicks things off with food trucks and rides in Cronulla Park from 5pm before the full festival takes over the town centre across Saturday and Sunday.

More than 30,000 people attended last year, so expect Cronulla to be buzzing.

Saturday morning at the Shire Farmers’ Market

Not everything needs to be a huge festival.

The Shire Farmers’ Market runs every Saturday from 8am–1pm at the Flora Street car park in Sutherland, behind The Pavilion.

Grab a coffee, stock up on fresh produce and wander the stalls for an easy spring Saturday morning.

New places to try in Cronulla

Our Cronulla long-lunch list just keeps getting longer.

One of the most anticipated openings is NOA, from chef Nelly Robinson, alongside its more casual little sister, Little NOA.

Expect beachfront, Tulum-inspired vibes, with NOA leaning towards elevated dining and Little NOA serving up burgers, snacks and cocktails.

Get Sashimi is also heading south after building a following in Bondi, while El Jannah has landed in the former Notaras site.

Basically, we’re not short of excuses for lunch in Cronulla anymore.

Worth Leaving the Shire For

Because sometimes we do leave the Shire.

Sydney Fringe Festival

Throughout September | Across Sydney

If you want a spontaneous night out, Sydney Fringe is one of the best times of year to have one.

Expect comedy, cabaret, circus, live music, theatre and plenty of performances that are a little harder to categorise, popping up all over Sydney.

Sydney Fringe kicked off on 2 September, so there’s plenty still to discover.

Festival of the Winds

Sunday 13 September | Bondi Beach

One for the kids — although it’s pretty spectacular without them too.

Bondi Beach fills with giant, colourful kites for one of Sydney’s best-known spring events.

Make a day of it: beach walk, lunch around Bondi, then watch the sky fill with kites.

Night at the Barracks

11 September – 3 October | North Head, Manly

Quite possibly the best girls’ night or date-night option on the list.

Night at the Barracks brings live music into the beautiful outdoor surrounds of North Head Sanctuary, with the September line-up including Boy & Bear, The Temper Trap, Sneaky Sound System & The Potbelleez, PNAU, Ben Folds and Katie Noonan, among others.

Dinner in Manly beforehand + outdoor music under the stars? Yes please.

Chandon Harbour Long Lunch

Saturday 19 September | Sydney Harbour

This has SLAM girls’ day written all over it.

A long lunch aboard a superyacht on Sydney Harbour with a bottomless-style experience and harbour views.

It’s definitely more of a splurge than your average Saturday lunch, but if there’s a birthday, celebration or overdue girls’ catch-up sitting in the group chat, this could be the excuse.

Australian Native Food Festival

26 & 27 September | Carriageworks, Eveleigh

Foodies, add this one.

The Australian Native Food Festival arrives at Carriageworks for two days at the end of September — a great option for a weekend in the city, especially if you love discovering new flavours and producers.

Wild Things International Kids Festival

From 26 September | Sydney Opera House

Perfect timing for the school holidays.

The Sydney Opera House launches Wild Things, a new international kids festival inviting children and grown-ups to explore, create and play through live performance and creative experiences.

One to save for the school holidays when you want to do something a little different with the kids.

And then… school holidays begin

NSW public school Term 3 wraps up on Friday 25 September, with the spring school holidays running from Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October.

Which means that last weekend of September is going to be a big one.

Locally, The Pavilion in Sutherland also kicks off its Play! Kids Festival on 30 September, with performances, workshops and activities continuing into the October holidays.

Our September Hit List

If we had to narrow it down:

With the kids: CronullaFest + Festival of the Winds

Girls’ night: Night at the Barracks

Girls’ lunch: Chandon Harbour Long Lunch

Easy local night: Eat Drink Nights Kirrawee

Foodies: Australian Native Food Festival

Something spontaneous: Pick a Sydney Fringe show

Stay local: Dinner and cocktails in Cronulla, now that our nightlife is getting a shake-up.

And if your calendar is already starting to look suspiciously full… welcome to spring.

There’s something about September that makes everyone want to get out again — longer afternoons, warmer weather and that little reminder that summer really isn’t very far away.

See you out there.