http://www.sydneyfamily.com.au Your Source for Family Events and Discussion around Sydney! Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:00:58 PST en http://www.sydneyfamily.com.au/December/new-years-eve-in-sydney-1/
Do bed times fall well before the clock strikes 12? Never fear – the City of Sydney council has got that one covered too! Prior to the world-renowned Midnight Fireworks, Sydney New Years festivities will be celebrated in style with the Family Fireworks display at 9pm…allowing just enough time to get the tots back to bed before the real party animals take over!

For some great family events and firework vantage points check out:

NYE at Dudley Page Reserve: Pack a picnic and watch the Sydney fireworks at Dudley Page Reserve in Dover Heights! There will be food stalls, a licensed bar (strictly no BYO), free kids rides, performers and laid-back entertainment for all. Time? 6.30pm-12.30am. Cost? Adults €8.74, Concessions (12-17yrs) €4.37, Kids (under 12) FREE.

NYE in Manly Cove: A classic family circus with roving entertainers, jugglers, interactive percussion, face painters, magicians and two jumping castles, all coming to a close with the fireworks at 9pm! Location? East and West Esplanade, Manly. Time? From 6pm. Cost? FREE. ]]> Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:00:58 PST jenbond December 1 http://www.sydneyfamily.com.au/December/new-years-eve-in-sydney-1/ http://www.sydneyfamily.com.au/December/carols-on-norton-1/ The Leichhardt Espresso Chorus produces a free Carols on Norton concert and Lantern Parade each year.

The celebrations start at 7pm at the rotunda in Pioneers Memorial Park (Norton Street Leichhardt) on the last Sunday before Christmas.
Families and groups from Leichhardt and beyond are invited to bring a picnic and enjoy traditional and contemporary festive music, including Australian compositions and arrangements, performed by an excellent orchestra, soloists, and over 100 singers including the Inner West Children's Chorus. Children are invited to join the Inner West Children's Chorus (it's free).

This event features an evocative lantern parade at dusk. All are welcome to make a lantern and join in. You can register here for one of twenty free lantern-making workshops. ]]> Sun, 12 Dec 2010 04:58:03 PST tatch76 December 1 http://www.sydneyfamily.com.au/December/carols-on-norton-1/ http://www.sydneyfamily.com.au/December/the-19th-carols-in-the-caves-1/
In the recent Blue Mountains Tourism Awards of Excellence 2010, ‘Carols in the Caves’ won the ‘Festivals & Events’ award. Immerse yourself in the magic of Christmas, in the massive Grand Arch (Australia’s largest open cave).

Join in traditional Christmas carols with a range of gifted performers, who literally scale to great heights to sing on rocky ledges, among the stalagmites and stalactites.

The latest in event lighting will be by Mandilights. Sound will be by the Loud & Clear Audio team led by David Betteridge. All performers, stage crew and personnel donate their time and expertise.

You can participate in our charity auction, and score a bargain – maybe a great weekend break, delicious wine or work of art. Profits from ticket sales and auction go to the Oncology Research Unit at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Last year, we raised $17,000. ]]> Thu, 09 Dec 2010 03:49:41 PST jenbond December 1 http://www.sydneyfamily.com.au/December/the-19th-carols-in-the-caves-1/ http://www.sydneyfamily.com.au/January/snow-on-mars-family-play-from-sydney-festival/
Twelve year-old Waylon wants to be the first man on Mars and he’s not afraid to shoot for the stars. But with his family constantly on the move he’s falling further behind in his schoolwork, and becoming a NASA astronaut like his hero Andy Thomas seems about as likely as finding snow on Mars

With help from his family and friends Waylon discovers that although dreams are hard to reach there can be fun and excitement in trying to achieve them. And yes, there is snow on Mars.

Conceived and designed by Kim Carpenter and written by Richard Tulloch, Snow on Mars is an inspiring adventure that blasts off with aerial performers, actors, music and songs, making it perfect for audiences of all ages.
]]> Thu, 09 Dec 2010 03:33:04 PST jenbond January 1 http://www.sydneyfamily.com.au/January/snow-on-mars-family-play-from-sydney-festival/ http://www.sydneyfamily.com.au/December/rolex-sydney-hobart-yacht-race-1/
Over the past 64 years, the Rolex Sydney Hobart has become an icon of Australia’s summer sport, ranking in public interest with such national events as the Melbourne Cup horse race, the Davis Cup tennis and the cricket tests between Australia and England.

Participants from maxi yachts to weekend racers take part in this event, which starts from Nielsen Park in Sydney Harbour and takes the international fleet 628 nautical miles to the finish line in the Derwent River, Hobart.

]]> Tue, 30 Nov 2010 02:32:15 PST tatch76 December 1 http://www.sydneyfamily.com.au/December/rolex-sydney-hobart-yacht-race-1/ http://www.sydneyfamily.com.au/Family Dining/sydneys-best-family-friendly-restaurants-smh-1/
...Catherine Chesterman says her children are bored with pizza when they eat out but serve them broccoli or broth and they're in heaven.

Sound like a claim of showmumship? It's not. When Chesterman takes her five-year-old boy, Finn, and three-year-old twins, Tess and Freya, to their favourite Japanese restaurant, Kai on King in Newtown, their tastes transform. Away from home, green vegetables suddenly become yummy.

When children are in tow, the rules for what makes a good dining experience get re-written. Once upon a pre-sprog time, evidence of a good dining experience may have been a creative menu, a challenging flavour or well-balanced textures. But when your dinner companions are just managing to poke their heads over the table, the main aim is to keep bums on seats and ensure at least some of the food is eaten.

Scattered around Sydney are places that offer something a bit more interesting than the usual spaghetti bolognaise or fish 'n' chips, in an environment that is not child-hostile.... Read More
]]> Sun, 21 Nov 2010 04:25:24 PST tatch76 Family Dining 1 http://www.sydneyfamily.com.au/Family Dining/sydneys-best-family-friendly-restaurants-smh-1/ http://www.sydneyfamily.com.au/December/woolworths-carols-in-the-domain-1/
This year marks the 28th year of Woolworths Carols in the Domain. The date's been set for Saturday 18 December and some of the biggest names in Australian show business will grace the stage. Woolworths, our major sponsor, activeTV, the event and television producers and broadcaster, the Seven Network, look forward to welcoming you to this very special event.

2010 will again feature an exciting line-up of talented performers. Keep an eye on our website as the event draws nearer for all of the latest Woolworths Carols in the Domain news and announcements, including the unveiling of this year's performers.

]]> Sun, 21 Nov 2010 03:52:19 PST tatch76 December 1 http://www.sydneyfamily.com.au/December/woolworths-carols-in-the-domain-1/ http://www.sydneyfamily.com.au/November/-darling-harbour-santa-fest/
So dig out your big red suit, don a beard or throw on a Santa hat and take part in the fun!

There'll be giant inflatable Santas, a Santa parade, a pyrotechnic jetski show, stunning fireworks over Cockle Bay and the lighting of the brightest Christmas tree in the Southern Hemisphere.

So get into the Christmas spirit at Darling Harbour, because Santa Claus is coming to town!

Saturday 27 November
8.15pm (pre-show entertainment from 7.30pm)
Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour

]]> Sat, 20 Nov 2010 20:11:57 PST tatch76 November 1 http://www.sydneyfamily.com.au/November/-darling-harbour-santa-fest/