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For a refined summer evening in Sydney, take a picnic to Bicentennial Park on the Glebe Foreshore and catch an outdoor theatre performance at the Sydney Shakespeare Festival. This popular festival made its debut in 2008 and now spans seven weeks.

Catch current film releases at Sydney's St George OpenAir Cinema during the height of summer. Located on the edge of the Royal Botanic Gardens, the sunset views across the harbour are just as mesmerising as what's happening on screen.

The daydreaming of an out-of-work filmmaker resulted in the world's most popular short film festival. For one day only, the Tropfest Film Festival at The Domain in Sydney's Botanical Gardens is beamed live across major Australian cities.

Sydney embraces the Hellenic aspect of its multicultural society with arts, music, sports and other festivities every year. From food to philosophy, ouzo to dancing, this event celebrates Greek identity and its influence on Australian culture.

The Sydney Mardi Gras Film Festival - promoted by Queer Screen - is held in cinemas across Sydney every February/March as part of the city's month-long Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Arts Festival. It showcases around 200 films from around the world.

Sydney Mardi Gras is world-famous for its bonanza of parties, exhibitions, music, plays, art and literature, all expressing what it means to be gay in modern society. From 2010 Mardi Gras lasts two weeks, punctuated by major events on three successive weekends.

Electro-rock-pop giants New Order appear for one night at Sydney's Hordern Pavillion in between dates at the Futuremusic festival. The group reformed in 2011, playing their first major live gigs since their did-they-didn't-they split in the Noughties.

Award-winning Future Music Festival returns to Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse on its tour of cities around Australia, playing to tens of thousands of music fans. Blending electronica with pop, Hip Hop and indie, the festival promises the ultimate sounds of tomorrow, today.

Bring a healthy appetite to Taste of Sydney, an epicurean extravaganza held in Centennial Park. The city's top restaurants serve sample-sized plates of their signature dishes, which visitors gobble up with gusto and wash down with fine regional wines.

Rock heartthrob, Lenny Kravitz, takes his 2011 album Black and White America on tour. This date sees him performing hits old and new downunder at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney.

A once-in-a-lifetime exhibition, this display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales brings together over 100 masterpieces by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. Paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints are drawn from every phase of the artist's career.

Catch live music at Taronga Zoo's Twilight series of open-air concerts. As the sun sets over Sydney's iconic harbour, sing along to classic tracks by Abba tribute band Bjorn Again or melt to the soothing sounds of James Morrison.

Greyhounds chase the Easter bunny around Wentworth Greyhound Race Track, bringing a competitive spirit to Easter Saturday in the races for the Golden Easter Egg Trophy. Join the expectant crowds as they cheer on their streamlined favourites at this two-week carnival.

Community spirits are high at the annual Surry Hills Festival, a day that combines musical entertainment with food stalls, an artisan market and Dog Show. Around 90,000 locals turn up for the inner-city fun at parks and sites across the suburb.

Hoopla, Darling Harbour's free Easter festival of outdoor circus and street theatre, delivers breathtaking aerial acrobatics, fearless knife juggling, fire-eating, plate-spinning and all-round hilarity. For kids and parents inspired to have a go, there are circus workshops too.

Triathlon Australia presents the Challenge Series, a sequence of multisport events that takes place across the country between January and April. The Sydney Challenge happens in the suburb of Cronulla.

The Sydney Showground overflows with bleating animals and fun-loving crowds for the agricultural marvel and shopper's paradise that is the Sydney Royal Easter Show. From wood-chopping competitions to adrenalin-pumping roller coasters, there's plenty to keep families entertained for a fortnight!

The Audi Festival of German Films brings a fortnight of screenings to Australian cities Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. Visitors can catch the latest releases from German filmmakers, including some that premiered only a few weeks before at Berlinale.

ARTEXPRESS is a popular exhibition that showcases the cream of artwork by students studying for the HSC exam in Visual Arts. Works on display cover span a wide media canvas including ceramics, drawings, paintings, photos, prints, video and sculpture.

Lovers of house, club and electronic music head for Sydney's Entertainment Quarter as Creamfields makes a triumphant return to Australia. Headliners confirmed for this increasingly popular music event include David Guetta.

Australia's Musica Viva Festival returns with four days of chamber music to Sydney. With a packed programme of over 50 events, the famous Opera House may have to play second fiddle for once...

Australian Fashion Week has been going strong since 1996, with a large buyers' exhibition in addition to the catwalk shows. The event is held at the Overseas Passenger Terminal on Sydney Harbour's Circular Quay.

The Art Gallery of New South Wales' Open Weekend features a new display of its Australian Collection and the launch of an app for it. The 20th-century Australian galleries have been redesigned and refurbished and span modernism, abstraction and Indigenous art.

Sydney's Middle Eastern Dance Festival celebrates the exotic world of belly dancing. Learn hip-oscillating moves or Arabic drumming at workshops led by pros in inner west suburbs - Marackville and Newtown. There are colourful shows and a souk selling sequinned costumes.

The sound of laughter (and hopefully not uncomfortable silence) spreads through Sydney during the annual Comedy Festival. Quick-witted comedians from Australia and abroad show off their best quips at venues across the city, including the Sydney Opera House and Enmore Theatre.

Indulge in a total makeover during the revamped Fashion Weekend Sydney at the Royal Hall of Industries. Bag exclusive threads at bargain prices in the Shop Til You Drop Designer Sale, then complete the look with an Essie manicure or GHD hairstyle.

Unless you're taking part, prepare to belt out cheers of encouragement as over 10,000 entrants race through the city in the Sydney Half Marathon. The 21.1km race starts and finishes in Hyde Park North.

Whether it's pulp fiction or highbrow literary discourse, writing from around the world is celebrated at Sydney's annual Writers' Festival. The events take place at venues across the city, mainly Pier 4/5 and Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay.

Florence and the Machine takes her soulful indie rock on the road once again in support of the latest album, Ceremonials. This tour date is at Sydney's Entertainment Centre in Australia and tickets are sure to sell out fast.

The Archibald Prize is Australia's longest-running and most important award for portraiture. The best entries are displayed at Sydney's Art Gallery of New South Wales alongside the winners of the Wynne Prize (Australian landscapes/sculpture) and the Sulman Prize (subject painting/mural).

Manly, popular for its spectacular golden beaches and sandstone headlands, attracts over 30,000 visitors for its annual outdoor Food & Wine Festival. Browse the many stalls, sampling local restaurants' signature dishes and tipples from the region's vineyards.

Vivid Sydney brings splashes of light, colour and music to this already vibrant Australian city. The programme is extensive, ranging from progressive music concerts at the Sydney Opera House to creative discussion and light sculptures dotted around the iconic harbour.

Held over the Queen's Birthday Weekend, the Darling Harbour Jazz & Blues Festival brings smooth sounds to Sydney's waterfront with a series of performances from soloists, swing bands and gospel choirs. A joy for aficionados and families alike!

The State of Origin tournament sees the best Rugby League talent from New South Wales (the Blues) and Queensland (the Maroons) face each other in three games across Australia. The second match is at Sydney's ANZ Stadium.

Founded in 1954, the Sydney Film Festival presents screenings at venues across the city, like the State Theatre, Dendy Opera Quays and Metro Theatre. It has established a worldwide reputation and is Australia's leading international film festival.

The Good Food & Wine Show makes its annual journey east from Melbourne to the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre. As ever it features an unprecedented celebrity chef line-up to dispense top tips on all things culinary.

The Triple M Sydney Tower Run-Up is a running race with a vertical twist. Athletes start at Pitt St Mall and mount 1504 steps before reaching the finish line on Sydney Tower's Observation Deck. The appealing prize money totals A$26,000.

Sydney's popular outdoor area, The Rocks, hosts an all-day festival dedicated to coffee, tea and other spices. Australia's coffee makers ply their wares for cheap prices, demonstrate how to make the perfect brew and give away plenty of coffee-related freebies.

If you think surfing hotspot Bondi is only worth visiting during summer, think again. Bondi Winter Magic injects life and colour into the Sydney suburb during the chilly Australian winter months, with music, art, markets, ice-skating and kids' activities.

"There is nothing on earth like owning a boat", claims the Australian Boating Industries Association, and it aims to prove it at the Sydney International Boat Show, held every year at Darling Harbour and the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre.

The Sun Herald City to Surf Fun Run is a 14km route for all the family. Runners start near Hyde Park in Sydney's city centre, follow the harbour through the Eastern Suburbs and finish at the famous Bondi Beach.

Experience an authentic alpine atmosphere in the heart of Sydney during the Winter Festival. Try ice-skating or watch the experts on the large rink in Cathedral Square, enjoy a taste of real après ski fun and try different winter food treats.

High-heeled Vogue followers strut to Martin Place for the Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival. Organised by the same team as Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, the festival is a great chance to catch a glimpse of the upcoming spring and summer collections.

The skies above Bondi Beach fill with kites of all colours, shapes and sizes during Festival of the Winds, Australia's longest-running kite-flying event. A great day for all the family, there's also multi-cultural music, food, art, dancing and kite-making workshops.

Sydney's annual marathon (Blackmores Sydney Running Festival) attracts around 13,000 runners, with tens of thousands of spectators lining a route that passes most of the city's major landmarks. There's also a half marathon, Bridge Run and Family fun run.

The Biennale of Sydney was created in 1973 as an international showcase for contemporary art. It utilises venues across the city, such as the Sydney Opera House, Artspace, Cockatoo Island, Museum of Contemporary Art and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

International freestyle motocross riders rev it up in Sydney at the adrenalin-packed Red Bull X-Fighters. Competitors stop off in Dubai, Brasilia, Rome, Madrid and Warsaw before bringing pure speed and breathtaking air flips to down under.

Sydney Eisteddfod continues to search for the best young Australian talent during its annual McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge. The range of events is quite bewildering - with nine divisions all in all.

The Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) congregates at Sydney's Powerhouse Museum for the annual SPAA Fringe. Budding film-makers can attend inspiring talks from industry professionals, workshops, film screenings and round-table discussions.

Sydney's hedonistic Sleaze Ball is held on the long October weekend and takes place at the Hordern Pavilion. The unfettered party raises significant funds for the city's Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras the following February.