GLOW at Sydney Zoo. Friday 8 May through to Sunday 14 June.
Step through a glowing portal and be transported into a world of stunning NEW lights and interactive moments at Sydney’s wildest light festival. You will walk under a sky shimmering with stars, follow paw prints, spot clues in the lights, play with projections, and gaze at the towering full moon. Watch the zoo come alive in an unforgettable display of light, sound, and motion – fun for all ages.
Stop by the crackling campfire and grab a tasty bite, then enjoy more sweet treats and drinks along your journey. Head to the GLOW Zone for thrills and non-stop fun – open to all guests, with or without a GLOW ticket.
Click here to buy tickets.
Fire Station Open Day. Saturday 9 May, 10am – 2pm.
Come and meet your local firefighters and learn about home fire safety at the Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Open Day on Saturday 9 May. Many fire stations across NSW will be throwing open their doors between 10am and 2pm to showcase FRNSW’s broad capabilities. Children will be able to see a fire truck, demonstrations and firefighting equipment whilst the grown-ups will be able to find out more about home fire safety.
Kellyville, Beecroft, Parramatta, Eastwood, Hornsby, Baulkham Hills, Riverstone and Blacktown are some of the local stations participating. Click here to find the closest participating fire station to you.
Riverstone Festival. Saturday 9 May, 9.00am – 3pm.
Join in a day of activities and entertainment for the whole family, including stage performances by local groups, market stalls, kids activities and delicious food trucks. Find out more here.
Heritage Day at Parramatta North. Saturday 9 May. 9am to 3pm.
Heritage Day at Parramatta North is a family-friendly day out, with guided tours, talks, live music, great food, children’s activities and market stalls – great timing for Mother’s Day.
This event is part of the 2026 Australian Heritage Festival, coordinated by the National Trust of Australia.
Explore the sensitively restored heritage-listed buildings at this fantastic free day out for all ages and pick up something for Mum while you’re there! Enjoy all the events for free! Please note that some events require pre-booking with tickets allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Find out more here
Markets
- Castle Hill Farmers and Fine Food Market – Saturday 9 May. 8am to 12pm. Castle Hill Showground.
- Dural Village Markets. Sunday 10 May. 9am to 2pm. Dural Country Club.
Other ideas
- Casey Donovan “This is Me” Tour. Castle Hill RSL. Friday 8 May. From 8pm.
- We Honestly Love You – Olivia Newton-John Tribute Tour. Castle Hill RSL. Saturday 9 May. From 8pm.
- Galston Valley Railway Open Day. Sunday 10 May. 9.30am – 3pm.
- Powerhouse Castle Hill. Open every Saturday and Sunday in March. From 10am.
- Rouse Hill Estate open to the public. Every Sunday. 10am to 4pm.
- Go for a bush walk. Here are our favourite kid friendly bush walks in the Hills.
- Go for a bike or scooter ride. Parks in the Hills with bike and scooter paths.
Other articles that might interest you:
- Activities and Classes Guide: Term 2
- Best playgrounds for Under 5s
- Day trips from the Hills
- Parks & coffee – a mum’s perfect combination