Best Festivals in March for Families 2017

By: Serina Hajje & Phoebe Ackland, ellaslist

March is a fantastic time to be in Sydney! Welcome Autumn with an exciting festival set to pop up all over the place, celebrating different cultures, colours, food and fun with live entertainment, roving performers, petting zoos and electric atmospheres. Most of them are free, and all of them are extremely family-friendly.

The Spot Festival

When: Sunday 5 March 2017
Where: The Spot, Randwick, Corner of St Pauls Street and Perouse Road
Cost: Free
More Info Here.
Celebrate Summer’s end with culture, food and live music. This exciting street-party style celebration will showcase the best local foods including Spanish, Turkish, Thai and oh so much more, vibrant street stalls for a spot of shopping, pumping live music and free kids activities. Watch the pizza eating competition, have your tarot read or simply enjoy the many talented singers and dancers gracing the Harmony Day stage.

St Ives Food and Wine Festival

When: Sunday 5 March 2017
Where: St Ives Village Green, Memorial Avenue, St Ives, NSW 2075
Cost: Free Entry
More Info Here.
Fine food and kid-friendly entertainment is a rare combination but St Ives manages to create a rare balance of kid-approved food stalls, and fine wine for the parents. St Ives has over 20 international food stalls, 20 wineries and boutique beers, life style boutiques for parents to enjoy and taste. Kids will be more than distracted and entertained by the face painting by North Shore Mums, the Bowral animal farm, plaster painting with Plaster Funhouse and inflatables slides through Planet Entertainment!

Thirlmere Festival of Steam

When: Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 March 2017
Where: Barbour Rd, Thirlmere
Cost: Kids-$10, adults-$15
Book Tickets Here.
More Info Here.
A 2-day event, this is a must-see for any Thomas or train loving little ones with trains from all across the country being brought here. Enjoy country fair fun- markets, music, rides and old relics and look out for the 260 tonne Garratt locomotive (the largest in the Southern hemisphere!) as well as American built trains and trains that have made their way here from Canberra museum. Kids will also love the zorb balls, segways, animal farm and amusement rides.

Girrakool Blues Festival

When: Saturday 4- Sunday 5 March 2017
Where: Mount Pedang Gardens, 16 The Avenue, Kariong
Cost: Under 5s FREE, Prices Vary
For More Info
Two days, two stages, and overnight camping available! Mellow out with some soulful blues music and international musical guests. Little meat lovers will enjoy the Central Coasts’ first ever BBQ stand-off, and the immersive New-Orleans style atmosphere, local artist stalls and soul food.

Parks Week – Royal National Park

When: Saturday 4 March – Sunday 12 March 2017
Where: around NSW Royal National Park NSW 2232
Cost: varies
More Info Here.
Sydney is filled with so many stunning parks, it certainly deserves week of celebratory appreciation by stressing the important role that parks play in local communities and the natural environment. Throughout the week there’ll be some great events held at parks across Sydney, NSW, Australia and New Zealand! Event highlights include yoga sessions in Ku-Ring-Gai, mountain biking and scouts in Armidale.

Taste Of Sydney

When: Thursday 9 March- Sunday 12 March 2017
Where: Brazilian Fields, Centennial Park, near Loch Avenue & Dickens Drive
Cost: Tickets from $25-$155
More Info Here.
Taste of Sydney in partnership with Electrolux present to you Friends Who Feast; 4 days of indulgence, discovery and deliciousness. With a fresh new lineup of restaurants, chefs, entertainment and artisan producers, there is something for everyone to Taste! Enjoy insta-perfect dishes, eclectic dining experiences and the likes of Four In Hand by Guillaume, Tequila Mockingbird and Kensington Street Social, to name a few!

Parramasala, Parramatta

When: Friday 10 March- Sunday 12 March 2017
Where: Prince Alfred Square and Harris Park, Parramatta
Cost: Free entry
More Info Here.
This is a spicy celebration of all things Indian! This is a vibrant and colourful festival complete with Masala markets, sets by DJ Coco Varma, camel rides, an opening night parade, headdress workshops, food stalls at Spice Alley, and a plethora of cultural activities.

Ingleburn Alive Festival

When: Saturday 11 March 2017
Where: Western end of Oxford Road, Ingleburn
Cost: Free
More Info Here.
The main street will come alive with vibrant colours, a petting zoo, inflatable play, festive sounds, camel rides, tasty aromas, carnival rides, food and market stalls, entertainers, more than 8 hours of stage entertainment and fireworks. Schedule highlights include Trolls on stage, a Polynesian dance performance, hip hop classes, and performances from local schools. This is an extremely family-friendly event with an electric atmosphere.

Club Rivers Community Street Fair

When: Saturday 11 March 2017; 9am-3pm
Where: Littleton St, Riverwood
Cost: Free
More Info Here.
In this street fair full of community spirit, families will enjoy a food and beverage arena, free rides and carnival games, reptiles and farm animals and LIVE all-day entertainment!

Lindfield Art Show & Fair

When: Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 March 2017
Where: Holy Family Catholic School, 2-4 Highfield Rd, Lindfield
Cost: Free Entry
More Info Here.
A beautiful local art show where you will see an extensive range of quality art- one of the best-known art festivals on the North Shore. There will be face painting, quality arts and crafts activities, fairy floss, toy stalls, book stalls, a wide range of food stalls, and carnival rides.

Africultures Festival

When: Saturday 11 March 2017
Where: Wyatt Park, Church Street, Lidcombe
Cost: Free
More Info Here.
The biggest annual African Festival in Australia brings the fascinating and multi-layered cultures of the African continent into one place. There will be African food, music, dancing, drumming, and two stages, Kilimanjaro and Serengeti, for all your live entertainment needs. Peruse the 45 commercial and information stalls selling clothing fabrics and homewares, work off some energy at the Sports Zone, get your child’s face painted, make your own masks, have a ball on the jumping castle or go rock climbing!

Parramasala, Parramatta

When: Friday 10 March- Sunday 12 March 2017
Where: Prince Alfred Square and Harris Park, Parramatta
Cost: Free entry
More Info Here.
This is a spicy celebration of all things Indian! This is a vibrant and colourful festival complete with Masala markets, sets by DJ Coco Varma, camel rides, an opening night parade, headdress workshops, food stalls at Spice Alley, and a plethora of cultural activities.

Thailand Grand Festival

When: Saturday 25 March & Sunday 26 March 2017
Where: Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour
Cost: Free
More Info Here.
Explore Thai culture through two days of incredible performances that explore the diverse and fascinating corners of Thailand. There will be Thai cooking demos with chefs from Spice I Am and At Bangkok Restaurant, a Mauy Thai boxing demo, traditional Thai dancing by youth groups and professional troupes, and plenty more. You’ll feel like you’re in Thailand!