Special Events

Rise Manly returns in 2026! From 19 – 28 June 2026, Northern Beaches Council, Manly Business Chamber and Manly’s incredible local businesses, are teaming up to bring you a fun filled and delicious... array of special events and unforgettable experiences. The Corso and laneways will be buzzing with live street performances, light installations and artworks, designed to cater to all ages and interests.

Iconic racing hits an iconic location as SailGP, the most exciting racing on water, makes its record seventh visit to the iconic Sydney Harbour on February 28 and March 1 2026.  In a world-first for SailGP,... a twilight racing window (5:30-7:00pm) will produce a spectacular golden hour backdrop for all of the heart-stopping action.

To coincide with International Women’s Day, a maker and creators’ market will be held on Saturday 8 March 2025, 8am – 2pm. The markets will celebrate creative local women, allowing them to showcase... and sell their art, craft, jewellery, accessories, clothing or product that they have personally made, designed or created.

Head to the sand for a free one-day event of fitness, inspiration and relaxation at Manly Beach. The event's aim is to bring communities together and support health and wellness businesses. In partnership... with Manly Business Chamber.

Dates are set for the 2025 NSW Surf Life Saving Championships, proudly presented by Your local club. Date Event Location 28 February – 2 March 2025 Lifesaving Championships (Champion Lifesaver... & Champion Patrol) Freshwater SLSC 8-9 March 2025 Lifesaving Championships (First Aid Competition) Freshwater SLSC

Beyond the world famous Manly Beach and eponymous ferry, Manly has a literary life. Just like the entire city, Manly and the Northern Beaches is an area rich in cultural and linguistic diversity and creativity.... This festival for readers, writers, and thinkers will bring together ideas and writing, and explore issues at a time of significant change in the world, as well as simply enjoy great stories. Whether you're into history, politics, crime, sport, fiction, or anything that is a good read, we host storytellers for three days around the end of March/early April each year in a challenging, relaxed, and fun environment. The Manly Writer's Festival will feed your heart and mind, and aims to leave you energised, informed, and inspired. Meet other readers and authors, hear from and talk with our special guests, rub elbows with aspiring writers, or join in a book club discussion.

Organised by the Rotary Club of Brookvale, over those 30 years, the event has raised over $5.5 million dollars for wonderful organisations including Life Education Australia, Northern Beaches Interchange... (NBI), Surf Life Saving Northern Beaches, Without A Ribbon, Bear Cottage, OneEighty and Sunnyfield. The event has three course options, catering for everyone from serious runners to families – 13km from Dee Why Beach to Newport Beach; 6km from Warriewood to Newport Beach; and 3km from Mona Vale to Newport Beach. This is undoubtedly Sydney’s most scenic fun run, taking in many of the spectacularly beautiful Northern Beaches. A huge Family Festival is held at the Newport Beach finish line with live music, a licensed bar area, international food options and plenty of fun rides and games for the kids. The aim of the Rotary Club of Brookvale is for 100% of your registration fees to go back to local and other needy charities and service organisations. Beach2Beach 14 Kms Run / Walk – Dee Why to Newport Beach Challenge yourself in Sydney’s most scenic fun run! Challenge yourself to an epic 14 km run with friends or run for your community! The 14 km course follows the amazing picturesque coastline of the Northern Beaches from Dee Why to Newport. The Beach2Beach is a running/walking event for everyone -serious runners, casual runners, brisk walkers, slow walkers, people with disabilities, families with children and families pushing prams.  There is a pace that suits everyone! 6KMS | Run/Walk Warriewood to Newport Beach Not too early, not too long… just right! Not too early!  Not too long!  Just right! This is a fantastic mix of fun and fitness starting at Rat Park in Warriewood and heading up to Turimetta Headland. Challenge yourself to an enjoyable 6 km run with friends to build team spirit or as a family bonding experience.  Most importantly run/ walk with your community and for your community! The Beach2Beach is a running/walking event for everyone -serious runners, casual runners, brisk walkers, slow walkers, people with disabilities, families with children and families pushing prams.  There is a pace that suits everyone! 3KMS | Run/Walk Family Fun Start – Mona Vale to Newport Beach Bring the kids, bring the stroller, wear some fancy clothes and have fun!   Perfect for families and a great starting point for young athletes looking to eventually progress to longer races. You’ll join the 13km and 6km runners at Apex Park, Mona Vale Beach. Most importantly run/ walk with your community and for your community!

Sun Run presented by Bioglan is filling fast with limited entries available in the 10km. Join us for the iconic event offering participation to all fitness levels. Challenge yourself to a 7km or 10km... fun run along the spectacular Northern Beaches coastline from Dee Why to Manly Beach on Saturday 1 February 2025. Take on Sun Run as an individual or create a team with family, friends or colleagues. Both courses will commence at The Strand, Dee Why and finish on South Steyne, Manly taking in the picturesque surrounds of Curl Curl, Freshwater and Queenscliff along the way.   Saturday 1 February 2025 6am - Race HQ opens (start line) 6.30am - 10km event starts 6.30am - Black start (seeded) & Purple start 6.50am - Bioglan Blue start 7.15am - 7km event starts 7.15am - Yellow start 7.20am - Red start Start times and schedule are subject to change

A great weekend exploring Artist Studios in Pittwater. Visitors can engage with the artists, see how they work and what inspires them, buy beautiful original artworks or perhaps enrol in one of the courses... offered by a number of artists on the Trail – all while enjoying a great day in the stunning Pittwater area. The Pittwater Artist Trail is an alliance of artists who collectively open their studios to the public twice a year, creating a trail for art lovers.

A great weekend exploring Artist Studios in Pittwater. Visitors can engage with the artists, see how they work and what inspires them, buy beautiful original artworks or perhaps enrol in one of the courses... offered by a number of artists on the Trail - all while enjoying a great day in the stunning Pittwater area. The Pittwater Artist Trail is an alliance of artists who collectively open their studios to the public twice a year, creating a trail for art lovers. 

Mark your calendars! We'll see you next year - 19-21 September 2025 - for another 3 days of toe-tapping, finger-snapping, and soul-stirring melodies. Australia’s longest running jazz festival will... return to Manly in 2025, with world-class performers for an unforgettable weekend for jazz enthusiasts and music lovers alike. Council’s hugely popular festival will feature a dynamic and diverse program celebrating the rich traditions and evolving future of jazz music with performances set to take place across four stages and in-venues in and around Manly. From traditional New Orleans jazz to soul, blues, roots, swing and funk, the lineup will captivate audiences of all ages.

Sydney’s most scenic fun run, the Beach2Beach Charity Fun Run & Festival is back on 25 August 2024. Courses start at Dee Why Beach (13km), Warriewood (6km), and Mona Vale (3km) and end with a Family... Festival at Newport Beach, making this fun run perfect for everyone, from families to the most serious runners. Take in Sydney’s beautiful Northern Beaches while raising money for local charities. This event is organised by the Rotary Club of Brookvale. It was known as the Pub2Pub Charity Fun Run & Festival until 2019.