October in Perth is looking good! Spring sunshine is here, and the calendar is bursting with events that celebrate everything from local beer and sustainable fashion to adventure and the arts. Across the state, you’ll find something worth marking in your diary: world-class festivals, family-friendly nights under the lights, and even a marathon that swaps city streets for river trails and rolling farmland. Here’s what’s happening across Perth and beyond this month.
Lose Yourself At WA’s Lost & Found Festival
Think you know the South West? Think again. For the fifth time this spring, the annual Lost & Found Festival will take over the Ferguson, Bunbury, and Harvey region for three days of food, wine, art, and culture, proving that this postcard-perfect pocket of the South West has more flavour, creativity, and charm than you ever imagined.
From October 16-19, you’re invited to escape the city, step off the beaten path, indulge in local flavours, and taste the terroir of the South West. From intimate acoustic sets in verdant vineyards by homegrown talent to one-off world-class culinary experiences that celebrate the region’s finest producers, there’s a feast for all of the senses.
When: October 16-19
Where: See the full calendar of events here.
Tickets are available here.
Nocturnal Woylie Walks at Whiteman Park
Led by one of Whiteman Park’s knowledgeable volunteer guides, you’ll explore the Reserve by torchlight, see native fauna in their natural environment and learn about what Whiteman Park is doing to help the critically endangered woylie. Thanks to the special night-lighting, you’ll even be able to see woylies and quenda feeding close to your feet.
The Reserve is home to many other species, including the short-beaked echidna, bush stone-curlew, and tammar wallabies. Bookings are essential for these popular Friday-night tours as they do sell out.
When: Friday evenings from September to April
Where: Whiteman Park
Booking can be made here.
Watch a Fremantle Dockers AFLW Game
Round 9 (Sunday, October 12) — Freo v Melbourne
Rainbow flags flying high in the Freo doctor, colourful activations that are as vibrant as the atmosphere, and a crowd that knows how to celebrate inclusivity — Pride Round is one of the happiest rounds of the season. On the field, Freo face reigning powerhouse Melbourne in what promises to be a blockbuster clash. But no matter the scoreboard, this is one round where everyone goes home smiling.
Round 11 (Saturday, October 25) — Freo v Richmond
It feels like just yesterday that AFLW’s first ball was bounced, but a decade on, and the women’s game has carved out its place in Aussie Rules history. This round is all about honouring the trailblazers of the game, celebrating the players of today, and cheering on with the purple army during the last home-and-away game of the season. Freo Oval will be buzzing with nostalgia, pride and plenty of noise. It’s the ideal way to close out a milestone year and ten seasons of AFLW.
The Blackwood Marathon Relay 2025
Ever jogged through bushland, paddled down a river, swum, and cycled to the soundtrack of horses clip-clopping, all on the same day? Welcome to the Blackwood Marathon Relay: WA’s one-of-a-kind multi-sport adventure that’s been turning the South West into a stage for commitment, connection and camaraderie for nearly half a century.
Running (and cycling, canoeing, swimming, and horse riding) since 1979, this iconic event carries participants across challenging terrain while forging lasting bonds. The 60+ kilometre course snakes from community-centric Boyup Brook to beautiful Bridgetown, following the natural curves of the Blackwood River through dense bushland, private farmland, and winding riverside tracks. Competitors can tackle five disciplines — solo or in a team — including the optional equestrian leg, believed to be the only dedicated horse leg in an Australian multisport relay. Each mile brings a new view, a fresh challenge, and the kind of stunning scenery only found in the South West.
When: Saturday, October 25th
Where: Bridgetown
Sign up here: www.blackwoodmarathon.org
An Operatic Journey through Emilia-Romanga in celebration of Giuseppe Verdi
On Thursday, October 30, Garum and West Australian Opera will come together for an unforgettable evening that celebrates the music, culture, and cuisine of Emilia-Romagna — the birthplace of Giuseppe Verdi. In honour of both Guy Grossi’s Amore e Cultura and West Australian Opera’s season of Verdi’s Il Trovatore, the event will feature a decadent four-course feast curated by Guy Grossi and Paolo Apuzzo, each dish paired with wine from the region.
Adding to the experience, West Australian Opera’s Jessica Blunt and Ben Del Borrello will perform selections from Verdi’s celebrated works before each course, creating an evening that harmoniously blends food, wine, and opera in true Italian style. This one-night-only event is an invitation to immerse yourself in Verdi’s world — through taste, sound, and story — in the elegant surroundings of Garum.
When: Thursday, October 30
Where: Garum
Book your table here.
I Am Sheree X MODU — Launch of 16 Days in WA
As part of the launch for 16 Days in WA, I Am Sheree X MODU invites you to an evening that goes beyond awareness and into action. Inspired by the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, this event will bring together survivors, advocates, and change makers for a night of connection, courage, and community.
Enjoy canapés, drinks, and live music while hearing from guest speakers, lived-experience voices, and frontline experts. Their stories will shed light on the realities of domestic violence and the strength that can emerge from it.
When: Thursday, 23 October 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Where: Modu Bar & Kitchen
Tickets are available here.
Boardwalk Beer Fest
Perth’s biggest free beer event is back, with the Boardwalk Beer Festival set to take over Mindarie Marina on Saturday, October 25. The waterfront will come alive with free tastings from more than 18 breweries and cideries, exclusive small-batch pours, food stalls designed for beer-in-hand feasting, and live music all day. Expect crowd favourites like Little Creatures, Gage Roads, Rocky Ridge, and Eagle Bay, alongside smaller local names that will be pouring limited-release brews.
The food offering is equally indulgent, with smoked brisket burgers, Reubens on pretzel buns, roast pork baguettes, and Bahn Mi served hot off the boardwalk stalls. Entertainment flows across multiple venues, from Triple Engine’s midday set at Indian Ocean Brewing Co. to party favourites 43 Cambridge carrying the night at The Boat. Families are catered for, too, with kids’ activities and even a brewery tour led by Indian Ocean Brewing Co’s head brewer. Entry is free — just bring your thirst and a love of WA beer.
When: Saturday, October 25
Where: The Marina Mindarie
More information can be found here.
Breast Friend Lunches
This time every year, you can dine for a cause at Cottesloe Beach Hotel. Every Friday and Saturday in October, they’ll be hosting Breast Friend Lunches, where 15% of proceeds will be donated to Breast Cancer Care WA. So grab your friends and head down for a three-course set menu.
When: Every Friday and Saturday in October
Where: Cottesloe Beach Hotel at The Beach Club Terrace
Book your table here.
Perth ZOOlights for the school holidays
Perth Zoo’s new light exhibition is perfect for entertaining the kids these school holidays. The 300-piece lantern display will illuminate the Zoo, featuring animal favourites, immersive trails, an extraordinary eight metre castle, plus live music and roving characters.
When: September 27 to October 12
Where: Perth Zoo
Move over footy — it’s racing’s time to shine
Perth Racing is gearing up for a blockbuster calendar of events, set to have the city buzzing this spring.
Ascot Racecourse is the place to be seen this season. Here’s a glance at some of what’s on:
- Sporting Legends Day — October 18
- The ever-popular Irish Day — October 25
- Perth’s biggest and only trackside party on Melbourne Cup Day at Ascot — November 4
- The Pinnacles racing series of five spectacular Saturdays
- The iconic Perth Cup on New Year’s Day.
It all kicks off this Saturday, October 11, with Unite Resourcing Ascot Opening Day — a vibrant celebration that officially launches the Ascot Spring Racing Carnival.
Following hot on the heels of Opening Day, race goers can expect a raft of the biggest names in sport to hit Ascot for Liquor Barons Sporting Legends Day, including boxer Danny Green, West Coast Eagle Jake Waterman, Docker Pat Voss, Wallaby great Matt Hodgson, and Cricketing legend Kim Hughes, among many more famous faces on October 18.
As the mercury rises, Ascot transforms into the ultimate go-to destination for event goers, sports enthusiasts, and fashionistas, with a sizzling program of racing action, style statements, and exclusive events.
When: from October 11 to January 1
Where: Ascot
Tickets are available here.
Heart is a Wasteland by John Harvey
Storytelling and live music combine in a cross-country love story.
Raye is a country-music star in the making, playing in one backwater pub after another along Australia’s vast desert highways. Trying to make a living in the hope of returning home to her young son, Elvis, she uses her lyrics to blaze through the landscapes of love and longing.
A chance meeting and Raye’s life becomes entwined with that of another wanderer, Dan, a miner disconnected from the community. A turbulent love affair unfurls over the four-day drive to Alice Springs.
John Harvey’s humorous and deeply heartfelt story examines the complexities of Aboriginal people living in contemporary Australia. A soul-warming battle of egos and recognising everyone’s worthiness of, and right to, love.
When: October 17 to November 1
Where: Subiaco Arts Centre
Tickets are available here.
Circular Fashion Festival
Perth’s fashion calendar is undergoing a renaissance.
In the last few years, we’ve seen an increasing number of young designers starting their own labels, with a strong focus on ‘slow fashion’. Designers are finding it easier to get started thanks to ecommerce becoming widely embraced and tools like Shopify making it extremely easy to set up an online shopfront that’s ready to go in almost minutes.
But what is slow fashion and fast fashion?
The next big event on the fashion calendar is the Circular Fashion Festival. A fashion event that focuses on sustainability and the circular economy. There’ll be everything from the usual runways showcasing new designs from local labels to workshops that help you be more conscious with your fashion buying.
When: October 10th and 11th
Where: Yagan Square
The full event program can be found here.
Groundswell Festival
WA’s biggest free multi-sport, lifestyle, music and wellness festival is back for its 13th year. Expect all the usual sporting competitions like surf, skate, BMX, and 3×3 Streetball, and this year, there’s also a lot of ‘have a go’ sessions so that you can try out things you’ve never done before.
When: October 11-12
Where: Scarborough
The full event program can be found here.
Entwined in the Swan Valley
From hands-on masterclasses, live music and indulgent high teas to delicious dining experiences, Entwined in the Swan Valley is the ultimate celebration of spring as the region’s artisans, chefs, and beverage producers showcase the best the Swan Valley has to offer.
When: October 24 to November 16
Where: Swan Valley
The full event program can be found here.
