🌟 Editor's Note
Hello {{first_name | resident}},
Welcome to The LAB #22.
This morning’s email includes a stack of events (some today, tomorrow and this weekend) for kids of all ages.
Norman.
Are you running an event or have news that could benefit the community? Maybe you have a local business and would like to partner with us. Shoot me an email: [email protected]
🗓️ Today’s Edition
🪧 Community News
Lidcombe library reopened
📺 Garage Sales
41 Berith Street Auburn
🔥 Events
Concerts and Festivals
Basketball and Cricket
Showground Experiences
🦘 Australia on ❎
🪧 Community News
Lidcombe Library
📚 Lidcombe Library reopened
Lidcombe Library was closed over December for maintenance and reopened its doors this past Monday.
Lidcombe library is open 9:30 am - 5:30 pm Monday to Friday and 9:30 am - 12:00 pm Saturday.
📺 Garage Sales
Today’s new section is for local garage sales. If we know about an upcoming garage sale we’ll include it in its own section separate from events.
If you’re running a garage sale, advertise it for free by emailing me at [email protected]
Be sure to include the address, date and time.
41 Berith Street Auburn
🕘 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Saturday 17 Jan and Sunday 18 Jan
🎵 Concerts & Festivals 🪩
DATE | Event | VENUE | TICKETS |
|---|---|---|---|
Sat 10 Jan | YUNGBLUD | Qudos Bank Arena | |
Fri 16 Jan | The Lumineers | Qudos Bank Arena | |
Sat 24 Jan | HTID | Sydney Showground | |
Sun 25 Jan | Meltdown Festival 2026 | Sydney Showground | |
Fri 6 Feb | One Republic | Qudos Bank Arena |
🏀 Sydney Kings Games 🏀
DATE | Vs. | VENUE | TICKETS |
|---|---|---|---|
Sun 11 Jan | Melbourne United | Qudos Bank Arena | |
Thu 22 Jan | JackJumpers | Qudos Bank Arena | |
Sun 25 Jan | Adelaide 36ers | Qudos Bank Arena | |
Thu 29 Jan | Illawarra Hawks | Qudos Bank Arena |
🏏 Sydney Thunder Games 🏏
DATE | Vs. | VENUE | TICKETS |
|---|---|---|---|
Mon 12 Jan | Melbourne Renegades | Engie Stadium |
🔥 Sydney Showground Events 🔥
EXPERIENCE | VENUE | TICKETS |
|---|---|---|
Balloon Story | Fever Pavilion | |
Machu Pichu: Journey to the Lost City | Fever Pavilion | |
Horizon of Khufu | Fever Pavilion | |
Life Chronicle | Fever Pavilion | |
Bubble Planet | Paddington Pavilion | |
The Last Stronghold | Fever Pavilion |
This table contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, the LAB Newsletter earns commission at no additional cost to you.
🎈 Community Events
Check out events and things to do for this upcoming weekend and the next.
If you’re running an event, reach out to [email protected] or reply directly and I may be able to include it this section.
📙 Parent and Child Book Club (Parents with kids 10+)
📍 Merrylands Library, Miller Street
11:00 am - 12:00 pm today 8 Jan (arrive 10 minutes early)A free shared reading session for parents and their children
Bring a favourite book to share or choose one from the shelf
Book your interest at trybooking.com
🦖 DinoFest at Olympic Park (Families/Kids under 9)
📍 Blaxland Riverside Park, Olympic Park
🕥 10:30 am - 12:00 pm & 🕐 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm, 10 Jan - 1 FebMeet the whole herd – walking Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Spinosaurus, Ankylosaur, Pachycephalosaurs, T-Rex and adorable baby dinos
One ticket, heaps included – dinosaur encounters, dino dig, tattoos, feel-a-fossil activities + a 30-stop life-size Dino Trail
Dino Rangers bring it to life with fun facts, myth-busting and some very questionable prehistoric jokes
Perfect for families with kids under 9 – under 2 free, plus coffee & icecream vans
For further information including tickets check the event page
🐶 Mini Animal Carer Summer 2026 (Kids 5-7)
📍 RSPCA NSW Sydney Shelter Yagoona
🕘 9:00 am - 12:00 pm tomorrow 9 JanA hands-on school holiday fun for kids aged 5–7 who love animals and want to learn how to care for them
Interactive activities like making enrichment for dogs and cats, plus a guided walk through our cattery and shelter
Meet a rescue dog and learn how to interact with animals safely and confidently
Includes a take-home holiday gift bag, a certificate of completion, and a retail store discount
Every dollar raised helps support the animals in RSPCA care
For further information including tickets, check the event page
🍌 Outdoor Screening: Despicable Me 4 (Families with kids)
📍 Newington Marketplace
🕕 6:00 pm (movie starts 8:00 pm)Friday 9 JanArrive early so the kids can meet Kevin the minion from the movie
featuring kids activities including face painting and balloons
50 limited bean bag seats, BYO also encouraged
Bookings essential but free at eventbrite (event subject to weather)
🎬 Movie Marathon: Lord of the Rings (Families)
📍 Reading Cinemas Auburn, Red Yard Parramatta Road
🕙 10:00 am - Midnight Saturday 24 JanRelive the cinematic experience of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy
All 3 films, extended cuts shown in succession across 14 hours
30 minute breaks in between films
Book your tickets on the Reading Cinemas website
🇦🇺 Australia Day Celebration 2026 (Families)
📍 Holroyd Gardens Merrylands
🕔 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Monday 26 JanFireworks display 8:50 pm
Featuring food stalls and trucks, live music, cultural performances and movie screenings
Check the event page for further information
🦘 Australia on ❎
Find out what they’re saying about us.
Quick interesting posts on X.com featuring Australia or its people.
source: X.com
Context: An Australian X user with 57.4 thousand followers posted a video walking through Cabramatta, well known for its Vietnamese community. The Vietnamese have been in Sydney since the 70s. The original poster of the video was later seen in the discussion thread to be seemingly upset that no one was speaking English.
