Willoughby Park will turn into an outdoor wildlife classroom for a day this September, as the Willoughby Fauna Fair returns with native animals, live music, gardening workshops and a new market devoted to nature-inspired work.
The free community event will run from 10am to 3pm on Sunday, 20 September, bringing together wildlife groups, Bushcare volunteers, citizen scientists, gardeners and families interested in the animals and habitats found around Willoughby.
Among the main attractions will be a presentation of local native animals by Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. Nature-inspired musician Amelie Ecology and her band will also perform during the day.
But the fair is not simply about getting a close look at wildlife. Much of this year’s program is built around what residents can do in their own gardens and neighbourhoods to give native species a better chance.
Making Backyards Better for Wildlife
Bush to Bowl will sell native plants and hold workshops on creating wildlife-friendly gardens, while habitat specialists will demonstrate nest boxes and other artificial habitat designs.
For residents wondering what can realistically be done in a suburban backyard, the fair provides a chance to speak directly with people working in bush regeneration, wildlife monitoring and habitat creation.
Local Bushcare groups, wildlife organisations, community gardens, citizen-science groups and Willoughby’s bushland team will have displays covering subjects including bird surveys and local environmental programs.
It is a particularly relevant conversation in Willoughby, where substantial pockets of bushland sit alongside some of Sydney’s most established urban neighbourhoods. Council’s native fauna records include everything from powerful owls and yellow-tailed black cockatoos to small honeyeaters, wrens and other species that continue to live around the city’s bushland and residential areas.
A New Market Comes to the Fair
One of the additions for 2026 is the inaugural Nature Makers Market, bringing together a collection of wildlife, plant and nature-inspired art and handmade products.
Children will have their own hands-on program in the Kids’ Craft Tent, including stencil printing and nature journalling. There will also be activities showing younger visitors how to create habitat for pollinators.
Food and refreshments will be available, with live entertainment and activities running across the day.
The Fauna Fair has become a long-running fixture on Willoughby’s environmental calendar. It marked its 20th anniversary in 2024, when the event focused on wildlife adapting to urban environments.
Two years later, the emphasis remains firmly local: the creatures that share Willoughby’s suburbs, the bushland that supports them and the small changes residents can make around home.
Willoughby Fauna Fair 2026
When: Sunday, 20 September 2026, 10am–3pm
Where: Willoughby Park, 15 Warrane Road, Willoughby
Entry: Free
Published 31-Aug-2026
