We love any excuse to get outdoors and Eat, Drink and Play our way through the city. So this Autumn we’re skating over to Parramatta to catch the CBD transformed into a buzzing entertainment precinct.
The mammoth outdoor event series includes the return of the award-winning Parramatta Nights and family-friendly Skate and Play events. This year will mark the inaugural Parramatta Nights Street Festival, a precinct dedicated to live music, pop-up bars, food stalls, and a host of art installations and roving performers.
This year’s full event program includes two epic concerts in Parramatta Park, jazz in Parramatta Square, and performances by some of Australia’s most renowned First Nations artists. For younger audiences (and the big kids amongst us) there will also be a family-friendly Skate and Play event during the school holidays.
Running from 17 March to 23 April, the jam-packed program is set to be the biggest event series in Parramatta since the pandemic began.
Parramatta Nights Street Festival
Launching for the very first time, Parramatta Nights Street Festival is a multi-venue event with five stages across the CBD. From Korean rap to Jamaican dancehall. Jazz, comedy, RnB and so much more. Spread over two huge weekends celebrating diverse culture and talent from Western Sydney and beyond.
Jazz After Dark
Grab your jazz shoes and join us under the moonlight for a series of jazz performances. Each curated by Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA) – the home of Sydney’s Jazz scene. The series features musicians and styles from all over the world including Brazilian, African, New Orleans, electronic, contemporary, and traditional.
Ngana Birrung
Another debut to Parramatta Nights is the Ngana Birrung series. Dharug for ‘black stars’, the series is exclusively dedicated to a stellar line-up of hip-hop, R&B and dance performances by First Nations artists. Expect performances from the likes of Briggs, Miiesha, JK-47, Soju Gang, and Jannawi Dance Clan.
Skate and Play
Entertain the kids these school holidays by taking them for a skate around the outdoor roller-rink in Prince Alfred Square. Take a spin on the Ferris wheel or other amusement rides. And whatever you do, don’t miss the larger-than-life immersive inflatable installation ‘Lost Dogs Disco’ by ENESS, which is making its Sydney debut.
Parramatta Nights takes place Friday nights, Saturdays, and Sundays between 18 March – 27 March.
Head to their website to start planning your visit.