28 July 2026
North Sydney Council has approved a $20,000 increase in its annual grant to Crows Nest Mainstreet, providing additional financial support for the Crows Nest Festival.
Councillors voted on 27 July to lift the grant from $78,278 to $98,278 amid rising costs associated with staging the event.
The Crows Nest Festival is the largest street festival in the North Sydney local government area and is used to promote local businesses and encourage community participation.
Council said the festival had come under pressure from increasing traffic management, security, waste and emergency compliance costs, while its annual grant had remained largely unchanged between 2019-20 and 2025-26.
The 2026 festival is expected to cost about $280,000, with Crows Nest Mainstreet facing a funding shortfall despite anticipated sponsorship and stallholder revenue.
Council also agreed to waive banner pole hire fees to reduce the organiser’s promotional costs.
The decision follows the launch last month of Crows Nest Mainstreet’s “Friends of the Fest” campaign, which sought donations from residents, businesses and festival-goers.
Read here: https://northsydneysun.com.au/out-and-about/crows-nest-mainstreet-launch-campaign-to-boost-festival-funding/