22°C | Wednesday September 11, 2024 
29 August 2024
By Hannah Wilcox
Market stalls, live music and roving performers are just a few things taking over the streets of North Sydney during a one day only celebration of the new Victoria Cross metro station.
Running between 11am to 5pm on November 2, the North Sydney Festival is a free, all-ages event that ‘promises a day filled with excitement and entertainment for everyone’.
Festivities will spread out across Mount Street, Denison Street, Brett Whiteley Place and Elizabeth Plaza.
A number of market stalls showcasing the work of local artisans will be open, backdropped by an art installation by Thom Roberts from Studio A.
Mary’s and Small Fry Rock will manage the live music stage with a mix of contemporary tunes, family-friendly entertainment and classic hits, as well as a segment by Comedian Jennifer Wong.
Hoverboard hip-hop dancer Shaun Parker Company will join a number of roving performers, including the quirky Beeswax and Bottlecaps, to keep the good vibes going – and for the little ones, a designated Kids Zone and storytime tent will run all day.
“We’re excited to support this event in North Sydney,” John Graham, Minister for Roads, Arts, Music and the Night-Time Economy, Jobs and Tourism said.
“Too often our main streets are something we drive through, rather than drive to. Our streets are a critical part of our public and social infrastructure. Great streets make great towns and centres and reflect the local community and culture.”
New and existing retailers and hospitality venues will also extend their trading hours, offering street dining and special in-venue programming.
It comes in partnership with the NSW Government through the Open Streets Program – an initiative aimed at injecting vibrancy into the streets and to create thriving local places that support businesses, creative sectors and the community through events and activations.
Graham added: “The Open Streets program is about temporarily transforming our main streets into vibrant and welcoming public event spaces.”
“The colour and diversity of these 130 events celebrates the unique personality of each town or suburb.”
“This is what our vibrancy agenda is all about, backing locals to create events and entertainment that works for their local community.”