Laneways, streets, car parks and gardens in Parramatta’s CBD are set to transform into immersive destinations for food, music and art as Parramatta Lanes returns to the heart of the City this October.
The City’s signature festival will cover more ground than ever before – with more than 16 sites across the CBD, 70 street food stalls and eight stages set to go off with over 100 performers across four massive nights.
A special guest performer is set to headline Parramatta Lanes this year, along with a stacked list of international, national and Western Sydney talents such as R&B singers A.GIRL and Becca Hatch on the Powerhouse Lane stage and rapper B Wise.
For the first time, Prince Alfred Square will come alive for the event, hosting Pro Wrestling Australia live action entertainment as well as Pup Culture, a dedicated area for cultured pooches with a dog agility course returning after a successful inclusion from 2023.
Foodies can feast their eyes and tastebuds on fried chicken inspired by LA’s Raising Canes, KOI’s iconic desserts and social-media worthy bites such as a cookie croissant, Malaysian cuisine, BBQ skewers, American-style burgers, acai bowls, loaded potato spuds and much more.
City of Parramatta chief executive Gail Connolly PSM said the annual event gets bigger and better each year. “Parramatta Lanes is our flagship event, bringing international and local performers, larger-than-life art installations, and street food from all corners of the world,” said Ms Connolly.
“Last year it attracted more than 180,000 visitors, injecting $1.5 million into our local economy – and this year is shaping up to be even bigger.”
“Lanes is just one of the events helping to position Parramatta as a global City, we’re drawing the best there is to offer in art and creativity, dining and entertainment to the heart of Greater Sydney.”
The new Powerhouse Lane presented by Powerhouse will be buzzing with Sydney’s best hip hop and RnB artists curated by MC Trey, We Are Warriors and fbi.radio.
George Street will be transformed with new artworks titled Parramatta in Pop by acclaimed artists Andrew and Chris Yee and an array of street food stalls celebrating the culinary landscape of Western Sydney, curated in association with social enterprise Welcome Merchant.
Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah said it’s great to be involved in the flagship event. “Parramatta Lanes is one of Sydney’s most dynamic and diverse street festivals and Powerhouse is thrilled to be collaborating with City of Parramatta to present Powerhouse Lane,” said Ms Havilah.
“This is the first time Powerhouse has been involved in this epic event and we’re looking forward to bringing some of Western Sydney’s most exceptional artists, musicians, cooks and caterers to George Street.”
Highlights from this year’s program include Pass the Mic by Bodega Collective, a Bollywood-inspired extravaganza at Justice Precinct bringing a fusion of tradition, music and dance for a festival of lights and an exclusive menu of viral food stalls at the rooftop at Eat Street Car Park.
The Path is a dynamic performance work by Fei Gao that brings to life migration journeys of Parramatta’s richly diverse community. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Parramatta Lanes, this performance will deeply resonate with festivalgoers, particularly those from migrant backgrounds.
“The Path tells stories of migration and weaves personal and poetic stories through individual costume designs rendered in vivid hues of blue, gold, orange, purple and black,” said artist Fei Gao.
“I’m very proud to be part of Parramatta Lanes and have my work on display to tell these important stories that will provide a vibrant backdrop to this year’s Lanes festival.”
FOUND OBJECTS is an epic, outdoor, family, dance-theatre work utilising everyday objects and five exceptional dance and physical theatre artists. Choreographed by Shaun Parker and set to a stunning orchestral score by composer Nick Wales, the work creates a highly physical, extraordinary urban world incorporating high-octane contemporary dance, acrobatics, street dance, parkour and seemingly ordinary objects.
“My dancers and I are thrilled to be performing FOUND OBJECTS at the Parramatta Lanes Festival!” said FOUND OBJECTS Artistic Director, Shaun Parker. “The festival has just exploded, growing from strength to strength each year! What a wonderful event for Western Sydney!”
Vibrant art installations are also set to light up each evening, encouraging people to wander through the streets and lanes to discover artworks such as Lost – an Alice in Wonderland-inspired floral garden, Otto and Anina – a duo of colossal cats and interactive musical Trumpet Flowers.
You will feel as if you have shrunk as you immerse yourself in the super-sized trumpet flower garden. Experience a giant’s musical garden as 27 trumpet flowers from two to six meters tall tower over you. Visit the centre of the forest to play the massive trumpet keys and make your own spectacular floral sound and light show.
Parramatta Lanes kicks off from Wednesday 23 October to Saturday 26 October 2024. Entry is free. For more information and full program, visit: www.atparramatta.com for details.
Images: FOUND OBJECTS by Shaun Parker & Company (supplied) | Parramatta Lanes – photo by Ken Leanfore