City’s rooftop, laneways and streets come alive for Parramatta Lanes

City of Parramatta’s flagship event Parramatta Lanes returns bigger and better than ever this October with 15 locations hosting more than 120 musicians, 45 food and drink stalls and incredible art installations.

This year marks the City’s 12th Lanes festival with a jam-packed, free four-day program of eats, beats, and art, from Wednesday 11 October to Saturday 14 October.

“Parramatta Lanes taps into everything there is to love about our incredible City – the diversity and authenticity of the flavours and creativity of the art and sounds that make up our vibrant community,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Sameer Pandey said.

“This is a chance for visitors from across Sydney to experience the food, culture and art we have on our doorstep, here in the heart of Greater Sydney.

“This year we received Purple Flag accreditation, signalling that our City offers exciting night time events, activities, and experiences in a safe environment.”

From high-end street food to the most Tiktok-able dishes, Parramatta Lanes will deliver top-notch content for your taste buds and social media feed including Filipino halo-halo inspired desserts from Mix Mix Co, the biggest prawn cracker you’ve ever seen from Prawn Star and decadent donuts from Dessert Boxes.

There will be cuisines from every pocket of the world including stallholders Japanese Pizza OKONOMIYAKI, Kampung Laksa, May’s Malaysian Hawker, Bao Dao, Yummy Time Dumpling, Satay Brothers, The Pharoah BBQ, Sri Daskin Food, Hyderabad House and Southern Soul.

Newcomers Black Bear BBQ and Fratelli Pulcinella will join old favourites including KOI Dessert Bar, Hoy Pinoy and FirePop. For sweet tooths, pick up some incredible desserts from Yiayia’s Honeyballs, Stroop Bros, Dolce Baccio Gelato or Kurepu crepes.

This year’s music line-up is as diverse as the food offerings, including genres hip-hop, jazz, funk, punk and R’n’B. Local acts include indie-pop artist Carla Wehbe, ‘Aus Funk’ pioneers The 046 from Claymore, rapper Tokyo Vendetta complemented by international and interstate artists like Fazerdaze (New Zealand), Cherry Chola (Melbourne), Small Intestines (Melbourne) and Mali Jose (Perth). 

“We have a strong creative community here and there’s a wealth of established and emerging talent. Parramatta Lanes is a chance to elevate and celebrate these artists and musicians and inspire the next generation,” Cr Pandey said.

“Of the 120 musicians performing at Parramatta Lanes, more than 50 per cent are from Western Sydney and we have gender diversity across all the stages.” 

Other musical highlights include L-FRESH the LION leading Conscious Presents – a debut partnership with Campbelltown Arts Centre promoting local rap and R’n’B artists; a dedicated night for contemporary South Korean music and a K-POP stage emceed by Harry Jun with music from AnSo 안소이, Mimi J, Gold Diggers Club and two all-femme collectives Honey Trap Soundsystem and Pho the Girls DJs.

Art lovers will be treated to three public artworks including Lawrence Liang’s Bloom sculpture illuminating St John’s Lawn. The artwork features an exploding head with jellyfish-like shapes floating above it.

Atelier Sisu’s The Sky of Bubbles is made up of 50 iridescent spheres that will be installed over Red Cow Lane and come alive at night with a dynamic and eye-catching light display; an AI robot will drum and rap in the foyer of the City’s civic, cultural and community hub, PHIVE.

Returning to Parramatta Lanes is the ever popular Eat Street Car Park rooftop which will host the stage for local rap talent and include a rap battle on Friday evening. Attendees can enjoy a view of the City and travel in style with disco golf buggies transporting them from street level to rooftop. A special ‘Festival of Lights’ event will be held on Saturday 14 October to celebrate the sights, sounds and colours of the South Asian community.

For the first time ever, there will be a special dog-friendly area known as ‘Pup Culture’ on Lennox Bridge and the river foreshore for your furry four-legged companions. This doggie dreamland will have a dog agility course, dog-themed Instagram sets and a silent cinema to entertain Sydney’s most cultured pooches. Owners will be able to pick up treats for their pets and dine on human snacks from Thicc Cookies, James and the Chocolate Berry and OMG Donuts.  

Parramatta Lanes is a free event. To find out more information, visit atparramatta.com/lanes

Parramatta Lanes  Wednesday – Thursday, 11-12 October, 5pm to 10pm Friday – Saturday, 13-14 October, 5pm to 10.30pm Free event