Australia’s top artists are set to celebrate the longest night at Mirvac’s South Eveleigh with a festival of food, arts, and culture as part of Sydney Solstice.
Celebrating the longest night of the year, the heritage Locomotive Street in South Eveleigh will be transformed on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 June into a festival of free and ticketed events for all ages, fusing performance, food and drink, art installations and music.
A once-in-a-lifetime event, the 139-year-old Locomotive workshop will be transformed into a live music venue
South Eveleigh Solstice Festival will host a series of activations over the two days featuring live performances from top Australian artists, including a PNAU (DJ SET) on Friday and a secret headline act on the Saturday night in the historic Locomotive Workshop. Promising to be a once-in-a-lifetime event, the 139-year-old space will become a live music venue for all to enjoy, before it is set to be converted into a permanent new retail precinct.
Kylie Kwong’s new eatery, Lucky Kwong will open Friday night and from 11am on Saturday exclusively for the program, while Matt Whiley’s no-waste bar, Re, will be serving up a surprise menu of drinks.
South Eveleigh Portfolio Manager, John Fairbairn said “The South Eveleigh Solstice Festival is the first major public event we are hosting at South Eveleigh, following a year of exciting openings. We have created a colourful two-day festival program that will showcase the best of South Eveleigh’s new retail, beautifully restored heritage buildings and community spaces, opening up Locomotive Street for everyone to come and enjoy.
A new seven-day dining, entertainment, technology and lifestyle destination, South Eveleigh is steeped in incredible history. We look forward to this being one of many major activations that will provide both locals and tourists the opportunity to experience the site’s heritage, stories and people, all brought to life through fantastic food, arts and culture.”
There will also be a dedicated program for children, across both days. On Friday evening from 5pm – 9pm, DJ Levins will curate an evening’s worth of entertainment for the little ones including live performances and baby rave vibes. All-ages party veterans Dress Up Attack, renowned for creating the ultimate family day out, will take over Saturday’s program and present a jam-packed day full of ‘awesome people reading books’, live performances, and a wearable art workshop run by Handy with Scissors.
Independent youth broadcaster, FBi Radio will keep the free street festival buzzing with music and entertainment from headline acts B Wise, Stevan, Andy Garvey as well as a lineup of FBi’s DJs.
Speaking about its involvement Reg Harris, Music Director FBi Radio said “FBi Radio are really delighted to be able to showcase some of our favourite artists, outside for everyone to enjoy.”
The South Eveleigh Solstice Festival will commence each day with a Smoking Ceremony, acknowledging the Traditional Custodians, the Gadigal people, of the land upon which South Eveleigh sits. The South Eveleigh Cultural Garden will also be hosting tours with Jiwah’s talented team of enthusiastic environmentalists, seeking to educate on the native flora that is integral to the Indigenous heritage and land of South Eveleigh.
Eateries on Locomotive Street will offer a taste of South Eveleigh, plating up their ‘best of’ menu items. Retailers will include RaRa Chan, Eat Fuh, Whitton, Steve Costi’s Famous Fish, Fishbowl, Bekya, Pepper Seeds Thai, Sushi Hon, North Sandwiches and Yoho Loco.
Pop up bars will also be located on Locomotive Street and operating from 5pm on Friday and on Saturday from 11am, offering beer, wine, and cocktails.
South Eveleigh food retailer, RaRa Chan’s owner Scott Gault said “We’re pumped to be part of The South Eveleigh Solstice Festival. It will be a real thrill to see the precinct further come alive. Bringing together what makes Sydney great, the fusion of multiculturalism, music, art, food and adventurous bar options. Most importantly though, thanks to the leadership of the precinct and its participation, respectfully listening and genuine embracing of First Nations culture, it’s a true reflection of country. I’m certainly learning a lot. The two days will be a hive of activity as we showcase the best of South Eveleigh offerings, including the amazing food from the collective of food lovers (read food retailers).”
Sydney Solstice is a NSW Government initiative that is a celebration of Sydney’s world-class food and beverage, music, entertainment, arts, and culture taking place from 8-20 June. The program brings together the city’s best venues, chefs, artists, and musicians to celebrate the dynamic CBD and surrounding neighbourhoods.
