Parramatta’s CBD buzzed with life as more than 200,000 visitors filled its streets for Parramatta Lanes, an event that gave a true taste of the area’s vibrancy. This year’s festival showcased the best of Western Sydney’s food, music, and art scenes, with over 70 street food stalls, eight stages, and 180 performers spread across 16 unique locations.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Martin Zaiter hailed the festival as an impressive display of the city’s diversity and potential. “Our lanes and streets were pulsing with people sampling food from every corner of the globe, enjoying live performances, and engaging with iconic art installations right in the heart of our City,” he said. The success of Parramatta Lanes reflects the city’s ambition to become a top global destination for festivals and large-scale events.
The festival featured everything from international DJs to local stars, with the Sunset Bros, a globally renowned DJ duo originally from Parramatta, making a much-anticipated return. Fresh off a flight from Amsterdam, Glenn Wilson of Sunset Bros headlined Friday night, delivering an electric set that thrilled the local crowd. “It was incredible to perform at Parramatta Lanes. The crowd’s energy was on another level, and as someone who grew up here, it’s inspiring to see just how much this city has grown,” said Wilson.
Festival-goers were treated to performances by rising Western Sydney talents like R&B artists A.GIRL and Becca Hatch, as well as rapper B Wise, who all took the stage at Powerhouse Lane. Beyond the music, Prince Alfred Square drew crowds with a lively pro-wrestling show from Pro Wrestling Australia, and the popular Pup Culture zone catered to dog lovers, complete with an agility course for their cultured canines.
Visitors also explored immersive art installations dotted throughout the CBD, including “Lost,” a whimsical, Alice in Wonderland-inspired garden, the towering feline duo Otto and Anina, and the interactive, music-emitting Trumpet Flowers. Each piece lit up the lanes, creating a colourful tapestry for festival-goers to wander and admire.
Parramatta Lanes wrapped up on a high note, having been named the winner of the Best Event Campaign at the 2024 Western Sydney Tourism Awards. The accolade capped off a monumental week, with festival organisers delighted by the record-breaking turnout and eager anticipation building for future events in Parramatta’s calendar.
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