Parramatta will be transformed into a winter destination during the July school holidays, with a two-week Midwinter Festival bringing rides, food experiences, markets and large-scale art installations to the city centre.
The program will run from 4 July to 18 July across Parramatta Square, Centenary Square, PHIVE and Parramatta Town Hall, with a mix of free and ticketed activities scheduled between 12pm and 9pm each day. A 360-degree dome film and music experience will begin daily from 10am.
Visitors will be able to try a range of winter-themed attractions including a vintage carousel, a bungee jump ride, a Midwinter Bar by Karu, marshmallow toasting at a S’mores experience and a series of winter markets. Roving performers and visual art installations will also feature throughout the precinct.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter said the festival is designed to bring activity into the CBD during the colder months and create a welcoming space for visitors throughout the school holidays.
“Parramatta is the place to be this winter and that is why we are turning Parramatta Square into the perfect place to rug up, pull on a beanie and enjoy the atmosphere of our first Midwinter Festival,” he said.
“This year’s program will showcase our City like never before with fun rides and experiences over the entire school holiday period.”
He said the event was an opportunity for residents and visitors to spend time in the city and enjoy seasonal activities.
School holiday programming at PHIVE and Parramatta Town Hall will include an interactive performance by ERTH featuring Fauna in The Soft Forest, a production centred on themes of nature and connection.
The festival will also showcase winning entries from a recent Midwinter Artwork Competition, with selected works from young participants transformed into large-scale illuminated installations displayed across Parramatta Square. Six children were chosen from 68 entries, with artworks inspired by NASA’s Artemis II moon mission.
Walker Corporation is supporting the festival as a major partner, with participating Parramatta Square venues offering winter-themed menus and a Winter Rewards initiative aimed at encouraging visitation to the CBD.
Walker Corporation’s General Manager of Parramatta Square, Chelsea Milne, said the festival helps bring activity into the city beyond business hours and supports local traders.
“We’re proud to support events like Midwinter Festival that bring people into the city beyond the workday, boosting local business and reinforcing Parramatta as one of Sydney’s leading lifestyle and cultural destinations,” she said.
The festival has also received support through Creative Australia, the Australian Government’s principal arts investment and advisory body.
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