Dancing in the streets: Time for a festival vibe in Sydney

Village high streets across the City of Sydney will be transformed into lively festival hubs over the coming months as part of the Sydney Streets program.

The roads will be closed to traffic for the day as the street festivals kick off at 11am and run until late in the evening.

The festivals feature live music performances, outdoor dining from local restaurants and food vendors, street entertainment and roving performers.

Local businesses and organisations will host pop-up shops and outdoor market stalls, offering giveaways, competitions and exclusive deals.

The Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO, said the series had grown significantly since it was first introduced during the pandemic. 

“Sydney Streets provides a platform for local shops, restaurants and businesses to connect with their communities and visitors in a friendly, open-air environment,” Moore said.

“It’s an opportunity for locals to shop, eat and explore their neighbourhood, with unique experiences and surprises at every corner.”

Surrounding street closures and special event clearways set the stage for the events, opening with a Welcome to Country and traditional smoking ceremony.

Activities to keep kids entertained will include a circus playground, origami workshops, face painting, art classes and reading areas.

Some events will feature a fun dog agility course, while others include fitness sessions, craft workshops, health checks and games.

February 15: Macleay Street, Potts Point

February 22: Stanley Street, Darlinghurst

March 8: Harris Street, Pyrmont

March 15: Glebe Point Road, Glebe

March 29: Redfern Street, Redfern

April 5: Crown Street, Surry Hills

A special Sydney Streets event will also take place as part of the Sydney Lunar Festival in Haymarket from 5:15-9:30pm on Saturday, February 1.

Three live entertainment sites on Sussex Street, Ultimo Road and Harbour Street will feature traditional and contemporary performances including lion and dragon dancers, dance groups, martial arts and singers.

To welcome the Year of the Snake, food trucks and market stalls with meals and gifts will be set up throughout Haymarket, 12 zodiac animal lanterns will line George Street and DJs will entertain visitors throughout the night.

For more information see whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

Image: Sydney Streets: Glebe Point Road. Katherine Griffiths for City of Sydney

New boutique hotel unveiled for Pyrmont in Sydney

Sydney will get a new luxury boutique hotel when Aiden Darling Harbour opens in Pyrmont village mid-year.

The property will have 88 compact rooms, a hidden 25-metre-high mural, contactless technology and all the must-haves for what is being billed as "an easy, luxurious yet affordable stay in central Sydney".

There are eight storeys in a remodelled 1930s Art Deco building on the city's fringe but away from much of the hustle and bustle.

Guest rooms will include pillow menus, meditation and white noise channels, double-glazed windows, blackout blinds and customisable lighting with pre-set bio-adaptive scenes to create the right ambience.

There will also be a Nespresso coffee pod machine, Dyson hairdryer, Rituals bathroom amenities, combined clothing steamer and iron, wall mounted TV, Chromecasting allowing guests to stream their Netflix, Stan or other compatible media provider, and space-saving storage.

Some rooms also feature a private balcony complete with outdoor furniture, looking out to Darling Harbour and the city skyline.

A highlight of each room will be wall murals above the bedhead depicting flora from the local area, hand-painted by award-winning Australian artist Jessica Le Clerc. She is also the creator of the hotel’s secret internal wall mural rocketing up 25 metres high but hidden away, visible only from a handful of rooms, providing a private art exhibition experience to select guests.

Other locally-inspired works by Jess can be seen in the boutique hotel’s combined lobby, café and bar on the street level facing Pyrmont Bridge, where guests (and locals) can enjoy all-day dining and access 24-hour reception, self check-in and check-out via kiosks, speedy complimentary wi-fi and digital room keys.

Pyrmont is a harbourside inner city suburb of Sydney next to Darling Harbour and connected to the CBD by footbridge.

“Aiden Darling Harbour will be a neat little package of all the must-haves for a great Sydney stay, whether you’re in town for business, celebrating an anniversary, seeing a show at the many nearby entertainment venues, or simply enjoying a city getaway or staycation,” said hotel creator and owner Nicolas Chen of IHHL.

The opening of Aiden Darling Harbour will mark the debut of the Aiden boutique hotel brand in Australasia.

For more information, visit www.aidendarlingharbour.com.au.