Ten Unmissable Experiences at Parramatta Lanes

Parramatta Lanes is back!

Four nights of eats, beats, art and culture light up the city from 22-25 October. Discover hidden laneways, taste global flavours, and dance to live beats. With more than 200 music acts across 10 stages, it's free and it’s uniquely Parramatta. Don’t miss the city’s biggest creative street party.

Plan ahead and skip the stress of traffic and parking – hop on a train to Parramatta Station or catch the light rail to Parramatta Square or Prince Alfred Square for an easy ride straight to the action.

Here is our fool-proof guide to everything you need to catch at Parramatta Lanes.

1. Boodle Fight

Kickstart your Parramatta Lanes visit with an epic Filipino Feast right in the heart of Parramatta Square. In collaboration with the Filipino Food Movement, Boodle Fight is all about celebrating community, sharing and togetherness. Enjoy a huge spread of popular traditional Filipino food served on a long table laid out on banana leaves. It’s the perfect time indulge in hearty flavours and just as wholesome conversations with family, friends, colleagues and community. Tickets are available for the 6pm and 8pm all four nights, but book now – spots are limited!

2. Ascend by Legs On The Wall

After enjoying a delicious dinner at the Boodle Fight, get swept up in the thrill of 'Ascend' by Legs On The Wall – a breathtaking aerial show where four daring performers soar, twist, and dance high above, suspended from the dramatic sandstone pillars of 8 Parramatta Square. It's an unforgettable spectacle you won't want to miss! The gravity-defying show runs nightly at 6pm, 7:30pm, and 9pm during the festival. For the ultimate view of all the action, escape to a Mediterranean oasis at the Terrazza Aperol in the forecourt of Town Hall – it’s the perfect place to soak up the fun!

3. Ngurra Gunya Stage

Next, follow the beats and crowds towards the Ngurra Gunya stage at Parramatta Town Hall for a diverse lineup of artists and bands. This is the stage to find your new favourite artist, with an electric line-up promising something for everyone. Chill with Drifting Clouds from north-east Arnhem Land, experience the high-energy beats of Colin Hennerz, vibe to Music in Exile’s takeover with VV Pete, and dance along to international exports like Flowerstream (China/NZ), WAGBT (USA), LVDF (UK), and managona (Taiwan).

4. Beatdisc Lane

Make your way through Parramatta Square and make a left through to where the energy is amped up to the max. To celebrate their 30th anniversary, local legends Beatdisc Records have curated an incredible lineup of independent music across all four nights. With headline performances from Party Dozen and The Hard Ons, late trading every night and historic Beatdisc projections from instore gigs, this is the place to celebrate the best of Western Sydney.

5. Summer Kim

Look up from Beatdisc Lane to catch Artist Haein Kim’s 4m-tall inflatable artwork Summer Kim. Move aside Big Banana and Big Prawn - Parramatta’s very own ‘big thing’ represents the heart of Western Sydney, and a more inclusive representation of what it means to be ‘Aussie’. We recommend basking in her glory on the grass of St John’s Lawn with a dessert from Koi Dessert Bar.

6. Leigh Memorial Car Park

Head down Church Street and make a right into Macquarie Street. Just outside the Parramatta Square Light Rail is where you will be transported to the Wild West. Think wine barrels, haybales, smoky slow-cooked BBQ and Westerns projected on the wall. While the décor and eats are old-school, the beats shift every night, from metal and hardcore to alt-country, indie and punk.

7. 211 Church

Slow down the pace and make a stop at 211 Church for a hidden world inspired by the French Quarter. Slip behind the velvet curtain and enter a canopy of fairy lights and the sultry sounds of jazz and ambient music to set the scene. Sip on an Aperol Spritz or indulge in Dutch Stroopwafel for a sweet treat.

8. George Street

The party’s still pumping. Pull up to George Street and catch a line-up stacked with Western Sydney’s finest hip hop, RnB and rap. From Thursday’s Africultures beats bringing big rhythm and bold energy, to Triple J’s Women of Western Sydney throwing down with some of the city’s most powerful voices, and Bodega Collective’s Pass the Mic finale - a rap showdown with $25K on the line - George Street is bringing unmatched energy.

And if you’re hungry for something wild, NYC’s own Rahim “Ockyway” Mohammad is bringing his viral sandwich game to the Lanes. With 7.9 million fans and a “never do it the regular way” motto, his over-the-top deli creations are part meal, part moment.

Recharge and refresh at the Hydralyte Hydration Station. Wherever you find live music at Parramatta Lanes you’ll find your flavour – thanks to our official Hydration Partner Hydralyte*.

*Always read the label and follow the directions for use.

9. Mystic Rising at Civic Arcade

Mystic Rising is your chill zone in the middle of the George Street buzz. Step off the dancefloor and into a whole new vibe where cosmic calm meets creative chaos. Meet Mremlyn, the AI tarot reader that’s part oracle, part art. Just place your finger on the sensor and let your heartbeat shuffle the digital deck. Your future? It’s literally in your hands. Sip on soul-soothing Sophron Notes tea, get a custom poem from our resident poet (yes, written just for you), and drop into a sound bath session with A Sacred Pulse by the queer-led Kaleidoscope Collective. It’s all about slowing down and tuning in. Come for the party, stay for the magic.

10. Eat Street Car Park

This year, we’re going all in. We’re taking over the entire multi-level Eat Street Car Park and turning it into a full-blown sensory playground. Think viral eats, high-energy beats, glow-in-the-dark treats, and art that hits different.

Here’s what’s going down across the levels:

Ground Level
Kick things off with Nocturnal Rhythms of Parramatta** by James Brown, a digital artwork that captures the city’s heartbeat after dark. Then grab an Optus Disco Buggy and ride it up to the party.
Level 1
Step into the Black Light Dessert Lab by Motti & Smith. It’s UV-lit and sugar-fuelled immersive experience.
Level 2
Get your groove on with Saddle Club Line Dancing, Cheff Mkt DJs, and the Optus Silent Disco. Fuel up with Nepalese street food, May’s Malaysian, and James & the Chocolate Berry.
Level 3
Art goes immersive. Sammi by Sammi watches you while you watch it. The Darkness Between the Stars** by Serwah Attafuah brings Afrofuturist dreamscapes to life. And Parramatta Artist Studios Audrey Newton’s I Wish I Could Tell You So Much More, But I Can’t blends sculpture and surrealism with resin-preserved roses.
Rooftop Vibes
Under the stars, surrounded by the city skyline is where the viral TikTok eats meet big beats. It’s the ultimate top-level hangout.

**James Brown and Serwah Attafuah’s artworks are proudly supported by Sharp Australia.