Crowds flock to the biggest Parramatta Lanes ever

Parramatta’s CBD has come alive with more than 200,000 people filling the streets to sample the best eats, beats and arts from Western Sydney and beyond at Parramatta Lanes.

The City’s signature festival saw more than 70 street food stalls, more than 180 performers and eight stages across 16 sites in the CBD over four massive nights.

City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Martin Zaiter said Lanes was the perfect showcase of Parramatta’s diversity.

“This year’s Parramatta Lanes showed visitors what our growing City has to offer, impressing crowds with an unmatched line-up of eats, beats and arts,” Cr Zaiter said.

“Our lanes and streets were pumping with people indulging in food from all over the world, enjoying live entertainment and iconic art right in the heart of our City.

“We have set our sights on making Parramatta the leading destination for festivals – and Lanes is proof of our potential to become a premier events destination that is recognised worldwide.”

Direct from Amsterdam, internationally acclaimed DJs Sunset Bros returned to their roots in Parramatta with a special set on Friday night, with other acts including Western Sydney talents R&B singers A.GIRL and Becca Hatch on the Powerhouse Lane stage and rapper B Wise.

One half of Sunset Bros, Glenn Wilson, said after flying in straight from Amsterdam, it was special to play in front of a home crowd.

“It was such an honour to headline the Parramatta Lanes Festival this year. The production and the energy of the crowd was absolutely insane,” Mr Wilson said.

“Growing up in Parramatta, it is amazing to see how far this city has come and we’re excited to see what the future holds.

“A big thank you to the team at the City of Parramatta for hosting such a successful event!”

Prince Alfred Square came alive hosting Pro Wrestling Australia live action entertainment as well as Pup Culture, a dedicated area for cultured pooches with a dog agility course returning after a successful inclusion from 2023.

Vibrant art installations lit up each evening, with people wandering through the streets and lanes to discover artworks such as Lost, an Alice in Wonderland-inspired floral garden, Otto and Anina, a duo of colossal cats and interactive musical Trumpet Flowers.

It caps off a big week for Parramatta Lanes after it was also named the winner of the Best Event Campaign category at the 2024 Western Sydney Tourism Awards on Thursday night (24 October).