MACKSVILLE’S riverside precinct will once again host the sounds of locally produced live music when the extremely popular Open Streets Festival opens on 14 February.
In 2024, the area around Princess and Riverside streets came alive when crowds of around 3,000 celebrated the Nambucca Valley’s first ever Open Streets Festival.
The event was almost entirely run by local young people and was a product of that year’s Youth Speak Project.
Organisers say they have secured funding for three years and this year’s festival will offer even more excitement, culinary choices, concerts and activities for young and old.
“This free, all-ages festival is the first of three funded by the NSW Government’s Open Streets Program, led by Transport for NSW, in association with Nambucca Valley Council,” event manager Joel Grimson told News Of The Area.
“Buzzing with food, music, markets, activities, and more, Open Streets promises fun for everyone, whether you’re six or 106,” he said.
Wallace Lane and River Street will again close for the day to play host to a wide variety of events and activities under this year’s theme of “Rivers meet the Sea”.
Festival-goers will be invited to create impromptu wearable art for the parade, decorate the street with sidewalk chalk, climb an eight-metre rock wall, play with giant bubbles, get their faces and bodies painted, browse the markets, join in a photography or musical workshop or just have fun in the circus play space.
While local food businesses will be serving their special “Open Streets” menus, organisers say music is the main fare and they promise a varied and exciting line-up of youth and seasoned pros.
Some of the well-known local acts include Mahli Grant, Emily Taylor, Violette Hyland, Mainly Hues, Rhetorical? and Temperate.
Funkatu, Hella Steezy, the Mitch Burgess Trio as well as folk singer Billie-Jo Porter, retro soul group Mastersonics Collective and Central Coast rockers Lemon Joe, are some of the big names to appear on multiple street stages over the course of the afternoon and evening.
The festival’s finale will feature a fireworks display from the banks of the Nambucca River, flowing on from a community street parade and Samba Soul stage show.
Open Streets is funded by Nambucca Valley Council and Transport NSW with the support of many local businesses. It will run from 2pm to 8pm, 14 February.
By Ned COWIE
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