North Sydney Festival

Make the most of your visit to the North Sydney Festival with an exciting lineup of activities and performances! Here’s what you need to know:

Main stage schedule:

Join us for a fantastic day of live music and entertainment on the main stage:

• 11am – Event begins, Welcome to Country
  The festival kicks off with a Welcome to Country ceremony.
• 11.30am – Sarah McLeod
  Presented by Small Fry Rock (@smallfryrock), Sarah McLeod will bring her energetic performance to the stage.
• 12.30pm – Ben Lee
  Enjoy a set by Ben Lee, also presented by Small Fry Rock, featuring his signature sound and family-friendly hits.
• 1.15pm to 2pm – Pop-Up Performances
  Experience performances by Shaun Parker & Co.
• 2pm to 5pm
  Continue enjoying a diverse range of performances presented by Mary’s.

Art installation by Studio A artist Thom Roberts

Experience the vibrant art installation by Studio A artist Thom Roberts, covering the steps of Brett Whiteley Place. Inspired by his rides on the new Sydney Metro, Thom’s artwork reflects his unique vision of trains as people and people as trains. This installation offers an imaginative and immersive art experience for all ages.

Upcycled fabric and paper flowers with Sydney Textiles and Primrose Paper Arts

Join Textiles Sydney and Primrose Paper Arts to transform fabric and paper off-cuts into wearable flowers. This hands-on workshop is a great way to create beautiful, eco-friendly art pieces from recycled materials. Textiles Sydney and Primrose Paper Arts are part of the vibrant arts community at Primrose Park Arts & Crafts Centre in Cremorne.

Brush turkey sculptures with Olivia Arnold

Discover the world of brush turkeys with artist Olivia Arnold and local high school students. Learn about these fascinating birds and create personalized paper feathers to add to a flock of brush turkeys displayed across North Sydney. Olivia Arnold is a current Artist in Residence at Primrose Park Artists’ Studios in Cremorne.

Bush food tour

Explore local bush food through an interactive display with Koori Kinnections where you can smell, touch, and taste native ingredients. Facilitators will discuss traditional bush foods and provide samples to taste.

Koori Kinnections will also be giving away native Warrigal Greens seeds – known as Australia's version of spinach, popularised by MasterChef – for your home garden.

Join a Yarn session titled "Keep the Fire Burning," featuring an "Ask Me Anything" Q&A session facilitated by Jessica Sinnott. Jess is a Yuin and Wailwan woman, Founder/Managing Director of Koori Kinnections, and a knowledgeable Aboriginal Cultural Educator.

Market stalls

Discover a vibrant marketplace at the North Sydney Festival, featuring talented artisans who blend creativity with sustainability. Support these passionate makers and find something truly special.

• Robyn Morris Atelier (@robynmorris_atelier) - a celebration of the earthy and handmade wild-foraged flower posies, whimsical fairy doors, raw hemp crochet bags and baskets, and unique wild-foraged basketry items. 

• Clay Nerd (@neridapatton) - small-batch functional ceramics inspired by the Australian landscape. Each piece is lovingly handcrafted by Nerida in her home studio on Cammeraygal Country. 

• Upcycled Glassware (@upcycled.glassware) - the motivation behind Upcycled Glassware is to reduce landfill waste by transforming discarded bottles into functional art pieces like vases, sprouters, and tumblers. Each piece is crafted in our Botany studio using small-batch methods, aligning with our mission to promote sustainable living and mindful consumption. 

• Land & by Sea Studio (@landandbyseastudio) - founded by Trish Garcia, is a multidisciplinary art studio inspired by the landscapes of Sydney and the Philippines. Trish’s vibrant, playful work captures the essence of nature, travel, and summer adventures. All original art, including hand-crafted frames and illustrations, is created by hand and printed in small, on-demand runs.

• Productive by You (@productivebyyou) - designs and packs modern DIY Embroidery Kits and handcraft crochet plushies, keyrings, and hats. Their kits feature patterns that appeal to the younger generation, helping to revive a fading skill. 

• Hilda (@hildaonline) - luxurious batik fashion, accessories, and homewares made from batik prints and materials sourced from Ghana. The collection includes handmade bags, baskets, and a vegan skincare range featuring shea butter and soap. 

• Designed by Kate (@designedbykatesydney) - Kate's background in theatre design taught her to craft whimsical creations from found materials, each with its own story. Kate repurposes rescued materials like upcycled leather, vintage prints, train moquette, and old paintings into unique, wearable bags that are both functional and artistic. 

• Banish (@banish.au) - recycled plastic range, including pens, carabiners, mini pots etc. and will have information about their experiences and a BRAD corporate recycle box.