Celebrating Australia Day in Parramatta
11 Jan 2016
From hot-air balloons to the Hottest 100 Party, Parramatta's Australia Day celebrations in Parramatta Park are set to be the biggest and best yet, with more than 15 hours of non-stop entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.
Kicking off at 6am with the annual Aerial hot air balloon display, the celebrations will showcase a host of new attractions including the CARnivale vintage car display, the Hottest 100 Party in honour of triple j's annual countdown, The Big BBQ along with endless family-fun, entertainment, rides, craft workshops, live performances and a spectacular 9pm fireworks finale.
"Australia Day is the biggest day on our city's events calendar and we have a huge line-up on offer this year. We're thrilled to be welcoming the famous CARnivale to Parramatta for the first time, as more than 500 vintage cars go on display," Lord Mayor of Parramatta Cr Paul Garrard said.
X-Factor finalists Jess + Matt, soul singer Nathaniel, country music legend Troy Cassar-Daley, pop favourite Christine Anu, super band Antipodean Rock Collective and folk band Perch Creek headline the evening's main stage concert at The Crescent, which will be hosted by singer and performer Prinnie Stevens. Nickelodeon stars Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants will feature at the Kids Crescent throughout the day.
"Parramatta always puts on an amazing show and we're really excited to perform here for the very first time. We'll be playing songs from our new album, Nothing Matters and look forward to playing to a huge crowd at Parramatta Park this Australia Day," Jess Dunbar (of Jess + Matt) said.
Cr Garrard said it was great to see such a strong selection of national musical talent being showcased in Parramatta.
"Our day-long program of events makes Parramatta the perfect destination to celebrate Australia Day with family and friends," he said.
Parramatta Park Trust Executive Director Suellen Fitzgerald said the Trust was delighted to once again host the celebrations at Parramatta Park, a World Heritage listed venue.
"Parramatta Park is the perfect setting for world-class events. It is the historic heart of a growing urban city and provides the best place for the community to come together and celebrate what it means to be Australian," Ms Fitzgerald said.
Council's Australia Day Local Awards and Citizenship Ceremony to be held at Old Government House Marquee at 10.30am will see 30 residents receive Australian citizenship.
"Every year we welcome new citizens as part of our Australia Day citizenship ceremony and we're delighted they've chosen to call Parramatta their home," Cr Garrard said.
The full-day program of events and activities on Australia Day includes:
Aerial, 6am – 11am
Australia Day in Parramatta will take-off with Sydney's biggest hot air balloon display; tasty treats by a great selection of food stalls; live entertainment by Perch Creek, Gramaphone Man and roving performances from Sids Circus School and Circus Solarus; rides and sideshow games including bungee trampoline, laughing clowns and much more. Channel 9's Today Show will broadcast live with special guest appearances.
The Big BBQ, 11am – 7.30pm
The biggest BBQ Parramatta has ever seen! Cheer on the cooks at The Big BBQ Battle hosted by the Australasian BBQ Alliance; enjoy smoked, grilled and basted delights from Australian and International barbecue pitmasters, and browse a huge selection of brand new smokers and BBQs.
CARnivale, 11.30am – 5.30pm
The iconic CARnivale, which has been one of the longest running feature events in Sydney's Australia Day celebrations, comes to Parramatta for the first time. More than 500 vintage cars will be on display to delight car lovers, motoring enthusiasts and families alike. Enjoy wonderful heritage tours of the UNESCO World Heritage site, Old Government House from 10.30am to 3pm (entry by gold coin donation).
Hottest 100 Party, 12pm – 8pm
In honour of triple j's annual countdown, the Hottest 100 Party will feature live bands and DJ sets including The Jungle Giants, Polish Club and I Know Leopard, a licenced outdoor bar and a mini amusement park for adults.
The Crescent, 12pm – 9pm
A wonderland of all things fun and entertaining at the Kids Crescent stage until 6pm. Live on-stage performances of 'Stories from Bikini Bottom' and 'Dora's Ballet Adventures' plus meet and greets with Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star and Dora the Explorer & Friends. Free kids' workshops, plenty of rides and foods stalls and live entertainment including Perch Creek and Touched by Olivia.
The main stage concert from 4pm-9pm will be hosted by MC Prinnie Stevens and includes live performances by X-Factor finalists Jess + Matt, Nathaniel, Troy Cassar-Daley, Christine Anu and D.Minor and super band Antipodean Rock Collective (ARC) featuring members of Even, Spiderbait, Jet and You Am I, who will be playing a huge set of Aussie rock anthems.
The day will culminate with a spectacular fireworks display at 9pm.
For further details of Council's Australia Day program of events and main stage concert line-up visit www.ausdayparramatta.com.au
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Additionally, from Nickelodeon Australia's official events website:
DORA'S BALLET ADVENTURES- THE CRESCENT, PARRAMATTA, NSW
26 January 2016
STARTING AT 12:45
AT THE CRESCENT, CORNER PITT AND MACQUARIE STREET, PARRAMATTA, NSW
The world's most beloved Latina heroine trades in her sneakers for ballet slippers in Dora the Explorer's Dora's Ballet Adventure! In "Dora's Ballet Adventure," Dora's dance class is holding a big ballet recital for all their family and friends. Dora is opening the show and can't wait for everyone to see her dance. She just needs her ballet slippers, but the Delivery Duck accidentally delivers scuba flippers instead! Setting off to find the ballet slippers before the show begins, it's a dance-filled adventure as Dora and Boots play "follow-the-bunny" through Bunny Hop Hill, dance in the animal hoedown at Benny's barn and rush back aboard the dancing train in time for everyone to perform in the recital.
Schedule
Live Shows at 12:45pm and 2:05pm
Meet and greets at 3:15pm and 4:15pm
STORIES FROM BIKINI BOTTOM - THE CRESCENT, PARRAMATTA, NSW
26 January 2016
STARTING AT 13:25
AT THE CRESCENT, PITT STREET, PARRAMATTA, NSW, AUSTRALIA
SpongeBob SquarePants is a much-loved sea sponge who resides in a big pineapple house under the sea, in a place called Bikini Bottom. SpongeBob is a character who is always optimistic. Although he often finds himself in some sort of predicament, he can't help but look on the bright side, and his positive energy helps us to see the humour in life. Stories From Bikini Bottom, as told by Patchy the Pirate, is a collection of SpongeBob SquarePants' favourite underwater adventures. The audience are encouraged to join in the nautical nonsense as SpongeBob tries to teach Plankton all about fun, as well as the adventures about one of the 'Best Days Ever' from Bikini Bottom.
Schedule
Live Stage Show at 1:25pm
Meet and greets from 2:45-3:15pm and 3:45-4:15pm
In addition to Nickelodeon's Australia Day events in Parramatta, Nick will be holding additional Australia Day events in Menai and Kogarah in New South Wales!
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be visiting Carss Bush Park, Kogarah, New South Wales from 12:25pm, and fans will be able to meet and greet Dora the Explorer at Blaxland Oval, Old Illawarra Road, Menai, NSW from 4:45pm!
Additional source: Sydney Morning Herald.
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