Thirroul has reason to celebrate, with an announcement that a new street festival will bring live music, family fun and an influx of visitors to King Street on November 29-30.
“The Minns Labor Government has given Wollongong City Council $350,000 over the next three years for the Open Street festivals,” Heathcote MP Maryanne Stuart said on Friday.
“I'm excited because it will bring the community out. It will bring the community together. So King Street will be closed, there'll be music, there'll be tables and chairs, businesses here will be open, different themes throughout, like a surfing theme…
“We already have a lot of people that come from out of town to this particular area because of its beauty. This will enhance that again, and so it's going to make the community and the streets of Thirroul more vibrant, more community, more excitement, and a whole lot of fun.
“And who doesn't like a good party?”
Having seen how much the community enjoyed the Port Kembla Open Street Festival in October last year, Lord Mayor Tania Brown is enthusiastic about a chance to spread the fun across the city.
“I've had a policy of wanting more events out in the suburbs,” she said. “We moved Comic Gong out to Dapto at Ribbonwood. We've had one of these festivals at Port Kembla. So I was really pleased that we're able to find the right location and a group to help us run it here in Thirroul.”
In putting on the event, Lord Mayor is glad to have the support of Thirroul Arts and Entertainment District, a new not-for-profit group founded by local businesses. Its members – who include Anita's Theatre, Beaches, Franks Wild Years, Thirroul Music Festival and Blackbird Cafe – aim to promote Thirroul as a hotspot for arts, culture and entertainment.
“I think it's important to have the locals involved," Cr Brown said. "They know what their community wants. And with the Thirroul Arts and Entertainment District being involved, you're able to hear first-hand what the community wants.
“They're working for their community, so they want it to succeed; we want it to succeed. So I think it just works better when you do these things hand in hand with the local business community.
“It's over two days here on King Street… there'll be lots of food stalls and entertainment, and you’ll want to get out and be part of the fun.”
The Open Street Festival is partnership between the NSW Government, Wollongong City Council and Thirroul Uptown Collective.
As a local collective, Thirroul Arts and Entertainment District received state funding in July as part of the government’s Uptown program, which provides a boost for night-time districts and helps businesses come together to promote their area.
It’s the first time the Illawarra has been part of this program and other Wollongong recipients included Port Kembla Precinct, Bulli’s Black Diamond District, Globe Lane, Keira Collective and the Lower Crown Quarter.
