With a wave of street party funding, Keira Lane will magically transform

Purple splotches of squashed lilli pillis underfoot, graffiti of professional and amateur varieties on walls, the background hum of restaurant refrigeration ... like all Wollongong backstreets, Keira Lane is a fairly humble affair most days.

But it's about to have its Cinderella moment. Dressed up in bunting and the promise of a good time, Keira Lane will be going to the ball (but crowds need to be heading home by 9pm).

Thanks to a slice of a $17 million state government cash splash and Wollongong City Council's growing appetite of presenting street-based events, Keira Laneway Live will bring a whole feast of vitality and glamour to the city on Sunday, March 22 from midday, with batches of music and food provided, fittingly, by Keira St restaurants that back on to the lane.

Food will match music in myriad forms, including Japanese, Italian, Mexican, Greek, Balinese in that no-fuss but inspiring way by which multiculturalism unfurls itself every day in the Illawarra.

Spruiking the festivities, Wollongong MP Paul Scully and Lord Mayor Tania Brown announced their intention to attend. Will they be dancing? "Absolutely," said our civic leader. "I can't commit to a dance – nobody wants to see that!" said the state representative.

Council event staff have cut their teeth in similar on-street bashes in Thirroul and Port Kembla recently and promise free family fun in the alfresco hang-out.

''The government has an agenda to bring back fun,'' said Mr Scully, adding there had been a large increase in the number of people using reforms to planning laws for such events. "This is another addition where we get some permanent infrastructure that allows temporary activation for places such as this on a regular basis.

"Even on a temporary basis, it expands the capacity of a restaurant or hospital venue. That's not only good for the business, it's good for jobs and the community – for people to get out and meet each other in a different circumstance."

Mr Scully hinted at a further expansion on a regular basis of similar occurrences.

"I'm hoping that over time, working with business owners, working with some of our creative types – musicians, local bands – or maybe this could be for an art display," he said.

Cr Brown said the successful execution of the Port Kembla event particularly had whetted the community's appetite.

"That was fantastic to see that main street, the big stage, lots of people coming out and enjoying it, the businesses getting a flow-on benefit," she said. "Here, what you'll see is that people will come and experience this who may never have been to these restaurants, and then they come back.

"We're bringing fun back into the city, and Wollongong's here for fun."

Bands, DJs and dance and drumming displays will liven up crowds after a Welcome to Country from Aunty Sharralyn Robinson at noon, culminating with an hour of music from The Strides, whose reggae-led fusion of roots, dancehall and dub beats is a known crowdpleaser in a festival setting.

Food outlets with fares on sale will include Wollongong perennial Amigos, Lupa, Gelato Man, RUKI Robatayaki Bar & Grill, The Living Room, Balinese Spice Magic, Bull & Bear, Casa Lu and Crois, with Smith St brewery The Dusty Lizard selling an array of brews and beverages.

The event will occur between Smith and Victoria streets. Further details from council's events page.