Spring has sprung, the sun is shining, birds are chirping, and Oxford Street is preparing for a three day, FREE party full of art, drag, music and performance.
From Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October, more than 40 hours of free creative programming will take over Oxford Street and surrounding areas as part of the City of Sydney’s Art & About program.
There’ll be performances in the streets, art installations, markets, workshops and plenty of opportunities to stop and have a look around.
What to expect
Things kick off on a Friday night, when Bourke Street will close to traffic from 5pm to 10pm.
Instead, the street will be filled with DJs, drag, dance performances and roving entertainment.
Across the rest of the weekend, the program includes cabaret, comedy, pop-up performances, interactive artworks and creative workshops.
Taylor Square will also get a 24-hour light installation, while banner galleries around the precinct will explore Oxford Street’s history and creative culture.
Saturday morning will bring the farmers market, with fresh produce, flowers, artisan goods, coffee, food and local retail alongside the rest of the weekend’s programming.
Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore AO said the weekend is about encouraging people to slow down, explore the area and discover the stories that have shaped it.
“Oxford Street has long been a place where culture, creativity and community come together,” Moore said.
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The event forms part of the City of Sydney’s wider Oxford Street renewal program, which includes streetscape upgrades, cultural funding and support for development that respects the precinct’s heritage.
With the refreshed 56–122 Oxford Street buildings and the increasingly lively Foley Street nearby, the council says the area is already entering a new chapter.
Oxford Street, but make it art
For generations, Oxford Street has been a place where queer culture, nightlife, creativity and community collide.
Now Art & About is bringing even more of that energy into the streets.
Whether you’re there for the drag, the art, the markets, the performances or simply an excuse to spend a weekend wandering Oxford Street, there’s plenty to discover.
And best of all? It’s free.
The Oxford Street Art & About weekend runs 23–25 October.
For more information, visit City of Sydney.
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