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After a good few years in the works (and a fair dose of controversy), Powerhouse Parramatta is officially opening its doors later this spring – and it’s kicking things off with a 23-day festival packed with 179 events. Running from November 7 to 29, the Opening Festival will take over the new museum across four weekends, with a stacked program covering everything from space and science to First Nations culture, design, music, film and food. Overwhelmed? Here are nine things worth knowing.
RELATED READ: These are the opening exhibitions for Powerhouse Parramatta
1. The museum will stay open late
From opening day on November 7 onwards, Powerhouse Parramatta will be open seven days a week – with extended hours during the festival. From Thursday to Sunday, it’ll stay open until 9pm, giving you heaps of time to check out the exhibitions, catch a performance or talk, and stick around Parramatta for dinner afterwards. From Monday to Wednesday, it’ll be open from 10am to 5pm.
2. First Nations artists are getting a major spotlight
The festival will be officially opened by Jannawi Dance Clan, who will welcome audiences to Country through dance, song and storytelling. There’s also Eseli's Story, a performance from 44 male dancers and eight singers and musicians from Badu Island, inspired by childhood memories of WWII fighter planes taking off from Horn Island, plus other nods to Country throughout the space (including the rooftop garden).
3. A NASA astronaut is coming to Parramatta
Yes, really. Charles F. Bolden Jr., veteran astronaut and former administrator of NASA, will be sharing stories from his career in space exploration and reflecting on a lifetime spent looking skyward. Mark your cals for Sunday, November 8 – tickets are $15 for adults and free for kids (it’s worth booking in advance).
4. A lot of it is free
This one is particularly useful to know. Around 65 per cent of the opening festival program is free, and everyone under 16 gets free entry to exhibitions across the board.
5. You can travel there by historic trains and buses
For the opening weekend on November 7 and 8, you can travel there via historic steam trains and vintage buses. Exact details of where and when these old-school options will be travelling are yet to be revealed, but we can confirm that the NSW Railway Band will be performing at Parramatta Station to welcome arriving passengers.
6. One of Australia’s most famous designers is talking design
Australian industrial designer Marc Newson will reflect on four decades of his influential career on Saturday, November 7. Tickets are $15 for adults and free for kids, and there’s a lot more for design obsessives on the line-up, with the festival exploring architecture, technology, fashion, industrial design and more.
7. You can see a brand-new Māori waka
One of the festival’s major cultural projects is the unveiling of Te Waka Whakakotahi – a newly commissioned Māori watercraft created through a collaboration between artists, cultural practitioners and communities. The project will be revealed alongside Pacific weaving mats as part of a performance by Matavai Pacific Cultural Arts and Pacific community groups on the opening Saturday (November 7).
8. There’s a stunning artistic tribute to NSW’s endangered wildlife
The renowned British artist Es Devlin (the visionary behind Lady Gaga’s opera house-style stage at Coachella 2025) will present Come Home Again, a large-scale installation featuring hand-drawn depictions of endangered NSW species. Over 11 nights, the work will be accompanied by live choral performances from Western Sydney groups including River City Voices, Barayagal and Noqu Vanua.
9. You can get very existential about space
The Off Earth program brings together a space architect, artist, engineer and spacesuit developer to explore what it might actually be like to live in space. Meanwhile, acclaimed sci-fi author Ted Chiang will discuss the pleasures and perils of humanity’s pursuit of immortality.
There’s also a dedicated program for families and young people, including weekend activities and a school summit for local Parramatta students.
Powerhouse Parramatta Opening Festival runs from November 7-29. You can learn more and plan your visit over here.
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