The City of Sydney is throwing a major (and free) series of celebrations on Gadigal Land for NAIDOC Week this year, with the city centre set to come alive with incredible dance performances, food, live music, storytelling, a games space and traditional workshop. It's set to be unlike anything seen in the city for the last two-and-a-bit years.
NAIDOC in the City will be going down on Saturday, July 9 from 10am to 3pm in Hyde Park North. It opens with a Welcome to Country in the Dangurra Ring, a cultural and spiritual dance space that will invite people to connect to and heal through a continual connection to the country. First Nations storytellers and musicians will be playing in the Bayumi Hub all day, teaching people about ancient songlines and their enduring survival, while over at the street theatre, named Wunyawuri Way (which translates to ‘to make believe, do in jest’), people of all ages can watch new and emerging First Nations talent performing contemporary theatre works, storytelling and poetry.
Kids and families will find specific entertainment in The Gunyahs, a dedicated space for little ones filled with toys and activities designed to delight the smallest folk in your life, while everyone regardless of age can head over to the BlaQ Bilarra Games Space. The very first First Nations games space ever seen at NAIDOC in the city, Bilarra (which translates to spear), will be inviting everyone to experience interactive traditional games from a diverse range of First Nations communities, while visitors can also expect to participate in stargazing workshops at the Burra Huts, engage in traditional weaving, music, cooking and technology workshops at the Bangwara Huts, and peruse a variety of First Nations products, art and delicacies at the Fig Tree Markets that will be set up throughout the park.
Entry to all of these events is free, but if you want to learn more about this big day out, you can check it all out on the City of Sydney’s website.
