There’s a brand new month-long festival coming to Surry Hills and it all revolves around play. More than 75 artists and 30 local businesses, community groups and residents will come together throughout April to celebrate the spirit of the Surry Hills community.
Surry Hills @Play is funded by the City of Sydney’s Precinct Activation Grant and will bring diverse activations to the locality, including bike tours with a difference, month-long scavenger hunts where everyone is a winner and a playscape design competition with big prizes.
The month will culminate in a Play Day at Shannon Reserve on Sunday, April 30. There’ll be performances from Redfern Aboriginal dance group Brolga Dance and 1980s fitness throwbacks Retrosweat, a kids makers market and the Best in Surry dog and owner fashion parade. There’s a little something for everyone, not just the kids.
Festival creative producer Susie Rugg says play is an essential part of urban life that unleashes creativity and fosters social connections. “Who said play is just for kids?” says Susie.
Grown ups might be keen on the Surry Stories bike tours that weave through laneways uncovering history and culture. You’ll also get a free bike tune-up and a visit to the ‘pimp your bike’ station.
If art is more your thing, check out Perfect Match, an activation matching 14 local
businesses with contemporary artists. The artists will be be working across a broad range of mediums to add a special touch of playfulness to the shops of Surry Hills.
