New Annual’s Packed Program of Free Events, 27th September to 6th October 2024

A nine-metre-tall swing, reimagining the classic playground favourite on a grand scale, is set to be a standout feature at this year’s award-winning New Annual festival. This family-friendly event, held from 27 September to 6 October, will bring a host of free activities to Newcastle, with the swing installation taking pride of place opposite the Civic Theatre.

The SWING installation offers participants the chance to become part of a giant public art piece, soaring high above Wheeler Place during the festival’s closing weekend. This marks another exciting addition to City of Newcastle’s flagship cultural event.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes highlighted how this wheelchair-accessible activity is just one of many ways New Annual caters to the entire community, showcasing the city’s vibrant arts and culture scene.

“New Annual has become a catalyst for Newcastle’s cultural events sector, placing it alongside leading national events and solidifying Newcastle’s reputation as a creative city where contemporary art and culture thrive,” Cr Nelmes said.

“One of the key aims of the program is to offer a blend of free and low-cost, family-friendly events, ensuring everyone in our community can experience the magic of New Annual.

“The 2024 festival also aims to amplify multicultural voices and creativity from our culturally and linguistically diverse communities, fostering a sense of belonging and community involvement.

“From the nostalgic swing in Wheeler Place to the rich cultural diversity showcased at our Global Gathering event in Museum Park, New Annual promises an unmissable, interactive experience.”

Last year’s Global Gathering event drew nearly 5000 attendees, and it’s set to return on 5 October with a vibrant celebration of diverse traditions, food, art, and cultural expressions in Museum Park. Supported by a Multicultural NSW Festival and Event grant, this free event will feature cooking demonstrations, interactive kids’ workshops, and a wide array of musical and dance performances. Highlights include a colourful lion dance by Jin Woo Koon, belly dancing, African drum and dance displays, a fire show, and DJ sets.

The evening will culminate with a performance by world music favourites Ghana Road Show, blending thrilling circus acts with traditional African dance and rhythmic drum beats. DJ Lady Chika will provide freshly curated tunes, while Worlds Collide offers a fusion of seven cultures, combining hip hop rhymes, melodic hooks, languages, and genres into a powerful, authentic experience.

Culture remains at the core of this year’s New Annual, with the expansive program featuring MEGAN COPE: Ngumpi Kinyingarra Oyster House at Honeysuckle Marina. Proudly presented by Newcastle Art Gallery and supported by the University of Newcastle, Create NSW, and Thermidor, this custom-built temporary space will host a series of free talks, hands-on workshops, and performances. Highlights include a professional oyster shucking competition and the daily Scrub Club, celebrating local oysters and the ongoing research of internationally acclaimed Quandamooka artist Megan Cope.

Gomeroi hip-hop artist and Triple J favourite Kobie Dee will bring the Marina to life after dark, headlining the first of two Friday Night Sounds events on 27 September, supported by proud Aboriginal man Maanyung. The following Friday, 4 October, local DJ Jun Wan will keep the party going with his genre-bending sets.

New Annual, running from 27 September to 6 October, offers a vibrant mix of immersive dance, music, circus, visual art, and theatre. The festival will kick off with a free, family-friendly First Night street party around City Hall, supported by a grant from Transport for NSW.

City of Newcastle’s flagship event was recently honoured at the Local Government Week Awards, where New Annual won the prestigious Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Award.

For full program details, visit www.newannual.com.