A Gig Space, Roller Rink and Openair Cinema Are All Popping Up As Part of Parramatta Nights

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, laneways, car parks and outdoor city spaces have taken on new lives as event organisers, restaurant owners and city councils look to these outdoor areas in response to restrictions on indoor venues. In Melbourne, the City of Melbourne has been running an outdoor dining program and a CBD carpark is being used as a cinema. In Sydney, the St. Mary's Cathedral forecourt has been reinvented as a temporary gig space, a northern beaches laneway was transformed into a beer garden and Sydney Opera House's forecourt is set to become a dance and workout space.

Parramatta is no stranger to these kinds of outdoor transformations, with annual events series like Parramatta Lanes and Parramasala taking over its streets each year. The latest is Parramatta Nights, a three-week event program that's popping up in Parramatta Square, Prince Alfred Square and the City Centre Car Park rooftop with music, movies, a roller skating rink and carnival rides.

Parramatta Nights was originally scheduled for January, but was postponed due to the northern beaches and Berala COVID-19 outbreaks that occurred in late 2020 and early 2021. Following the postponement, the series will now run between Thursday, March 25 and Sunday, April 18.

Kicking things off is The Rooftop Hangout, a four-night music series on the City Centre Car Park rooftop from Thursday, March 25 to Sunday, March 28. The lineup is overflowing with talent across the four nights, with the likes of Briggs, The Chats and Ruby Fields taking to the stage. If the music wasn't a big enough drawcard, there will be food on hand from fried chicken faves Butter, as well as a rooftop bar.

An openair cinema will be set up in Prince Alfred Square from Thursday, April 1 through to Sunday, April 18. The cinema will be showing cult Bollywood classics and family favourites including The Greatest Showman, The Karate Kid and a Grease sing-a-long. Next to the cinema in Prince Alfred Square will be a roller skating rink and a ferris wheel.

If you're looking for a more relaxed musical experience, head to Parramatta Square where you'll find free jazz nights every Thursday–Sunday between March 25—April 11.

You can find the full program and go into the draw to win free tickets to the Rooftop Hangout and openair cinema at Discover Parramatta's website.

Parramatta Nights will run across Parramatta Square, Prince Alfred Square and City Centre Car Park rooftop between Thursday, March 25 and Sunday, April 18.