Kings Cross Festival 2012

How do you solve a problem like Kings Cross? Well, that answer's clearly complicated, but there's one (very Sydney) good first step against which no-one can argue: have a festival.
Rima Sabina Aouf
Published on October 31, 2012

Overview

How do you solve a problem like Kings Cross? Well, that answer's clearly complicated, but there's one (very Sydney) good first step against which no-one can argue: have a festival.

The Potts Point Partnership, with funding from state and local government, has announced plans for the inaugural Kings Cross Festival. It’s a big community that encompasses many visitors as well as residents of several intersecting suburbs, so it deserves a big community festival, to be held over five days from November 21-25.

It’s a relaxed, spread-out sort of program that encourages you to spend a whole day in the district, your way. Special offers will be available in Kings Cross notable bars and restaurants — including Gastro Park, Barrio Chino, and Chez Dee — so you won't run out of fuel.

The festival will be celebrating the arts in a big way, including with an Art Walk (Thursday evening/Saturday afternoon) led by Alaska Projects' Sebastian Goldspink that takes in the area's galleries, pop-ups, and artistic landmarks. Meanwhile, the natural pairing of 'Writers & Whisky' will see local writers chatting about their work at the Dandelion Bar.

Among the more unique events are Gospel Sunday, which highlights the gospel music in local churches; the Seaside Family Picnic, held at Sydney's cutest marina, Beare Park; and Monica Goes to Rehab, a tribute to divas and drug use with the surprisingly rude ex-Playschool host Monica Trapaga.

Under its festival director, iconoclastic Sydney Olympic Ceremonies co-creative director Ignatius Jones, the festival has an angle on the Kings Cross 'problem': embracing the area's contradiction. It celebrates a unique part of town that has for decades welcomed the creative, the genteel, and the deviant to sit "elbow to elbow without judgment".

Tap and select Add to Home Screen to access Concrete Playground easily next time. x