Mary's HERE NOW Festival

Overview

When Vivid comes to Sydney, the city comes alive, and this year's festival is bringing even more to Sydney thanks to its inaugural food program. Joining the influx of events on this year's lineup is Mary's HERE NOW festival.

This day-to-night pop-up is a total newcomer to the festival's annual itinerary with a massive celebration of abundance, food, wine, art and tunes. This event has found a home at Macquarie Place Park, the patch of green right outside of Mary's Underground in Circular Quay — showcasing the state's finest hospitality vendors alongside exhilarating artists on Sunday, June 11.

The festival's eats and drinks have been co-curated by P&V Wine and Liquor Merchants' Mike Bennie with renowned Chat Thai and Boon Luck Farm founder Palisa Anderson. Together, they've pulled together a huge lineup of acclaimed chefs and beverage producers who will be on hand cooking up a storm — and sampling their beloved alcoholic and booze-free sips.

A few highlights from the chef lineup include Morgan McGlone (Copains, Sunday, ex-Belles Hot Chicken) Annita Potter (Viand), Shaun Christie David (Colombo, Kabul and Coyoacán Social), Josh Lewis and Astrid McCormack (Brunswick Head's two-hatted restaurant Fleet), Alex Prichard (Icebergs Dining Room and Bar) and Nick Hill (Porcine).

Accompanying them will be the P&V Baller Bar, plus drinks from Wildflower Brewing, Sabi Wabi, Black Snake Distillery, Heaps Normal, Benson & the Mooch, Lily Fields Distilling Co, Ghiddy and Frankly, Wine by Bob.

Whole Beast Butchery

When it comes to the tunes, Sudanese superstar Gordon Koang leads the lineup, with Danté Knows and EGOISM joining him, alongside DJ sets from Eluize, Champs, ChelseyDagger and Reenie.

HERE NOW runs from 3–9pm, and tickets for the 18+ event include entry and a complimentary drink token — and can be purchased online.

If you aren't ready for the night to end early, Mary's Underground will be hosting a post-festival after party with live performances from 9pm.

Gordon Koang

Updated Tuesday, May 23.