Last year, Newtown Festival brought thousands to the streets in celebration of the inner west's weird and wonderful culture. The festival returns to Camperdown Memorial Rest Park for its 39th year on Sunday, November 12 with the theme Home is Where the Heart is.
This year, the expected entry donation will be $5, which will go directly to social change leaders, Newtown Neighbourhood Centre. You're free to donate more, of course — if you hand over a tenner, you'll get a free Newtown Festival water bottle. There'll be food stalls, markets, art — many, many dogs — and performers, including 16 local music acts picked by Aussie music legend and Newtown local Sarah Blasko, as well as La Toosh Tram & Stage's 'old-world' circus performers. Belt tunes to your heart's content with Heaps Gay's Closet Karaoke, and watch the best doggos win awards in the doggie dash and celebrity look-alike contest.
A collective of Newtown's incredible food offerings under the name Newtown Locals will nourish you with an Australian barbecue for the day, including Bloodwood, Hartsyard, Fleetwood Macchiato. N2 Gelato, Young Henrys, Stinking Bishops and Mary's among numerous others.
The Writer's Tent in partnership with Better Read Than Dead returns, hosting talks and seminars from a broad selection of Australian writers, including the team from The Betoota Advocate, Felicity Castagna and Jaclyn Moriarty. You'll also be able to take part in a Cornersmith pickling workshop.