'Sydney Streets' Will Take Over Six Inner-City Neighbourhoods in February, March and April with Free One-Day Celebrations

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Nothing brings out the whole neighbourhood like a street celebration. The road closes as people spill out of their homes, kids run wild as the parents catch up on what's new — it's a special and extremely nostalgic vibe. If you remember that feeling, especially if you live on or near or if you're overdue to visit some of Sydney's beloved inner-city streets, then you should be eagerly awaiting the return of Sydney's equivalent celebration. Some of the city's most prominent roads are being temporarily transformed for Sydney Streets.

The City of Sydney is closing roads to cars and opening them to festivities, allowing and encouraging local businesses to take over the street for a day of community celebrations. Activities involving food, music, live entertainment and more. This will be a significant series of events, so which roads are closing and when? Let's find out together.

Macleay Street — Saturday, February 17

Kicking off the 2024 run, Sydney Streets will head to Potts Point, taking over Macleay Street between Darlinghurst Road and Hughes Street between 11am and 10pm. It's a busy, tree-canopied road and home to some of the finest cafes and bars in the inner east.

We'll update you with more information on the available activities soon, but we can give you an idea of what to expect on the day. Participating venues include NYC-in-the-50s-inspired bar The Roosevelt, which will be taking it outside with a live DJ, a jazz band setting up at Bistro Rex, the Sydney city shopfront of deluxe chocolatiers The Chocolate Box, and boutique fashion label A Date With Mabel.

Anytime Fitness will be challenging you with assault courses for prizes, and you can get into the Mardi Gras spirit with Drag Storytime with Joyce Maynge, a pop-up stage in Fitzroy Gardens with performances from local artists along with acoustic sets in Llankelly Place from Marcus Corowa and more.

Stanley Street — Saturday, February 24

The following week, we head across town to Darlinghurst and Stanley Street, where the Yurong Street to Crown Street section will hold the festivities from 11am to 10pm alongside the extended traffic closure. With the likes of Bar Nina, The Long Goodbye and Stanley's on Stanley participating on the day, that means good times are all but guaranteed.

Sydney Streets will bring Joyce Maynge for more drag storytime to celebrate Mardi Gras, plus cartoonist portraits, an art workshop and face painting for the kids. You'll be celebrating favourites and newcomers of the area alike, like Harry's by Giuls — which will be dishing out pizza and Aperol aplenty. The Colonial has recently arrived, following two shops in Neutral Bay and Balmain, boasting a menu inspired by India's history. There's also the Mongolian Wooden Bar and Grill, Khaoyum TN and Bar Reggio, all open for business.

Glebe Point Road — Saturday, March 9

Two weeks later, the celebrations shift west to Glebe Point Road, specifically the diverse stretch of shopfronts and residences from Parramatta Road to St Johns Road. It's student territory, so packed with culture and vibes from dawn till dusk. The area will be closed to traffic on Saturday, March 9, from 9am to 10pm to let the activities flourish on foot between 11am and 10pm.

The aforementioned vibes stem from the people but also great spots, all of which will come alive for Sydney Streets — spots like tapas bar Despana with an all-day offering of paella, tapas and sangria, free crystals from local shop Mineralism and a food stand from Banh Mi Dee. Enjoy cocktails, live music and Sri Lankan crepes at Kandy by Sri Lankan Bites, pastries and fresh juice from Dispensary 1908, a Sydney Streets return from newcomer cafe Soul Garden, and a mobile coffee and cookie cart plus face painting for the kiddos by local favourite Dirty Red.

Redfern Street — Saturday, March 16

Next up on the list is Redfern Street, the main stretch of road that runs from Regent Street to Chalmers Street. It's a busy road day and night, shuffling commuters and after-dark pedestrians in equal numbers. From 11am to 10pm, many businesses will open doors to the busy foot traffic outside.

When it comes to food and drink, Redfern Street is home to all sorts, and it's all happening for Sydney Streets. From plant-based pub feeds with a live performance at The Sunshine Inn to Thai sweet treats at Sweet Monster. There are also beers aplenty from The Noble Hops, a range of Italian eyewear and hair braiding at Face Furniture, student-written publications and writing activities on offer at Story Factory, flash tattoo sales from Markd Tattoo and an outdoor pinball competition at local favourite Beercade, DJs and paella at Vamonos Paella and painting workshops at Sydney Creative.

Harris Street — Saturday, March 23

The following weekend will bring Sydney Streets to Pyrmont and a small stretch of Harris Street (between Pyrmont Bridge Road and Union Street) for its 11am to 10pm offering to pedestrians. Adjacent to Sydney Harbour, Harris Street is another ideal setting for the series, brimming with culture, activities and Sydney spirit.

Some of the participating businesses for this weekend include a pop-up bar (plus tastings) from the local branch of Porter's Liquor, craft beer and pub feed pros at The Quarryman's Hotel, experts of fitness and flexibility at Sense of Power Pilates, newcomer Miami Bar, a pop-up reading corner in Union Square — and the self-titled 'Masters of Steak' at Element's Bar and Grill will open a pop-up bar of their own.

Crown Street — Saturday, April 6

Further south is a beating heart of activity in Sydney, the beloved Crown Street in Surry Hills. For Sydney Streets, the stretch from Foveaux Street to Cleveland Street will host November's first Saturday of community celebrations. Any Sydneysider is familiar with the offering of this famous road, so with the standout venues colliding with the standout vibes of Sydney Streets from 11am to 10pm, it's set to be quite the Saturday.

The entertainment will come from the likes of roaming circus acts, dancers and bands — while local spots joining the celebrations include Surry Hills Fine Wines, which will offer extensive wine and cocktail tasting alongside music and entertainment; the Surry Hills outpost of the pizzeria Via Napoli will be dishing out pizza and arancini; Tuscan-style hotspot Giuls will open its famous Aperol cart alongside pizza and sandwiches, plus the beloved artisan butchery Ardi's Block to Grill, food stalls from Masala Theory and The Clock (which will also be running a beer garden takeover on Collins Street) and outdoor dining spaces at Bertos Espresso and Royale Specialty.

Sydney Streets will be taking over several roads between Saturday, February 17 and Saturday, April 6. For more information, visit the website.