Willoughby City Council’s Emerge Festival is back this September, bringing six weeks of arts, culture and community to the local area.
Running from 1 September to 12 October, the festival features more than 50 events across Chatswood and surrounding suburbs, with performances, exhibitions, workshops, cultural celebrations and family activities on offer.
Now in its 28th year, Emerge has grown from its origins as the Willoughby Spring Festival into one of the North Shore’s most popular cultural festivals, bringing together community groups, professional performers and council-led events a wide-ranging program.
“Emerge Festival celebrates who we are as a welcoming, creative and diverse community,” Mayor Tanya Taylor said. “It brings people together and reflects the many cultures and stories that shape our city.”
At the heart of the program is the Chatswood StreetFair on Saturday 6 September – the biggest day of the festival. The Chatswood CBD will come alive with over 150 market stalls, five entertainment stages, family rides, circus fun and a colourful community parade from 2pm.
But the celebrations continue well beyond that, with a packed schedule showcasing everything from music and theatre to visual arts, food and family fun.
From Japanese drumming to local art exhibitions, puppet shows to community theatre, the six-week program highlights the rich cultural life of Willoughby’s suburbs.
After the StreetFair, Chatswood Mall becomes a hub of international celebration with a series of Sunday cultural festivals, each showcasing food, music, performance and community pride.
To see the festival program, visit: emergefestival.com.au