The large Coronation Hill is the place to be for families with young kids! Last year there was just a screen here but now its getting its own stage! You’ll be able to sit back and enjoy an exciting program hosted by Sean Murphy, featuring performances by and ‘meet and greets’ with characters from Hotel Transylvania and ABC Kids’ SplashDance. Plus, there’ll be an interactive, high energy show featuring songs from Disney movies with Bethany Fisher’s ‘Kidding Around’.

• 5:50pm – Welcome
• 6:10pm – The Great Gagliardis
• 6:35pm – Hotel Transylvania
• 7:05pm – Splashdance
• 7:40pm – Kid’s Party Confidential with Sean Murphy
• 8:00pm – The Great Gagliardis
• 8:25pm – Kidding Around with Bethany Fisher

Meet and Greets:

• 5.30pm – Hotel Transylvania Meet & Greet
• 7:40pm – Splashdance Meet & Greet
• 8pm – Hotel Transylvania Meet & Greet

The Fairground is near the George Street Gatehouse entrance and there’s a small playground there. Within the Fairground you’ll find a amusement rides, snacks, face painting and roving entertainment. Plus, there will be a screen on Rose Hill near the Fairground, showing a mixture of live performances from Coronation Hill and the Crescent.

Keep an eye out for these roving entertainers:

• 5pm – 5:35pm: Penny Farthing Unicycle & Juggling
• 5pm – 8pm: Face Painting (Face Focus by Tash)
• 6pm – 6:30pm: Vintage Circus Duo (Stilt Walkers)
• 6:30pm – 7pm: Empress Stiltdance
• 7:30pm – 8:15pm: Circus Solarus (Samba Trio)
• 8pm – 8:30pm: Vintage Circus Duo (Stilt Walkers)

Carnival on the Green has one of the best views in Parramatta Park for the fireworks spectacular at 9pm. Plus, you’ll be able to indulge in something sweet, take a spin on the amusement rides, learn how to hula hoop, have your face painted and meet some colourful roving characters along the way.

• 5pm-8pm: Face Focus by Tash (Face Painters)
• 5pm-5:30: Empress Stiltdance
• 6pm-6:45pm: Circus Solarus (Samba Trio)
• 6:45pm-7:30pm: Penny Farthing unicycle and juggling
• 7pm-7:30pm: Vintage Circus Duo (stilt walkers)
• 7:45pm-8:15pm: Empress Stiltdance

Hosted by MC Monica Trapaga (formerly of Play School), you’ll be able to spread out your picnic rug at The Crescent and sing along to classic tunes from the Golden Era. Hum along to the rhythms of The Organised Band and enjoy an exquisite fusion of jazz, pop, rock and blues as the Sydney Jazz Orchestra play music by some of the world’s greatest artists (think Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles).  Plus, sing along to iconic female anthems by the original sisters of swing and soul, legends of motown and divas of disco and pop as The Diamonds trio bring you to your feet.

• 5:45pm –  Welcome
• 6:25pm – Taya & The Organised Band
• 7.10pm – Sydney Jazz Orchestra
• 8:05pm – The Diamonds with Band

Key Information and Tips for taking your family to Parramatta’s New Year’s Eve Celebration

It’s forecast to be a hot NYE, but hopefully it cools off as the entertainment gets underway. Best to remember your hats and sunscreen if going in the afternoon – plus maybe a water spray bottle!

• It’s strongly recommended to take public transport. There will be significant traffic delays around Parramatta Park and in Parramatta CBD due to road closures. See a list of the road closures here.
• Bike Valet Parking will be available from 3:30pm to 9:30pm.
• Entertainment on the two stages starts a bit before 6pm and the fireworks start at 9pm. The live performances for kids are at Coronation Hill, or via a screen on Rose Hill in the Fairground. We arrived at 5pm last year and it didn’t start to really fill up until about 7pm.
• To avoid long queues, it’s best to buy food from the many food trucks throughout the event before 6:30pm. After that, it can be at least a 30min wait. Otherwise you can bring your own picnic dinner.

• Toilets are located within/ near each of the four areas.
• ID wristbands for children will be available at the four information booth’s located throughout the event.
• Bring your own water bottles and refill throughout the evening at the free Sydney Water drinking water taps.
• There are three ATMs in the park – near the main entrance in the Fairground, at Coronation Hill and in the Carnival on the Green.
• PLEASE keep the walkway paths free and just spread out your picnic rug within the marked areas.

• There will be first aid tents located next to the Crescent Stage, in the Fairground and at Carnival on the Green.
• Shade tents/ domes and other similar structures are not permitted at the event.
• The ticket booths for the amusement rides close at 9pm. All rides close at 10pm.
• This is a glass free event.
• Limited accessible parking is available within Parramatta Park. You need to register your vehicle prior to the event by emailing your name, contact number and car registration to events@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au.

Getting to Parramatta’s New Year’s Eve Celebration

Parramatta Park is an easy walk from train stations and multi-level carparks. The Park will be closed to all vehicles from 1pm on Monday 31st December 2018. There will be no parking inside the Park, except for a few accessible parking spots. It is strongly recommended to take public transport to the event. There will be significant traffic delays around the Park and in Parramatta CBD due to road closures. And getting home will take a long time if you park within Parramatta CBD.

Public Transport

Parramatta Park is about a 5min walk from Westmead train station and under a 15min walk from Parramatta transport interchange. To help plan your trip, visit the Transport Info website.

Cycling

Bike Valet Parking will be available from 3:30pm to 9.30pm at the George St Gatehouse. Please ensure you dismount and walk your bike through heavy crowd areas and within the Park.

Parking

If you do need to drive, there are five multi-story parking stations in Parramatta CBD. But as NYE falls on a Monday this year, hourly rates apply. Keep in mind that there will be lots of road closures and your trip home may be long. Last year we actually found street parking near the Eat Street Car Park, which made getting home very easy.

• Hunter Street Car Park – closest carpark to the event but there will be delays in leaving. (exit only between 8pm – 10pm)
• Eat Street Car Park – entry via Erby Place. This car park is about a 400m walk down George Street to the event.
• City Centre Car Park – entry via George Street. This car park is about a 400m walk down George Street to the event.
• Parramatta Station Car Park – entry via Wentworth Street
• Riverbank Car Park – entry via Phillip Street, Dirrabarri lane

Parking is also available at Westfield Parramatta.