AT MARRICKVILLE METRO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SYDNEY FRINGE FESTIVAL
Sydney Fringe Festival,New South Wales’s largest independent arts festival, is back! After two years of cancellations, Sydney Fringe is set to once again highlight the city’s vibrant culture with a diverse program spanning theatre, music, comedy, visual art, film, musical theatre, dance, circus, literature, and poetry with over 2,500 artists presenting 500 + shows across Sydney.
Sharing the same love and appreciation for art, culture, and creativity, Marrickville Metro, together with Sydney Fringe Festival, will dazzle Inner West locals with a jam-packed weekend of entertainment, markets, and comedy. Smidmore Sessions will take over Smidmore Street in Marrickville between Friday 9 September and Sunday 11 September.
To celebrate the revival of the creative industries within New South Wales, Marrickville Metro and Sydney Fringe Festival have teamed up to host a series of creative events suitable for all ages to enjoy. As the largest independent arts festival across the state, Sydney Fringe Festival is bringing its much-loved ‘Fringe Comedy Sessions’ and ‘Fringe Family Performances & Activities’ to Smidmore Street. The fun starts with a street cinema for families, then over the weekend customers can enjoy creative maker and producer markets and a pop-up by local legends, Young Henrys, plus their Best Served Loud music event – proving Smidmore Sessions are not to be missed!
Marrickville Metro has always been a central location for friends and families to gather to experience delicious food, art, and culture and the launch of Smidmore Sessions is another exciting way to experience the centre.
For a full outline of events and activities, please see below:
Friday 9 September – Family Fun Night
Friday night just got a whole lot better as Smidmore Street turns into a street cinema showcasing family hit, Clifford The Big Red Dog. Families can head to Marrickville Metro early and dine-in at over twelve dining options including The Grumpy Italian, Slim’s Quality Burger, and Karl’s Charcoal Chicken to name a few. Or simply pick up takeaway to enjoy picnic style while sinking into bean bags.
Time: From 5.30pm. Movie to start at approximately 6.30pm.
Free and no bookings required, but there will be limited bean bags and seats on offer, so arrive early to secure a spot.
Saturday 10 September – Metro Markets
Curated by local grocer Panetta Mercato and art and design store, Hypmotive – Metro Markets have become a favourite monthly activity drawing in locals and visitors. Over thirty stall holders will come together to showcase the best in produce, ceramics, jewellery, art, and quirky vintage finds.
Time: 10am – 4pm
Where: Smidmore Street and Ground Level near Panetta Mercato
Saturday 10 September: Kids Activities
Fun for the whole family with:
- Face painting (Ground Level, new side of the centre)
- Balloon animals (Level 1, new side of the centre)
- Arts & Craft (Ground Level, original side of the centre)
Time: 10am – 3pm
Saturday 10 September – Best Served Loud presented by Young Henrys
Colliding with comedy once again, Young Henrys will be joining this year’s Sydney Fringe Festival by bringing its much-loved live music series, Best Served Loud, to Marrickville Metro on Saturday 10 September.
A free, outdoor event set up on Smidmore Street between the new and original sides of the Metro, Best Served Loud will be an unmissable afternoon and night of live-music, seeing Body Type, Thunder Fox, Baby Beef (and The Next of Kin) and LADY KING take the outdoor stage.
Bringing the festivities to an outdoor setting, Best Served Loud will offer the ultimate open-air, live-music curtain-raiser. It’s open to families of all ages, with an 18+ section fitted with a pop-up bar, making sure to keep fan-favourite brews and signature serves rippling throughout the night. Shining a light on Australia’s abundant talent pool, don’t miss your chance to catch the stacked lineup of live music and arts in the heart of Sydney’s Inner West, with free entry for this all-ages mini fest. There’s no better place to be this September.
Time: 4 – 8pm
Saturday 10 September – Fringe Comedy Sessions
Marrickville Metro and Sydney Fringe have partnered with our great friends and local legends, Century Venues, to bring you the best comedy acts to Smidmore Street, for one night only.
Following the epic tunes from Best Served Loud, grab a seat and get to experience a once-in-a-lifetime outdoor comedy set by some of the best comedians in the country! Here’s a sneak peek of the line-up so far:
- Cameron James: 2022 Sydney Comedy Festival’s Directors Choice Award Winner – he’s fast, unpredictable, and full of comedy gold.
- Floyd Alexander-hunt: handpicked for Comedy Zone and to open for Daniel Sloss, Floyd is a violin virtuoso and master joke teller with big things in her future!
- Steph Broadbridge: RAW National Finalist, a jazz musician turned joker with sickly sweet wit!
- Sam Bowden: Brissy born rascal, Sam’s ready to take Sydney by storm with his signature quirky relentlessness.
- Guneet Kaur: 2022 RAW National Finalist, one of the most promising new voices on the scene.
- Zeki Jefferys: At only 16 years old, Zeki is taking Sydney with 30 gigs under his belt. Zeki was also a finalist in the 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Class Clowns.
Time: 8.30 – 10pm
Sunday 11 September – Metro Markets
Missed out on Saturday? No need to worry as the popular Metro Markets are back for a second day!
Time: 10am – 4pm
Where: Smidmore Street and Ground Level near Panetta Mercato
‘Taste of Fringe’ Roving Performances
Pop-up performances showcasing the best of Fringe. Stay tuned for more details about who will be popping up! Throughout Smidmore St and the centre.
Sunday 11 September: Kids Activities
Fun for the whole family with:
- Face painting (Ground Level, new side of the centre)
- Balloon animals (Level 1, new side of the centre)
- Arts & Craft (Ground Level, original side of the centre)
Time: 10am – 3pm