Rozelle Festival – Sunday November 30th
Illustrating great resilience after the tragedy of September, Rozelle locals have been putting together an exciting street fair, as unique as Rozelle is, for Sunday November 30th. By displaying Rozelle in all its creative magnificence, locals hope Rozelle’s bustling village vibe will soon return.
Corridors of artificial grass, picnic blankets, wafting smells and jingling musicians will pave the way to the Rozelle Village Fair, going all day from 10am to 4pm.
At the centre of Darling Street will run a long communal table where you can enjoy lunch from the numerous food stalls amongst other festivalgoers.
Two stages will bookend the street fair, serving as the playground of local musos and thespians.
For kids there will be craft and art displays, a rock-climbing wall, face painting and roving performers. Local school choirs will be serenading the festival.
And of course, valet parking for your bicycle will also be available.
Festival Highlights
Rozelle Memorial
A memorial to pay tribute to those lost in the Rozelle Fire, Chris Noble, Bianka and Jude O’Brien, will take place at 10am on the Nelson St Stage. The ceremony will begin with a Smoking Ceremony followed by an Aboriginal musical performance. The tribute to the victims will be accompanied by a classical music performance by the Metropolitan Orchestra. They will be playing a composition of works by George Palmer (OA), written specifically for the Rozelle community.
The community will then be invited to pay their respects and share messages of love, hope and healing to those impacted by the fire.
Mic Conway and his National Junk Band
A national sensation, Mic Conway and his National Junk Band have received raving reviews since they started playing together back in 1998. Just as happy to blow a sousaphone as twirl a flaming baton, they are notorious for their vaudevillian antics and upbeat blues/new wave/cabaret sound.
Born into a family of thespians and musicians, Mic Conway started off his musical career in the Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band and also worked with the Wiggles, playing Wags the Dog.
Come see Mic in his element with his gang of messy mavericks, doing circus like you’ve never seen it (or heard it) before.
Win the Ultimate Picnic
Rozelle local businesses are also giving fairgoers a chance to win the Ultimate Picnic for two. The winning prize includes return flights to San Francisco, five nights of accommodation and a fabulous picnic feast in California’s Napa Valley. Runners up will receive a gourmet picnic hamper to be enjoyed somewhere a bit more local.
Simply spend $20 at participating Rozelle businesses before November 28th and ask for an entry voucher. Then complete your details on the online entry form available on the Municipality of Leichhardt’s website. Next thing you know, you could be munching your way through San Fran!
Jingle and Mingle
Christmas is about a lot of things. To many it’s just about being with friends and family, to others it’s about religious observance. Most children will say it’s about getting presents. But what all these answers have in common is fun, joy, and happiness, that is what the holidays are all about, and the one place where you can certainly get all this (and more) is at Jingle and Mingle on Darling Street.
Held from 5:30-6:30pm on Thursday 11th December, Jingle and Mingle is the ultimate Christmas with an abundance of festive entertainment. Peruse the stores along Darling Street for your shopping needs or sit back and enjoy the carols and other entertainment. There will be candy canes and other goodies being given out and prizes for the best costume and after it’s all said and done, you can stay on for dinner and drinks!
For more information, visit www.rozellefest.com.au/events
Rozelle business in bloom
The boutique cluster that makes up the gorgeous businesses on Darling St are strong in character, beautiful in nature and are oriented to personalised service so you feel like you really are buying from your village neighbour and supporting the local community.
Rozelle has one of the highest percentages of business owners living locally in the state, meaning that over 60 per cent of local retailers live and work in the area. This is what makes Rozelle a unique place to shop. Shop owners genuinely care about their community, and we’ve seen how the community is supporting their local retailers since Darling St’s tragic bombing.
Here is a round-up of retailers that you should visit over the coming weeks, just for a chat, a coffee or to spread some Christmas cheer. But if something does catch your eye, please do what you can to support those local retailers who support the community.
The Bean
Craig Amos (pictured on the front cover) is a local celebrity. Having traded the corporate life for the village life, Craig built up Rozelle’s first café to become a local landmark. The café has an eclectic menu made with the freshest produce. It is all created and prepared in-house with passion and flair by talented chefs. The specials are changed regularly to keep the menu interesting but there are always the old favourites to tempt you back for more. As the locals say: Be seen at The Bean.
Tali Gallery
Husband and wife dynamic duo Di and Yhanni Stevens (local residents) set up Tali Gallery as a way to support Indigenous communities. Their gallery is filled with beautiful pieces from as far afield as Goulburn Island (an island off the coast of Arnhem Land) to urban Indigenous art precincts within Sydney. Showcasing the best of Australian Aboriginal art, Tali Gallery represents over 50 Australian artists and is a long-standing supporter of the Indigenous Art code.
Tali Gallery offers impeccable provenance with the Art Centre model of guaranteed authenticity and ethical sourcing, working with 25 Art Centres. Tali Gallery also offers affordable art and crafts and hand selected gifts to ensure that offerings are accessible to everyone and to lend further support to artists
and communities.
About Life
A natural marketplace for the food conscious, About Life is the braindchild of local resident Jodie Stewart (pictured on Ciao’s front cover). Having now expanded throughout Sydney with four other stores, the About Life brand is close to the heart of Sydney’s most health-wise people. The Rozelle store stocks the widest range of organic and chemical-free produce in Sydney and houses a wholefoods café, supermarket and natural pharmacy.
The culinary team is also on the cutting edge of all food trends so new products and lines are continuously being added. Stop in for an organic soy chai latte and let the About Life ambience consume you.
Bella Emporio
Belinda Rowe (front cover) owns and manages this beautiful store that stocks a wide range of quality designed garments and highly sought after brands such as Vigorella and Mesop. Bella Emporio, as the name implies, is an emporium of beautiful things such as homewares, jewellery, accessories, gifts and garments. At Bella (as it is known to locals) you can pick up the perfect well-priced gift – why not give a summer clutch, Turkish towel or choose from another hundred great gift ideas for that special someone.
Rozelle Markets
This is the best place to source stellar second-hand collectibles, vintage garments, knick-knacks, antiques and all things weird and wonderful. The markets has long drawn both locals and travellers alike, who are attracted to it’s off-beat trendy vibe. The market traders themselves all have great stories to tell, and the history of some of the standout items is enough to write a book on. There is always room for one more bargain at Rozelle Markets.
