Festival Village – the new Festival hub in Hyde Park

Festival Village is the new day-to-night highlight of Sydney Festival 2014 set to transform Hyde Park into a wondrous playground for young and old. Three times the size of last year’s Festival Garden, Festival Village is programed with the very best free activities, shows and workshops the Festival has to offer.

Taking over the usual corner of Hyde Park and extending parallel to College Street past the Archibald Fountain to house two atmospheric circus tents – The Spiegeltent and the Circus Ronaldo Tent – there’s room for more music, kids’ shows, late night cabaret and weird and wonderful acrobatic offerings.

The Festival Village will keep the much-loved bandstand and glittering festoon lights of previous years but will have more free activities and food and drink options than ever before. With five bars to choose from and plenty of food options to suit all tastes including Food Society, Jafe Jaffles, Woofy’s Hot Dogs and specially crafted treats from Gelato Messina – Festival Village will be just as delicious as it looks.

The much-loved Melbourne-based Boxwars are bringing the supplies for kids to get hands-on in workshops designed for children of all ages. Imagination is the only tool needed to join the Boxwars team in decorating your own reclaimed cardboard hat (running 10am-2pm, 12-15 January except Monday).

Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller’s interactive (and free!) life size bouncy castle version of Stonehenge, Sacrilege will take over a third of the Festival Village. The contemporary art installation and feel-good hit of the 2012 Olympic games cultural program will offer Sydneysiders of all ages the unique opportunity to bounce on history from 9am-9pm each day of the Festival (excluding Mondays).

Between 12-2.30pm, lunchtime DJ sets at Sacrilege will transport listeners through time and space in the “Postcards from…” series. Special guest DJs and FBi presenters provide the tunes from the mean streets of 1970s New York with Sweetie (FBi Arvos), to the sunny West Coast of California with The Laurels.

When the sun sets on Festival Village, Smart Casual will spin the tropical sounds of the Bahamas and Tyson Koh (FBi, Loose Joints) will dabble in the Kraut sounds of Kraftwerk, Neu and Can (Thursdays and Fridays only, 5-7.30pm).

For Festival-goers who prefer their own musical choices, Village Vinyl will provide portable record players and a library of classic LPs, allowing for some relaxation time amidst the Festival excitement.

Browse the collection at the City of Sydney’s Lawn Library, take a seat and stay for daily and twilight story time sessions or tune in for an interesting workshop hosted by City of Sydney, offered each day from 11am-10pm. The Late Night Library is not to be missed, featuring Adult Storytime with Eddie Sharp, music with the City of Sydney’s Live Music Task Force and comedy with the Campfire Collective.

Following pop up appearances at the Tate Britain, Southbank Centre, Venice Biennale, Battersea Arts Centre, music festivals, back streets, high streets, hill tops and front rooms, Folk in a Box is heading Sydney Festival’s way. Giving a whole new meaning to the words ‘intimate performance’, one audience member will step into a wooden box and will be sung one song, by a solo musician. Creators Emily Barker and Dom Coyote will unveil a host of surprise Festival guests that will serenade audience members (running from 5pm-10pm daily).

The Rekorderlig Gazebo returns in 2014 to showcase the very best DJs Sydney has to offer. Kick back, sip on an icy cider and enjoy the summer night breeze to the free sounds of the city. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings enjoy sets from party starters Captain Franco (Halfway Crooks), Marcus King (Goodgod), Smart Casual (Jingle Jangle), Radge (Love Kings) and the irresistible good times of Italo funkateers Saint Tropez All Day. Also joining in the action (all the way from Manchester) is very special guest Andy Votel, the man responsible for running the revered record label Finders Keepers.

The Village Bandstand makes its debut in 2014 at Festival Village with an incredible line-up of some of Sydney’s most exciting, respected and pioneering DJs. Expect an eclectic mix from the likes of Jimmy Sing (Goodgod), Tyson Koh (FBi, Loose Joints) wildcards Yo Grito! and Sydney Festival favourite Gramophone Man as they take to the Bandstand on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. Rounding out the evenings will be live sets from The Crusty Suitcase Band as well as young bloods The Ukes Of Today.
With so much happening for everyone the Festival Village is the place to be this #sydfest.