Fifth Lane Mackay to host family-friendly activities over Christmas

Like Cinderella went to the ball with a little help from her fairy godmother, Mackay’s “smelly old lane” has received a colourful makeover ready for family-friendly fun. Find out what’s coming up.

Like Cinderella went to the ball with a little help from her fairy godmother, Mackay’s “smelly old lane” has received a colourful makeover ready for family-friendly fun.

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said Fifth Lane would host special events over the next four Fridays to get into the festive spirit and showcase what the laneway — between Wood St and Gregory St — was capable of.

“You come into town to enjoy a meal, you come into town to get an ice cream, well bring the kids in and there’ll be plenty of stuff happening,” Cr Williamson said.

“This Friday night it starts off with the French Press band and we’ve got face painting for the kids.”

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson is excited about activation events coming to Fifth Lane including the new QR codes that allow you to bring an artwork to life. Picture: Heidi Petith

Sensory Circus performers will also join in on the merrymaking with Cr Williamson adding the council was keen to hear from event organisers with ideas for future events to keep powering the city’s developing “laneway culture”.

“It’s making sure we celebrate this fantastic laneway we’ve done up,” he said.

Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce’s Scott Jamieson said laneway festivities were a massive opportunity for the region.

“We’ve seen and we know people from Mackay travel 3000km to Melbourne to go to Fitzroy and laneways like this to Eden, I’m sure in no time at all we’ll see six or eight venues hopefully in here recreating that sort of atmosphere and venue,” the management committee member said.

“I think anything that gets people into the Mackay City Centre to shop, eat, take the family, it’s absolutely fantastic.”

The revamped Fifth Lane will feature small-scale activations on Friday nights during the Festive Season. Exploring the lane is, from left, Mackay City and Waterfront Project support officer Shahli Wright, Mayor Greg Williamson, Chamber of Commerce Management Committee member Scott Jamieson and Mackay City and Waterfront Project manager Kylie Rogers.

Mr Jamieson said laneway events encouraged traders to stay open longer into the school holidays and capitalise on tourists with the chamber and council now discussing the activation of another lane in the CBD.

“Obviously there’s a young, vibrant art culture in Mackay that’s really bubbling under the surface and I think there’s a lot of opportunities for them to get involved in this,” he said.