What’s on in Western Sydney for New Year’s Eve: Fireworks and post-midnight parties

Residents of Western Sydney no longer need to schlep into the city for NYE celebrations, there’s plenty to do in their own backyard. Here’s your guide to what’s on in Western Sydney for NYE.

Western Sydney has fast become the place to be for family fireworks free of the tourist frenzy, but with far fewer venues open for post-midnight celebrations, business leaders have called for further extensions to opening hours on New Year’s Eve.

Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger has called on the state government to give all pubs, clubs and restaurants licence to serve until at least 3am on New Year’s Day, saying the young adults of the West are missing out on places to party.

“We’ve seen the number of people coming to Parramatta growing year after year because they think ‘great, we don’t have to schlep it into the city’,” he said.

“There’s nothing wrong with the Harbour, but if there’s a chance to party closer to home, why wouldn’t you take that chance?”

Despite the popularity of Parramatta for families, the night-life in Sydney’s second city “could be amped up a bit,” Mr Borger admitted, blaming restrictive licensing laws for killing the buzz.

Mum Gokila Kalyan Kumar, her family and friends Ramya Sivamani, Sekar Sivamani, Siddhuraj, Sita, Vivek, Swarna, Rajkumar, Divyadharshini, Kaylan, Kumar, Priya and Uma will be celebrating New Year’s Eve in Parramatta Park. Picture: Thomas Parrish

“The nanny state has packed us off to bed with our slippers on by midnight,” he said.

“If you get annoyed by a party on New Year’s Eve, that’s just unAustralian.”

New Year’s Eve fireworks return to Parramatta Park this year. Picture: Supplied

Free celebrations at Parramatta Park will be headlined by ARIA award-winning dance musicians Sneaky Sound System, to be joined by local artists from 5pm and a fireworks display at 9pm.

Sneaky Sound System’s Connie Mitchell and Angus McDonald will headline the Parramatta NYE celebration. Picture: Jason Edwards

Just across the road, Club Parramatta’s rooftop bar will be open until at least 1am, though COO Andy Abey said the party could continue on until 2am.

“Post-Covid, people have had a taste of staying local,” she said.

“They don’t have to go all the way into the city to experience fireworks and premium hospitality.”

Club Parramatta’s rooftop bar. Picture: Supplied

Nearby, glamorous soiree-style cocktail bar Nick and Nora’s will be open until 1.30am, with plenty of bookings available after 10pm and a champagne tower poured at midnight.

Maddie Nunan, head of marketing for the Speakeasy Group which runs Nick and Nora’s, said the views of Sydney’s midnight fireworks are “quite spectacular” from the bar’s 26-storey-high balcony.

A champagne tower will be poured at midnight for patrons of Nick and Nora’s cocktail bar in Parramatta. Picture: Supplied

“The Parramatta scene is becoming more vibrant,” she said.

“We’re really excited about the future of the area, because with more great operators and more hospitality businesses people can really make it a destination for a great night out.”

The 26-storey-high balcony at Nick and Nora’s has views to the Sydney CBD. Picture: Supplied

Bankstown rooftop bar Lady Banks also has panoramic views out to the Blue Mountains, and from 6.30pm until late is serving up a specially curated menu while a line-up of DJs spin tunes.

Also in the southwest, Liverpool Council’s celebrations at Warwick Farm Racecourse are a family-focused affair, with DJ Ziggy to close out the night following fireworks at 9pm.

Free shuttle buses will ferry attendees from the town centre to the event, with parking also available on site.

The team behind The Lady Banks rooftop bar in Bankstown with its panoramic vistas, chef Sarah Hanslow and bar manager Iris Boci. Picture: Toby Zerna

Campbelltown Council, meanwhile, has both a family and late-night (but alcohol-free) offering, with bands taking to the stage at Koshigaya Park from 7pm and fireworks displays at 9pm and midnight.

Carnival rides and food from more than 20 vendors will cost a penny or two, but there’s free face painting for the kids.

At the foot of the Blue Mountains, Penrith Panthers Leagues Club claims the title of biggest fireworks show in the west, with 9pm and midnight shows, and free live music from 4pm through to 2.30am the next day.

Fireworks at Penrith Panthers’ NYE live music extravaganza. Picture: Supplied

Parramatta mum Gokila Kalyan Kumar is content with the 9pm offering at the local park, planning to attend with her husband and three-year-old daughter Rithanya before heading home to usher in the new year with the TV broadcast after the little ones are off to bed.

With local festivities available, the family and friends from the Harris Park and Rosehill areas had no intention of hiking it into Sydney.

“The other reason is because it’s too crowded travelling home on public transport with very young children and older relatives,” she said.

“It would be a tedious process coming from the city.”