Eels matches, Flickerfest, DJs, classic music events at Parramatta in May

From footy to food and classical music, there’s a smorgasbord of entertainment planned for Parramatta in May.

Joanne Vella

@Parramatta_News

5 min read

May 26, 2022 - 7:42PM

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Grab your popcorn, flag or some chopsticks and head to Parramatta where a jam-packed roster of entertainment, from Eels matches to Flickerfest and dim sum lunches, is planned for May.

Flickerfest

Emerging thespians and film buffs should keep Saturday, May 7, free for Australia’s largest short film festival, Flickerfest, when it returns to Parramatta’s Riverside Theatres as part of its national tour.

The leading BAFTA-recognised short film event is celebrating 31 years with three western Sydney productions and flicks starring well-known Aussie actors including quirky comedy The Home Team with Strictly Ballroom star Tara Morice and Paul McDermott.

Mariella Solano, who was crowned the best emerging female director at Bondi Flickerfest, stars in Alba, which was shot at the Uruguayan Social and Sporting Club in Hinchinbrook, where Solano spent a lot of time growing up.

Other flicks with western Sydney connections include the moving and intimate Abhishek Parasher-directed Across Borders, which centres on the complex life of a multi-generational Indian-Australian family. The movie is a story of diaspora and coming of age which is depicted through traditional Marinera dance.

Across Borders is one of Flickerfest’s films picked from 3200 entries.

Macarthur residents might recognise Sunnies filmed in St Andrews, which is the setting for troubled delinquent teen Malcolm’s theft of a pair of sunglasses from the local shops — an act that is later revealed to be part of a much bigger plan.

Other flicks include sibling drama You Me Before And After starring Yael Stone and Emily Barclay.

Whether it’s regional or interstate flicks, the A-list short film programs are hand-picked from the festival’s record 3200 entries so you know they’re going to be top-notch.

• Flickerfest 2022: Best of Australian Shorts is on at the Riverside Theatres, Parramatta, on May 7 from 3pm. Tickets $22, $20 concession. Visit flickerfest.com.au/tour/parramatta/

Mother’s Day buffet

Mother’s Day is the chance to indulge your mum with a seafood buffet at the Parkroyal Hotel’s Table 30 restaurant.

On Sunday May 8, the restaurant hosts an all-you-can-eat selection of hot and cold international dishes including chilli crab, Balmain bugs, prawns, oysters and seafood salads between 12.30pm and 3pm.

Continue the decadence at the dessert station with a five-tier chocolate fountain. All mums will enjoy a complimentary beverage on arrival, discounted parking and a take home gift from the hotel.

• Adults $89, teens aged 13 to 17 are $59 and children 12 and under are $39.

Reservations: dining.prsyp@parkroyalhotels.com or 9685 0377.

Parramatta v Manly

With almost five weeks since the Blue and Gold Army’s last home game at CommBank Stadium (on Easter Monday), Eels fans will be extra zealous about seeing their team notch up another win, especially against the side everyone loves to hate — Manly.

Parramatta hosts the Eagles in a Friday night clash that kicks off at 7.55pm (a night before the federal election).

The game can be watched at the pub or in the comfort of your living room but nothing beats the atmosphere at the ground.

Clint Gutherson and Dylan Brown celebrate after a try. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Orchestra

For those with refined music tastes, head to the Parramatta’s Riverside Theatres on May 13 for the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra’s Mozart’s Clarinet concert series, featuring acclaimed period clarinetist Shaun Lee-Chen.

He will perform Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major, K 216; a brilliant work written by a 19-year-old Mozart that will showcase Lee-Chen’s effortless virtuosity with the violin.

DJs

When Covid restrictions lifted in late February, it was the perfect opportunity to hit the dance floor once again and Parramatta’s Crown Hotel has ensured a line-up of DJs hitting the decks as part of Eve Saturdays.

Join DJs Noiz on May 7, Kennyon Brown and Bina Butta on May 14, V-Tribe on May 21 and Mike Champion on May 28.

The venue hosts “Sydney’s best DJs and musicians on rotation” for a night that can kick off with dinner at the bistro, washed down with some bevvies.

DJs perform at Eve Saturdays at the Crown Hotel, Parramatta. Picture: Facebook

Dim sum Sundays

Sanook Sundays translates to fun in Thai and that is what LilyMu chefs Brendan Fong and Bass Kumponthanatat have in mind each week in May when a limited menu shows limitless imagination for foodies.

The modern Asian Parramatta Square restaurant fuses east and west creations in its dim sum, spring rolls and dumplings. Think beef rendang and mozzarella spring rolls, mud crab and scallop dumplings, tom yum prawn dumplings and live pippies in LilyMu XO sauce.

DJs will also spin the decks with house and disco beats while you savour the imaginative cuisine and sipping gins by Aussie distillery Four Pillars, which has just bolstered its range with fresh yuzu gin.

• Sanook Sundays start on May 1 from noon to 4pm each week.

Good Vibes Granville

It’s famous for El Jannah charcoal chicken but the other treasures of Granville are going to be celebrated when South St transforms for the Good Vibes festival.

Running from May 16 to May 22, the event showcases the diverse food (including its delicious Lebanese sweets) and dynamic music and art scene.

The main street will close, allowing visitors and locals to meander through the strip and soak up the music from emerging western Sydney DJs, food, family-friendly activities running from 10am to noon and 5pm to 10pm.

Jasmins Granville owner Abraham Ghazal runs one of the popular eateries on the suburb’s main strip of South St. Picture: Angelo Velardo

The festival also illuminates with visual installations, projectors and neon light displays, with a giant outdoor Jenga set, photo booth, bush school sessions and hands-on creative activities.

“This is a great opportunity for the community and visitors to explore Granville’s culture, wander through the main street and enjoy the public space in a family friendly atmosphere,” Cumberland Mayor Lisa Lake said.

“The event will showcase the best of what Granville has to offer, and also presents local artists with live music performances and art installations that tell a very unique story.”

Oceania Festival

Once you cast your vote on Saturday May 21, sashay to the Oceania Festival at Prince Alfred Square, Parramatta, to embrace the dance, music, food and culture of the Pacific and First Nations people at the Oceania Festival.

The palm tree-lined park will come alive with artists including MRVZ, Matavai Pacific Cultural Arts, Ilisavani, STNDRD, Biggs685, Planet Vegeta, MC Trey, TSaif, Monk and Izzy from 10am to 7pm.

MC Trey curated the event, where the “main stage will be a vibe, mixing it up with hip-hop, R’n’B, reggae beats, soul and island styles”.

“Western Sydney is home to so much amazing talent,’’ he said.

Matavai Pacific will perform at Parramatta's Oceania Festival on May 21.

“The communities are diverse and passionate about their cultures and creativity. I’m so excited to see our stories amplified on the day.’’

From hip-hop to soul and reggae, organisers say festivalgoers will be moved by traditional dances and stories from the Pacific and the globe, alongside stories and songs of the youth and communities of western Sydney.

Tapastry, Kokonut Vibe and Fiji Youth Pacific Initiatives present the festival, where there will also be cultural food stalls, community information and networking opportunities, and creative arts and clothing stalls.

The Speakers Tent will present discussions with leaders and innovators in the Oceanic youth, community and business sectors.

Harris Park street party

It’s always a bustling hub filled with flavours of the subcontinent and Harris Park will buzz even more on Saturday May 28 for the Your Street, Your Party from noon to 8pm.

Wigram, Marion and Ada streets will be closed to traffic but open to families, youngsters and friends to enjoy the roving artists, performers and DJs including the Circus Bizurkus Skool, the Intricate School of Hip Hop, Western Sydney Samba Drumming and Urban Salsa Dance School.

K-Pop Takeover continues the party with hip hop and DJs, followed by H3rizon and rapper L-Fresh the Lion bringing even more hip hop to the event.

The festival is part of a Parramatta Council and State Government project to roll out street parties Sydney-wide and revitalise communities after the pandemic.