The City of Canterbury Bankstown will host the “Love Earlwood” festival thanks to the NSW Government’s Open Streets 2025-28 Program, which supports councils to temporarily close streets to create places for people.
The vibrant, fun festival will transform the heart of Earlwood into a lively celebration of cultural diversity. Families and friends will gather to enjoy a rich tapestry of arts, crafts, cuisine and dancing.
The festival celebrates the very best of Earlwood’s Greek and Mediterranean heritage whilst highlighting the unique spirit of the community.
Following a competitive grants process, Canterbury Bankstown Council will now receive up to $350,000 in funding to deliver the free “Love Earlwood – Meet you at the Plateia Festival” over three years.
From Tweed Shire to Bega Valley Shire to out west in Broken Hill, 44 councils across the state have secured funding under the NSW Government’s renewed $14.65 million Open Streets 2025-28 Program.
The program highlights the government’s agenda of getting NSW back to its best by supporting events, cutting red tape, boosting local economies, creating safe and vibrant spaces, and stimulating nightlife activity.
The funding offers existing popular events longer term certainty, enabling event organisers and local businesses to build momentum, while benefiting from cost and planning efficiencies. This includes:
- Orange City Council’s Zest Fest
- Parramatta Lanes
- Destination Burwood: Electric Lanes, Epic Experiences (including Lunar Lanes, an expansion of the Lunar New Year festivities)
- Sutherland Shire’s Jannali Moonrise Festival
- Narromine Shire’s Dolly Parton Festival
- Uralla Shire’s Christmas Street Fair
The Open Streets Program is part of the Government’s wider agenda to address cost-of-living and build better, more vibrant communities across NSW.
Member for Canterbury Sophie Cotsis said, “I’m absolutely thrilled that the NSW Government recognises the value of our local events, and that the Earlwood Festival is back where it belongs – at the heart of our community.”
“This ongoing funding over the next three years will ensure the festival continues to grow as a much-loved annual event that brings people together and celebrates everything that makes Earlwood special,” Ms Cotsis added.
“I’ve been campaigning for this for a long time, and it’s a real win for the whole community. I especially want to acknowledge the local residents and community advocates, including Councillor Clare Raffan who’ve worked tirelessly to help bring the festival back.
“We live in the best state in the world, and people deserve to enjoy their neighbourhoods in a cost-friendly, inclusive way whilst also supporting local jobs, boosting small businesses, and bringing our streets to life.
“I can’t wait to see Earlwood transformed into a vibrant, public space where the community can come together and celebrate.”
City of Canterbury Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek said: “This is such great news for Earlwood! We’re really proud to have secured this funding, which means we can bring the community an exciting event that celebrates everything that makes Earlwood special.
“With so many locals having Greek and Italian roots, ‘Love Earlwood – Meet you at the Plateia’ is a perfect way to honour that heritage.
“From live music and dancing to our amazing cafés and local shops, the festival will really show off the heart and soul of this town centre.
“It’s also a great win for our local businesses – drawing in crowds and giving everyone a reason to visit and enjoy what Earlwood has to offer.
“I can’t wait to see the streets buzzing with life!”
For more information on the Open Streets Program, and to see the full list of successful grantees, visit: Open Streets Program | Transport for NSW.
