Local businesses band together for special Newtown Festival menu (Sydney)

It’s about that time again, when one of Sydney’s most eclectic and exciting communities is channeled into the unbridled celebration that is Newtown Festival. Yep, the famously bohemian inner-west suburb is about to once again throw the party of the year as the festival, in its 39th year, takes over Camperdown Park for a glorious Sunday of live music, good vibes, and some of the best damn food and drink you’ll find anywhere in the city, largely credited to the band of hospitality businesses going by the collective name of “Newtown Locals”.

Newtown Locals, a collective of businesses founded on the united commitment to give back to the local community, take over the festival each year with exclusive collaborations, channeling the do-it-together spirit of Newtown with unique, affordable dishes and drinks to help raise funds for a local charity, specifically First Response – Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, which provides community support services to the local community and in particular to disadvantaged groups such as the aged, people with disabilities, people who are at risk of homelessness, people with mental illness, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people on low incomes.

For those yet to come across the creative collective, just know that it’s got some of Sydney’s favourites in it: 212 Blu, Black Market Roasters, Bloodwood, Continental Deli and Bistro, Fleetwood Macchiato, Hartsyard, Mary’s, Osteria di Russo & Russo, Queens Hotel, Rising Sun Workshop, Saga, Salmon & Bear, The Stinking Bishops and Young Henrys. And all those folks are coming together with exclusive dishes that’ll take those taste buds for a wild ride.

“The Newtown Locals have generously donated thousands of dollars over the last few years to support our work in addressing homelessness and social isolation,” said Newtown Neighbourhood Centre CEO Liz Yeo. “Our relationship with the Newtown Locals has allowed us to connect to the socially active local community in a new and meaningful way and we look forward to an ongoing partnership that will last many, many years to come”.

As always, each year works to a specific theme, and for 2017 that will be “The Great Newtown Dream”. It’s going to serve as a framework for the Newtown Locals as they work up a menu of Australian summer BBQ classics, cooked over hot coals with three meat and three vegetarian options created just for the festival. Plates will be available from $15 while coffee lovers will also get their fix with special options from Rising Sun Workshop, Fleetwood Macciato, 212 Blue, and Black Market Roasters.

Food and drink planned for the festival include

  • Corn on a stick with wasabi mayo and furikake (from Rising Sun Workshop)
  • Smoked pumpkin pie (from Bloodwood)
  • Grilled broccolini with whipped tofu, black garlic and puffed rice (from Queen Chow)
  • Grilled chicken heart and thigh satay sticks (from Mary’s)
  • Vietnamese pork and lemongrass skewers (from Salmon & Bear)
  • Pork & Young Henrys Newtowner sausage roll with fermented red cabbage and dijonnaise (from Continental Deli & Bistro)
  • Deep fried chat potatoes with salsa verde (from Stinking Bishops)
  • Bean salad (from Hartsyard)
  • Smashed strawberry and watermelon soft serve (from Black Star Pastry)
  • Newtownese fortune cookies (from Black Star Pastry)
  • Pine-lime spice pavolva (from Saga)
  • Espresso, filter and cold brew (from Rising Sun Workshop, Fleetwood Macchiato, 212 Blue and Black Market Roasters)

With the menu also comes the traditional Newtown Locals t-shirt competition, which will see numerous local artists create designs based on aformentioned theme of The Great Newtown Dream. The winning design will be available to purchase from the merch tent at the festival, and all Newtown Neighbourhood Centre info tents on the day.

The 39th Annual Newtown Festival

Address: Camperdown Park
Dates: Sunday 12 November

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Chris Singh

Chris Singh is an Editor-At-Large at the AU review, loves writing about travel and hospitality, and is partial to a perfectly textured octopus. You can reach him on Instagram: @chrisdsingh.