Willoughby City Council's Emerge Festival returns this September, bringing six weeks of arts, culture and community to the local area. Running from 1 September to 12 October, the festival features more than 50 events across Chatswood and surrounding suburbs, with performances, exhibitions, workshops, cultural celebrations and family activities on offer.
Now in its 28th year, Emerge has grown from its origins as the Willoughby Spring Festival into one of the North Shore's most popular cultural festivals, bringing together community groups, professional performers and Council-led events a wide-ranging program.
"Emerge Festival celebrates who we are as a welcoming, creative and diverse community," Mayor Tanya Taylor said. "It brings people together and reflects the many cultures and stories that shape our city."
At the heart of the program is the Chatswood StreetFair on Saturday 6 September - the biggest day of the festival. The Chatswood CBD will come alive with over 150 market stalls, five entertainment stages, family rides, circus fun and a colourful community parade from 2pm.
But the celebrations continue well beyond that, with a packed schedule showcasing everything from music and theatre to visual arts, food and family fun.
From Japanese drumming to local art exhibitions, puppet shows to community theatre, the six-week program highlights the rich cultural life of Willoughby's suburbs.
After the StreetFair, Chatswood Mall becomes a hub of international celebration with a series of Sunday cultural festivals, each showcasing food, music, performance and community pride.
Festival highlights
Exhibition: HOME GROWN; Bound by Place
4 September to 5 October
A centrepiece of this year's festival is the exhibition HOME GROWN; Bound by Place at Art Space at the Concourse from 4 September to 5 October. Featuring local artists and those with strong connections to Willoughby, the exhibition explores the emotional and cultural ties between identity and place. Through personal narratives, artists reflect on how the environments we grow up in shape how we see the world, drawing on themes of memory, belonging and community.
Matsuri Japan Festival
Sunday 14 September
Experience Japanese culture through taiko drumming, tea ceremonies, kimono styling, origami and ikebana workshops, along with authentic street food and traditional performances.
Hongkongers' Street Market
Sunday 28 September
Following a successful debut in 2024, this community event returns to bring the spirit of Hong Kong to Chatswood with nostalgic street food, artisan goods, live Cantonese music and open-stage performances.
ACE Moonlight Mid Autumn Festival
Sunday 5 October
Celebrate this cherished East Asian tradition with mooncakes, lanterns, themed market stalls and cultural performances in honour of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
China Fun Day
Sunday 12 October
Enjoy a full day of Chinese entertainment, blending traditional and contemporary music and dance with more than 30 vibrant market stalls. The program includes lion and dragon dances, folk performances, hands-on workshops, martial arts demonstrations, cultural talks, a gourmet food market and more.
Events for family and kids
• Puppet shows in Castle Cove.
• Robotics and terrarium workshops.
• Orienteering and croquet experiences.
• Grazing on the Green at Northbridge Golf Club with food, wine, live music and more.
Music and performance
• The popular Live at Lunch concert series.
• The Unofficial Tribute Show Taylor - for fans of global pop icon Taylor Swift.
• Musicals from Pymble Players and North Shore Theatre Company.
• Spring Music Festival presented by the Northern Sydney Symphonic Wind Ensemble.
To see the full schedule and plan your visit, head to Emerge website
