Tamworth’s Peel Street, Fitzroy Plaza and Bicentennial Park will come alive with light, culture and community as the Tamworth Chamber and the Tamworth Business Collective join forces to bring together the inaugural City of Lights festival.
The free two-night event runs from 5.30pm to 10.30pm on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 September, spreading across the CBD under the theme Land and Light. The theme draws a line between Tamworth’s place in history as one of the first towns in the Southern Hemisphere to have electric street lighting and First Nations cultural storytelling, bringing history and innovation together on the same streets.
The festival is funded through the NSW Government’s Regional Night-Time Economy Program, delivered by the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner. It marks the beginning of a bigger plan to bring Tamworth’s CBD to life after dark, with a monthly Light Up Late series set to follow from October.
Tamworth was chosen as one of just 10 regional business collectives across NSW to take part in the Program’s pilot round. The funding will help deliver new initiatives aimed at growing the local economy from day into night.
Local businesses have been working together as the Tamworth Business Collective to deliver coordinated activity for the whole region, building on a tailored bootcamp that gave the group practical tools, expert guidance and a clear plan to turn its ideas into action.
City of Lights and Light Up Late are the Collective’s flagship initiatives under the Program, backed by strategic marketing and promotion designed to build on what makes Tamworth unique and draw more people into the CBD after dark.
Tamworth Chamber President Dave Errington said the festival was a chance for the Chamber and the wider business community to come together and reclaim the city’s night-time streets.
“The Tamworth Chamber and the Tamworth Business Collective have been working hand in hand to make this happen, and that partnership is what’s going to give this city its night-time streets back. City of Lights is the spark, two nights that show Tamworth what’s possible after dark, and from October, Light Up Late keeps that energy going every month. This is a genuine team effort between the Chamber, our Collective businesses and the whole community, and we can’t wait to see Peel Street and Fitzroy Street glowing,” Mr Errington said.
Centrepoint Tamworth Centre Manager Martin Howes said the festival would give a welcome boost to retailers and hospitality venues across the city centre.
“Centrepoint sits right in the heart of where this festival will happen, and we’re proud to be part of the Business Collective bringing it to life. Events like this bring people into the CBD who might not otherwise stay once the shops close, and that flows straight through to every retailer and hospitality venue nearby.”
“We’re especially excited for people to rediscover our entertainment precinct as part of the festival, with cinemas and bowling right on the doorstep. We’re expecting a huge night for foot traffic across both evenings, and we’d encourage every business in the precinct to make the most of it,” Mr Howes said.
The Tamworth Business Collective brings together local businesses committed to growing the city’s night-time economy, including Camp Grounds, Central Hospitality Group, Centrepoint Tamworth, Forum 6 Cinemas, McDonald’s Tamworth, Post Office Hotel, The Powerhouse Hotel Tamworth by Rydges, The Press Basement Bar, TPG Hotels (The Pub Group), Tumbl and UNE Tamworth.
City of Lights runs from 5.30pm to 10.30pm on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 September across Peel Street, Fitzroy Plaza and Bicentennial Park in the Tamworth CBD, and entry is free.
Advertising with New England Times is a cost effective and reliable way to reach New England locals who are interested and engaged. Find out more here.