The Yours and Owls festival will be spread across more than a dozen sites on Sunday. Image: Yours and Owls.
The thousands flocking to Flagstaff Hill for Yours and Owls this Saturday will be infiltrating the city for the festival’s second day with 15 stages hosting performances across the CBD.
If you’re planning lunch, dinner, drinks or even a shopping trip in Wollongong CBD on Sunday prepare to share the streets with keen festival-goers as one of the region’s biggest events spreads its reach across the city.
The Yours and Owls Festival site on Sunday 4 October will stretch across Crown Street, Globe Lane, Keira Street, Market Street and Keira Lane with artists showcased from midday to 1 am on Monday morning.
Seventy-four acts are scheduled for the Sunday, with some performers popping up at multiple venues and times across the day to ensure that audiences have time to travel between locations and to help them schedule if there’s a conflict of multiple artists they want to see at similar times.
With most locations within a 10-minute walk, it does mean the city is in for a lot of foot traffic, which is set to bring an exciting boom to some local businesses.
“Yours & Owls is a homegrown product,” the festival’s website says.
“Our team works, lives and plays in Wollongong! We are locals who care about our community and watching it grow.
“If you’d like to support locals too, we encourage you to head to the local shops, pubs, cafes, beaches, clubs, and art galleries. Wollongong is a playground – so get out and explore!”
But there could also be inconveniences if you’re not prepared to face the crowds.
The free Gong Shuttle has been promoted by Transport for NSW and Yours and Owls as a good resource for festival-goers to utilise on both days to help get around, with most urged to avoid driving or using private vehicles on either day.
“We do not recommend driving to the festival site,” the festival website says.
“If you do need to drive and park, try and carpool with your mates. Wollongong CBD has a number of paid parking stations, as well as metered and free street parking.
“The festival will have a designated drop-off and pick-up zone for private vehicles.”
Travelling to the city by public transport on the Saturday could be easier with a boost in services, but if you’re planning to travel from southern parts by train on either day, there may be some changes or disruptions.
“To help customers travel to and from the Yours and Owls Festival, South Coast Line trains will operate with additional capacity from 11 am Saturday 3 October with all services running as eight-car trains,” a Transport for NSW spokesperson said.
“Additional and extended late-night train services will also operate after the festival, including extra services between Wollongong, Thirroul and Sydney, and extended stopping patterns on selected South Coast Line services to help customers get home safely.
“On Saturday 3 October until Monday 5 October buses will replace trains between Port Kembla and Wollongong due to planned trackwork.
“Customers are encouraged to check transportnsw.info and plan their trip in advance.”
Those staying at the camping grounds will also have access to a direct route into Wollongong on both days of the event.
‘Transport for NSW encourages people attending the Yours and Owls Festival to use the event’s dedicated Camper shuttle operating at designated hours between Fairy Meadow Surf Life Saving Club and Harbour Street outside WIN Stadium,” the Transport for NSW spokesperson said.
Venues hosting acts include Dicey Riley’s, Heyday, Humber, La la la’s, The Illawarra Hotel, Music Farmers and 142 Crown Street, with one-off shows at Roppongi and Fat Boy Kebabs.
Each venue will abide by its own terms and conditions of entry, licensing requirements and venue capacities.
There will also be outdoor stages in laneways, carparks and the mall.
Ticketholders are reminded that just because it is a special event, it doesn’t mean rules don’t apply.
“Remember to be a good pedestrian and follow all the normal road rules!” the festival website says.
“Please follow signage and instructions from traffic controllers, wayfinding staff, security guards and police officers.
“Please treat everyone working at the festival with respect and kindness, they are here to ensure we all have an enjoyable and safe experience.”
For more information on the event and the full line-up and set list visit the Yours and Owls Festival website.
