At a glance
- When
- Saturday 7 November 2026, 2pm to 8pm
- Where
- Moonrise Plaza on Box Road and Sunset Square in the Jannali Town Centre Car Park, Jannali
- Cost
- Free
- Getting there
- Jannali Train Station is across the road from the festival site; the council recommends public transport
- Road closures
- Box Road between Railway Crescent and Roberts Street, and Box Lane, closed 9:00am to 11:59pm
- Parking
- Limited; the upper section of the Town Centre Car Park closes, and the whole car park closes once full
- Who it’s for
- Families, locals and anyone heading to Jannali on Saturday 7 November, by train, bus or car
- What to do now
- Plan your trip on Transport for NSW, or call 131 500, and leave the car at home
- Last checked
- Monday 26 October 2026, against two Sutherland Shire Council pages
- Not yet confirmed
- Exact positions of the temporary stops for bus routes 967 and 968 on Jannali Avenue
Jannali Moonrise Festival is free and runs from 2pm to 8pm on Saturday 7 November 2026, with Box Road closed to traffic from 9am. Sutherland Shire Council runs it, and the council’s own pages say that Box Road becomes Moonrise Plaza, and the Jannali Town Centre Car Park becomes Sunset Square. This guide is based on the council’s festival page and its frequently asked questions, checked on 26 October 2026. Sydney is on daylight saving time in November, so all times here are AEDT.
What time does the Jannali Moonrise Festival start and finish?
The festival runs from 2:00pm to 8:00pm on Saturday 7 November 2026. Entry is free. The council describes it as a community festival with live music, cultural performances, family activities, food vendors, market stalls and workshops across two performance areas. It is funded by the NSW Government’s Open Streets Program, which is led by Transport for NSW, and the cultural program is supported by Kurranulla Aboriginal Corporation.
The name comes from the Aboriginal meaning of Jannali, which the council gives as “place of the moon”. The council’s festival page lists a First Nations Cultural Ceremony among the attractions, and the Moonrise Stage program lists a Welcome Cultural Ceremony and official proceedings at 4:00pm.
What time is each act on?
There are two stages. The Sunset Stage is in Sunset Square, the Jannali Town Centre Car Park, and the Moonrise Stage is in Moonrise Plaza on Box Road. The council’s program, as published on 26 October 2026, is below.
| Time | Sunset Stage (Sunset Square) |
|---|---|
| 2:00pm | Summerset |
| 2:30pm | Stephanie Pantazis |
| 3:00pm | Rachel Tidbury |
| 4:00pm | Sam Fletcher |
| 5:00pm | Kevin Bennett |
| 6:00pm | Just Mates Music |
| Time | Moonrise Stage (Moonrise Plaza, Box Road) |
|---|---|
| 2:00pm | Kirrawee High School Band |
| 2:50pm | Como Physical Culture |
| 3:10pm | Inspiration Dance (a local business) |
| 3:40pm | Knee Deep Squares |
| 4:00pm | Welcome Cultural Ceremony and official proceedings |
| 4:45pm | Princess meet and greet |
| 5:00pm | Magic show |
| 6:00pm | Dance party |
| 6:30pm | Silent disco |
The council also lists roving entertainment: giant bubbles from 3:00pm to 4:30pm, and LED juggling from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Bluey and Bingo are due for a meet and greet in two slots on the council’s page, at 3:30pm to 3:55pm and at 4:30pm to 4:55pm. The festival page’s workshop list gives the second slot, 4:30pm to 4:55pm, so check the program on the day for which times apply.
Which roads close, and from when?
The council says traffic changes start at 5am, and that changed traffic conditions apply from 7:00am on Saturday 7 November. The road closures themselves run from 9:00am to 11:59pm:
| Closed | Detail |
|---|---|
| Box Road | Between Railway Crescent and Roberts Street |
| Box Lane | Between Box Road and the Jannali car park |
| Jannali Town Centre Car Park | Upper section closed; the entire car park closes once it is full |
| Queesy Lane and the rear of arcades | No vehicle access to the rear of 56 Railway Crescent and 557 to 559 Box Road |
If you live or work on Box Road, the council’s wording is that no vehicle access will be permitted to Queesy Lane and the rear of those arcades. The council gave a contact for event questions: shireevents@ssc.nsw.gov.au or (02) 9710 0154.
How do I get to the festival by train or bus?
The council recommends public transport. Jannali Train Station is across the road from the festival site, which is on Box Road and Box Lane. For the latest train and bus information it points to Transport for NSW or the 131 500 information line, so check the trip planner for your own service on the day.
Buses are affected. The council says routes 967 and 968 are impacted by the Box Road closure, and alternative bus stops will be in place on Jannali Avenue during the festival. The council has not published where those stops will be on the pages we read, which is why that item is listed as not yet confirmed. If you normally catch either route to Box Road, look up the Jannali Avenue stops in the Transport for NSW planner before Saturday.
Can I park near the festival?
The council says parking in the area is limited. Parts of the council’s free car park behind the shopping precinct will be closed, and changed parking conditions apply during the festival, so read signs carefully to avoid fines. Limited on-street parking is available in the surrounding streets, but Box Road, Box Lane and parts of the Town Centre car park are shut. The council suggests ride share, walking, cycling or public transport.
The council’s words for getting there are to walk, cycle or use public transport. It does not give a figure for how many spaces are left, so there is nothing to plan around except arriving early or leaving the car at home.
What else is on besides the music?
The council lists free activities for all ages throughout the festival:
- cupcake decorating, bracelet making and colouring, and biscuit decorating
- children’s workshops, soft play, mini golf, face painting, laser tag and balloon twisting
- astronomy activities and solar gazing, with the Sutherland Astronomical Society
- community information displays
- roving princesses, bubble artists and juggling
- a silent disco and a dance party on the Moonrise Stage in the evening
Local businesses join in with extended hours, pop-up stalls and in-store activities. The council names Bottle Keg Can, Bun and Bowl, Jannali Seafood and Grill and EyeQ as offering extended hours and in-store experiences. Fleur My Darling, Jannali Physio Focus, K Studio, Cafe Jolie, Leap Therapy Group, Crazy Bargain Buys and Hayd Mart show products and information outside their shops. Other listed stalls include a pop-up toy stall from the Sutherland Toy Restoration Centre, a popcorn stall from Sanders Property Agents, hair braiding and accessories from Fos Salon and Allegra Hair Studio, a pop-up op shop from See Change Op Shop, and gourmet barbecue from Steak Out Butchery.
Is there food and alcohol?
Yes. The council says there are local cafes, restaurants and takeaways in the precinct, along with food trucks, and asks visitors to support the local businesses. Sunset Square has a licensed area for drinks and food trucks. The Union Place Hotel is hosting the Moonrise Bar. The council says drinks are not permitted to be taken out of the designated licensed area, and drinks from local licensed venues should be consumed inside those premises, not outside.
Is it accessible?
The council’s page states that disabled access and parking is available at this event. It does not give details of where accessible spaces are, so contact the council on (02) 9710 0154 before Saturday if you need to know. Council staff may take photos and video at the event and may use them in publications, on its website or on social media, and asks anyone who does not want their image used to tell a staff member on the day.
Can I run a stall or perform?
The council says the festival is bigger than before. Stallholders and performers who want to take part can use its stallholder and performer registration forms, which the council says are expressions of interest only and not booking confirmations. Council also says stallholders offering something locally crafted or handmade in the Sutherland Shire will be at the festival. For visitors, entry is free.
Sources
- Sutherland Shire Council: Jannali Moonrise Festival, Saturday 7 November 2026 (event page, program, road closures), checked Monday 26 October 2026
- Sutherland Shire Council: Jannali Moonrise Festival 2026 and frequently asked questions, checked Monday 26 October 2026
Featured image: Jannali railway station seen from the footbridge (photo: Maksym Kozlenko / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Sutherland Shire Council, Transport for NSW or the Jannali Moonrise Festival. Times and closures can change; check the council’s festival page before you go.