Kempsey Shire’s young people will take over the town’s laneways again this year, with the Macleay Laneway Festival returning on Saturday, 24 October.
The event, run by Kempsey Shire Council, is open to anyone aged 10 to 25 who wants to perform, showcase a talent, run a stall or simply be part of the day. Planning is well underway, with the time for the festival still to be confirmed.
Community Development Manager Steve Buczko said the festival was shaped and led by young people themselves, with Council’s role being to support them.
“The Laneway Festival is coordinated by our Community Development team, who are working directly with young people on performance and participation opportunities,” Mr Buczko said. “The Laneway Festival is shaped and led by young people, with Council’s role being to create the conditions, remove barriers and support them to bring their vision to life.”
Mr Buczko said the festival was developed as a dedicated space for young people to showcase their talents, ideas and creativity, and had grown into a community event bringing together young performers, artists, community organisations and local residents.
“It has evolved into a community event that brings together young performers, artists, community organisations and local residents, creating a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere while highlighting the important contribution young people make to our community,” he said.
With the event two months away, Council is focused on building participation across the board.
“We are currently focused on engaging performers, artists, community groups, schools, volunteers and stallholders, while also finalising key event logistics,” Mr Buczko said. “This stage is all about building participation and making sure there are plenty of opportunities for young people to have a meaningful role in the festival.”
Mr Buczko said giving young people their own event mattered because they did not always have a platform to show off their skills and ideas.
“Having an event specifically focused on young people sends a strong message that they are valued, that their contributions matter, and that their voices are important,” he said. “It also helps build confidence, community connections and a sense of belonging.”
The laneway format, which turns everyday public spaces in town into performance and activity areas, is central to the event’s appeal, Mr Buczko said.
“The laneway concept creates a unique atmosphere that feels creative, accessible and energetic,” he said. “It transforms everyday public spaces into places for music, art, performance and community interaction. It encourages people to explore, discover local talent and engage with different activities throughout the event.”
He said the format meant people discovered acts and stalls rather than sitting in front of a single stage, and put young people’s work right in the middle of town.
Council is casting a wide net for participants, with musicians, dancers, visual artists, performers, stallholders and volunteers all welcome, alongside young people who simply have an idea.
“The age range is deliberately wide and we cater for it differently at each end,” Mr Buczko said. “For younger participants it is often about a first experience in front of an audience, frequently as part of a school or community group, with plenty of support around them. For older participants, particularly those in their late teens and early twenties, it can be a genuine stepping stone.”
Mr Buczko said Council had previously helped young musicians build experience by connecting them to paid performance opportunities at markets and community events throughout the year, not just at the festival.
Young people with an idea but no polished plan are encouraged to reach out regardless.
“They do not need a polished plan, a rehearsed act or anything written down,” Mr Buczko said. “A phone call or an email saying ‘I have an idea’ is genuinely enough, and our team will work through it with them from there.”
There is an Expression of Interest form for anyone wanting to perform or take part, but no audition process. Once an expression of interest is submitted, a Council team member follows up to talk through options, whether that is stage time, exhibition space, a stall or something else. Anyone who finds the form a barrier is encouraged to call Council directly instead.
While young people are the stars of the festival, Mr Buczko said the event relied on the wider community too, with adult volunteers, local organisations and businesses all able to get involved by helping on the day, providing space or equipment, or offering ongoing opportunities to young people.
The festival is supported by the Macleay Youth Network, which brings together local services working with young people, along with local schools and several Council teams covering event approvals, traffic management and communications.
Asked what he would most like to see at this year’s festival, Mr Buczko pointed to young people driving their own ideas.
“More young people bringing us their own ideas rather than responding to ours,” he said. “We can program a good day, but the festival is at its best when a young person turns up with something we would not have thought of. That is the thing I would most like to see more of this year. That, and some nice sunny weather!”
Updates on the festival will be posted through Kempsey Shire Council’s website and social media channels as planning progresses. Young people, parents, teachers, community groups and businesses can also contact Council’s Community Development team on 02 6566 3200 or at community@kempsey.nsw.gov.au.
“The Laneway Festival is ultimately about celebrating the creativity, diversity and potential of young people in our region,” Mr Buczko said. “So come along on 24 October, bring the family, and if there is a young person in your life who has been quietly getting good at something, tell them to give us a call!”
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