Braddon has truly come of age in the last few years, and fast become the go-to dining and retail destination for many locals and visitors alike. It feels like a hip new café opens up every week and with unique offerings like The Hamlet putting the capital on the map, Braddon is a suburb in which Canberrans are proud to call our own.
To celebrate, a team of dedicated Lonsdale Street traders have joined forces to bring to Canberra the inaugural Braddon Block Party – so mark October 29 in your diaries, come along, enjoy a brew, explore the streets and meet the faces behind Braddon’s traders.
The event will feature all the best things Braddon has to offer, including food, beverages, clothing, market stalls, parades, live music, live street art, activities for the kids and so much more!
Braddon traders will be producing unique offerings on the day, including a specially-brewed beer from Bentspoke Brewing Co., healthy yet boozy smoothie from Eighty Twenty Food, a special treasure hunt, and the Braddon bachelor/bachelorette competition where the winner takes home a ring worth up to $10,000 from Diamond Boutique.
Organised by the Braddon traders themselves, the party is a true community event. Co-organiser Damien Maher, from Newcast Studios, says that he was inspired by events that help to promote the city as the ‘cool capital’, while celebrating the traders and residents of Braddon.
“We’ve worked hard over the last two years to raise the money to throw a party for Braddon without having to ask the businesses to participate,” he says.
“Thanks to In The City Canberra, we’ve managed to secure the funding to close off the street, change the licensing laws and get the infrastructure required, so the only thing businesses have to do is show up on the day, sell their wares and have fun.
“The government has helped Event Manager Amy Moon to secure the permissions we needed, so it’s important to acknowledge Access Canberra, not to mention all the traders who have given up their spare time for the management committee including; Klarisa Cengic (Eighty Twenty), Dan Watters (BentSpoke Brewing Co.), Glen Dowse (DNA Architects), Nick Parkinson (Hopscotch), Stipe Vuleta (Chamberlains Law) and Nik Bulum (Bulum Group).”
Major supporter In The City Canberra has pledged $75,000 in funding. CEO Jane Easthope says that initiatives like the Braddon Block Party and the tree lighting upgrade, that the organisation has also funded, will change the face of Braddon forever.
Braddon Block Party
Lonsdale Street, Braddon
Saturday 29 October
10am to 10pm
