Sydney Festival Saves Stallholders $20K with New Fee System

Mohammed Zarqa has been selling Palestinian desserts at Lakemba Nights for 14 years, and he's never seen changes quite like this. Thanks to a new fee structure, the festival's 60-plus stallholders are saving an estimated $20,000 each, transforming what was becoming an unsustainable event into a thriving celebration.

Lakemba Nights draws about one million people to Sydney's Haldon Street each Ramadan for a month-long cultural feast. Visitors from America, England, Ireland, and across Australia come for camel burgers, Kashmiri tea, and the electric atmosphere of what's now Australia's largest cultural festival.

But rising costs had put the event's future in jeopardy. Stallholders were paying anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 just to secure a spot in front of local shops, with fees going to individual businesses rather than the council.

The NSW government stepped in with its Permit/Plug/Play pilot program, working with the City of Canterbury Bankstown Council to restructure how the festival operates. Now vendors pay lower fees directly to the council, and the savings are significant.

"It was the right decision and more professional," Zarqa told ABC Australia. While his brother's shop gave him a spot, he watched other vendors struggle with what he called "big money" just to participate.

The Ripple Effect

The transformation extends far beyond one festival. Sixteen other councils involved in the pilot program reported similar results, with costs dropping by two-thirds on average.

"They were really struggling to put that festival on as cost pressures rose," said John Graham, Minister for the Arts and Night-Time Economy. The program also funded portable safety barriers and pop-up marquees as one-time investments that can be reused year after year.

Local businesses are winning too. Shops near these community events typically double their trade during festivals, creating a genuine economic boost for neighborhoods. And because many events can now be offered free to the public, more people can participate regardless of income.

Mayor Bilal El-Hayek highlighted another advantage: the equipment purchased for Lakemba Nights can now be reused at other multicultural events across the diverse Canterbury Bankstown area.

A new funding round is offering up to $500,000 to 24 local councils, meaning more communities can host affordable festivals. Zarqa expects next year's Lakemba Nights to be the biggest yet, especially with the new Metro system bringing easier access to thousands more visitors.

When government programs make it easier for small vendors to share their culture and cuisine with the world, everyone gets a taste of something special.

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