Fairfield Showground facts for kids
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| Location | 443 Smithfield Road, Prairiewood |
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| Coordinates | 33°52′00″S 150°54′20″E / 33.8667°S 150.9056°E |
| Owner | Fairfield City Council |
| Surface | Indoor and outdoor 2020 (Artificial turf for football venue) |
| Opened | 1950s 2020 (Opening of football venue) |
| Tenants | |
| Northbridge Bulls (National Premier Leagues NSW) (2021–present) | |
| Website | |
| Official Website: http://www.fairfieldshowground.com.au/ | |
Fairfield Showground is a big place in Prairiewood, Australia. It has both indoor and outdoor areas for many different activities.
Since the 1970s, many fun events have happened here. These include festivals, horse races, carnivals, and markets. Sometimes, over 20,000 people visit! It's located in western Sydney. The showground is huge, about 33 hectares (79 acres). That's like 60 football fields! It has a large indoor area for shows. There's also parking for over 600 cars.
Fairfield Showground is one of the biggest festival spots in Greater Western Sydney. It was built in the 1950s. The area is surrounded by eucalyptus trees. A creek called Orphan School Creek flows nearby.
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Fun Markets at the Showground
You can find markets at Fairfield Showground every Saturday. They are open from 9 AM to 4 PM. These markets are in a covered area behind the grandstands. Thousands of people visit them each week.
The markets are very popular in the area. They have more than 600 stalls. Entry to the markets is free. You can find many things there. Stalls sell toys, food, dollar items, and sports gear. There are also shops for groceries, hardware, and gardening. You can even find jewelry and pet supplies. All products are sold directly from the sellers.
Kids can also find lots of entertainment. There are pony rides and a merry-go-round. You might see clown heads and a jumping castle. There's even a mini-train ride. This train goes around the bushy areas. Adults can ride it too!
Other Market Days
A flea market started in November 2016. It is like a bazaar where people sell used items. This market happens every Wednesday. It attracts hundreds of visitors.
The Aussie Night Markets are held once a month on Tuesdays. They start at 5 PM. These markets offer many international foods. You can try Turkish, Korean, Chinese, and Mexican dishes. There are over 40 different street food and dessert sellers. You can also find 20 craft stores. DJs play music, and there's a special retail section.
Showground Facilities
The Parklands Function Centre is right next to the showground. It's used for parties and special events. These include engagement parties, wedding receptions, and school reunions. It can hold up to 250 people.
The showground also has an 18-hole public golf course. There is a driving range for practicing golf. You can also find a racing track for harness racing. This track has its own covered grandstand.
New Buildings and Upgrades
Fairfield Showground is getting a big upgrade. A new multipurpose building is now open. Construction will soon start on a new grandstand. This grandstand will cost $10 million. The new building has modern sports facilities. It also serves as a community hub for local events.
Many people use the new building. Sports teams, performers, and visitors can use it. It has high-quality change rooms and training areas. There are also meeting rooms and food preparation areas. This $5.1 million building was funded by different governments. These include the Fairfield Council, the NSW Government, and the Federal Government.
This new building is part of a $28 million upgrade. It is located between different sports fields. These include areas for festivals, cricket, and AFL. There is also a special synthetic football field. This field is approved by FIFA.
Cultural Celebrations
Assyrian Australians celebrate their Assyrian New Year here every year. This festival happens on April 1st. Thousands of people attend this New Year event. It usually has music and theater shows. You can also see traditional dancers. There are food stalls and fireworks.
Many important people have visited this festival. These include former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Other politicians like Chris Bowen and Tanya Plibersek have also attended. Former NSW premier Bob Carr has also given speeches. The Assyrian Australian band Azadoota often performs at this yearly festival.
Other Major Festivals
The showground is also home to Australia's first and largest Eid Festival. This festival started in 1987. It has grown to host tens of thousands of people. Both Muslims and non-Muslims attend. Famous guests have included Yusuf Islam. Australian footballer Hazem El-Masri has also visited. The former Governor-General of Australia, Michael Jeffery, and previous NSW Premier, Kristina Keneally, have also been guests.
The Chinese New Year is celebrated here every year. Over 60,000 people attend this event. The annual Vietnamese New Year is also held here. More than 40,000 people attend this three-day festival. Both events feature fireworks and fun rides. They also have cultural shows like dragon dancing.
The Fairfield Easter Fair started in 2018. It is held annually for three days during Easter. This fair helps people who live far from the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Entry is free. It opens from 10 AM to 10 PM, Friday to Sunday. The fair has over 20 amusement rides, like Bumper cars. You can also see a blacksmith exhibition. There are farm animals and an easter egg hunt. You can watch sheep shearing and reptile shows. And of course, there are fireworks!
A Uruguayan festival is also held every August. It has been running for almost 30 years. This festival has raised $2 million for charity. It features hundreds of performers and live music. It is one of the biggest outdoor Latin festivals in Western Sydney.
Famous international artists have also performed here. The band AC/DC played at the venue in 1975. They played songs from their first album, High Voltage.
Future Plans for the Showground
Plans for the showground were shared in 2016 and 2017. These plans included a new football field. This field could be used for AFL. There would also be coaching clinics and another building. More parking spaces and community gardens were also planned.
A new international-sized stadium was proposed. It would hold about 10,000 people. This stadium would cost $8.5 million. Walking and cycling tracks would be added around the bushland. An all-weather synthetic field was also part of the plans.
Frank Carbone is the mayor of Fairfield. He said, "The upgrades will let us bring big festivals and events to southwest Sydney. We can also host major sporting events."
Councillors agreed with Mayor Carbone's idea. They want to make the showground a top spot. It should be a place where the community can celebrate, shop, and enjoy sports. Carbone believes it will become an important place for people from outside the area. He thinks it could even become an international facility.
An outdoor cinema was planned in March 2017. It would hold up to 10,000 people. This would be a great place for film premieres.
Fairfield City Council wants its sports facilities to be ready. They hope Sydney can host the Commonwealth Games. Mayor Frank Carbone said Fairfield Showground should be included. He stated, "We are investing almost $10 million into the showground. We are also looking for more money for further upgrades." The idea to host the 2026 or 2030 Games in western Sydney was given to Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Sports Minister Stuart Ayres.
How to Get There
The Liverpool-Parramatta Rapid Bus Transitway has a station near the showground. There are also many bus stops around the area. These belong to Transit Systems Sydney.
The main entrance to the showground is from Smithfield Road. There is another entrance on Moonlight Road. This is at the end of Greenfield Road, to the west. You will see a sign showing the showground's entry.
