Illuminate Yagan Square to light up the city with two-day fusion of culture, food and excitement

Yagan Square is set to officially reopen and unveil the new-look precinct with a massive weekend celebration on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28. Illuminate Yagan Square is a free event that offers a multitude of family-friendly activities and night-time entertainment across a two-day fusion of culture, food and excitement.

Over 48 hours and five spaces, the Illuminate Yagan Square program of free events and activities will transform the precinct with 50 simultaneous, free activations for different ages from 11am to late on Saturday and Sunday.

Highlights include a stunning one-of-a-kind LED Maze, cutting-edge entertainment acts, aerial performers, a live music stage programmed from day into night, food trucks and pop-up food carts, photo moments, circus school, one-minute portraits, face painting and more.

On Saturday night, the precinct will come to life with the GLOW–GLEAM–DREAM program, which includes The Last Numbat, a large-scale, interactive puppetry installation and performance narrated by Indigenous artist, Nadia Tavo; evocative artwork projections by renowned Indigenous Perth artist, Deborah Bonar; and Shadow Stories with storyteller extraordinaire, Glenn B Swift. This creative collaboration between the team at Twine, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, VJzoo, and some of WA’s leading artists and performers features immersive visuals, soundscapes, and uniquely Australian tales.

The Horseshoe Bridge will be closed on Sunday, April 28 to make way for pre-loved street markets, while Sunday evening offers the chance to dive into Noongar culture with KAYA, by Phil Walleystack. This unique 75-minute experience merges traditional Noongar storytelling with captivating sounds, movements, and visuals, didgeridoo loops, chants, aerial footage, and projections. The performance features the Aliwah Dancers and art projections by Justin Martin in an immersive journey through Noongar heritage that blends ancient tales with modern artistry. Free tickets can be booked now at Humanitix.

Yagan Square has gone through a vibrant rejuvenation over the past 18 months. At the heart of this transformation is the eagerly anticipated multi-level and multi-venue Stories, a hospitality precinct by Nokturnl (The Beaufort, The Old Synagogue, and The Station). With three distinctive restaurants, 11 bars, and an array of open-air spaces, including the city’s biggest beer garden, a unique rooftop event space, and a children’s playground—catering to a 2500+ capacity, Stories will display some of the best culinary and cultural experiences and events that Perth has to offer.

Upgrades to Yagan Square also include a number of improvements to make the location a vibrant, safe, and family-friendly space, including a new alfresco area, ‘buskstops’ for live entertainers, entryway arches, and festoon fairy lights. Other dining vendors remain open at Yagan Square, including The Shoe, Gangnam Korean BBQ, Hiss and Smoke Japanese, and Street Eats Eatery.

The new Edith Cowan University (ECU) city campus will be completed in late 2025, rounding out the dynamic mix of education, culture, and recreation elements for Yagan Square.

The significance of the inner-city space goes beyond its physical transformation, as Yagan Square was a traditional meeting place for Indigenous communities.

Illuminate Yagan Square takes over Yagan Square on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28, 2024. For more information follow Yagan Square on Facebook and Instagram or visit www.yagansquare.com.au