A spectacular program of live music and entertainment, headed by Casey Donovan, Busby Marou and Caravana Sun, will be presented over two days at Cronulla on the Australia Day weekend.
Miranda Musical Society, which will perform Priscilla Queen of the Desert later this year, will be among Sutherland Shire talent on show at Cronulla and Menai.
Jackson Carroll and Evie J Willie head the bill at the Monday event, Shire Vibes, which was washed out last year.
Sutherland Shire Council held its first Australia Day concert at Cronulla 23 years ago, and 35,000 residents and visitors are expected to flock to the beachside for this weekend's entertainment.
A separate celebration, with live performances and activities geared towards families with young children, will once again be held in the Menai district on Australia Day.
However, the fireworks which normally climax this event at Blaxland Oval, Illawong, have been called off because of bushfire risk.
Mayor Carmelo Pesce and deputy mayor Steve Simpson said, with much of the state continuing to face heightened risk of bushfire, it was vital that both the concerns of the community and the safety of event attendees, contractors and staff were taken into account.
"As the Menai district Australia Day festivities traditionally take place in Illawong, in close proximity to bushland, it has been decided that our fireworks will not go ahead and all funds set aside for the display will be donated to our local Rural Fire Service to aid continued firefighting and recovery efforts," Cr Pesce said.
"With a jam-packed lineup of outstanding family entertainment still on offer at our Menai Australia Day event, we encourage people to come along between 4pm and 9pm to enjoy a huge array of activities ranging from thong throwing to a circus, all in the name of raising much needed funds for important causes."
Cr Pesce said the traditional fireworks display at Cronulla was still scheduled to go ahead, subject to approval from emergency service authorities.
"As these fireworks are to be launched over water from a barge in Bate Bay they posed minimal bushfire risk," he said.
"However, council will continue to seek the guidance of emergency services experts in assessing risks in the lead up to the event."
Both the Cronulla and Menai event sites will be Alcohol Free zones.
Public transport is recommended for people attending the Cronulla celebration.
Cr Pesce said the shire events were becoming more and more popular each year.
"We have some of Australia's best first nation performers lined up this year," he said. "The community has an opportunity to come together, enjoy the entertainment on offer and also support worthy causes."
The council's charity partner, Kurranulla Aboriginal Corporation, will have a bucket collection at Cronulla, with all proceeds going to buy new equipment for Rural Fire Service brigades in the shire.
Entertainment program:
Cronulla beach - Australia Day
- 1pm - 1.30pm, Kirrawee High Jazz Orchestra.
- 1.45pm - 2.30pm, Kim Sheehy.
- 2.45pm - 4pm, Engadine & Miranda Musical Societies.
- 4.15pm - 5.15pm, Royal Australian Navy Band.
- 5.30pm - 5.45pm, Official proceedings.
- 6pm - 6.45pm, Caravana Sun.
- 7pm - 8pm, Busby Marou.
- 8.15pm - 9pm, Casey Donovan.
- 9pm, Fireworks - subject to approval from emergency services.
Cronulla beach Shire Vibes Program, Monday, January 27
- 3.30pm - 3.55pm, Jordan Kenny.
- 4pm - 4.30pm, Dimi Poulous.
- 4.45pm - 5.15pm, Dylan Wright.
- 5.30pm - 6.15pm, Clay Western.
- 6.30pm - 7.15pm, Evie J Willie.
- 7.30pm - 8.30pm, Jackson Carroll.
Menai District, Australia Day
- 4pm - 5pm, Danielle Lamb.
- 5pm - 5.30pm, Official proceedings / ANSTO Science Show
- 5.30pm - 7pm, Funk Soul Brothers Show.
- 7pm - 7.30pm, ANSTO Science Show.
- 7pm - 9pm, Joseph Calderazzo and band.
- 9pm, See Council website for details.
