Whitsunday Reef Festival has a massive line-up of free entertainment right in the heart of Airlie Beach to kick-off the 10-day festival extravaganza!
The free fun starts on Friday August 5 with live performances on the ‘Beach Music’ Main Stage, from 6pm to 10pm. Will Anderson, an emerging 18-year-old talent from Mackay, will use his smooth vocals, didgeridoos, guitar and percussion to create a soulful one-of-a-kind sound.
Airlie Beach favourites The Brandy Project will also perform and DJs Truman and Sugarlips will get the crowds pumping. There will be street performers and, of course, not forgetting the free fireworks on the foreshore at 8pm. Carnival rides and foreshore night markets will complete the party atmosphere on the festival opening night
“The opening night of the Whitsunday Reef Festival is the biggest night of the year for Airlie Beach – the whole town comes out to celebrate,” festival chairperson Margie Murphy said.
“There is a real party atmosphere and the entertainment we have booked is going to be rocking all weekend!”
From 10am Saturday 6th The Fraser Ford Revvin the Reef Car Show will entertain the car enthusiasts and rockers alike with vintage and muscle cars lining Airlie’s main street while rock ‘n roll band The Cadillacs perform on the main stage. Don’t miss the classic Miss Pin-up comp at 12pm
The ever popular Rotary Street Parade will take off at 4pm with a reef themed display of colour and craziness before the Beach Music Main Stage kicks off again at 5pm
Festival favourites Electrik Lemonade and Townsville’s King Social – both known for their electrifying live performances – will headline the ‘Rockin the Reef’ Street Party on Saturday night. They will be supported by Mackay locals The Natural Culture, a seven-piece funk, reggae and “world music” band, originally from Melbourne.
King Social front man Angus Milne said everyone should “bring their dancing shoes and expect to sing until they’re hoarse with a fun night of upbeat music blending country, hip hop, rock and reggae,” he said.
Electrik Lemonade, meanwhile, are a seven-piece band playing “rump funkin’” live shows that feature a mix of original, energetic funk and hip-hop tunes infused with blues, soul and electronic elements.
The festival pop-up bar in the lagoon carpark, opposite the Main Stage, will be open from 5pm on Saturday.
The kids are the focus on Sunday 7th from 10am – 2pm at the Telstra Family Fun Day on the beautiful Airlie Foreshore, packed full of activities and free entertainment for the whole family.
To close the weekend’s festivities, the live music will continue with a Sunday Session in the Festival Marquee on the foreshore from 3pm featuring Electrik Lemonade – a great opportunity for a sunset drink from the festival’s pop-up bar.
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