7 DAYS OF festival fun

Coastal Twist LGBTIQ Arts & Culture Festival exploded onto the Central Coast scene in 2019 as a locally made, vibrant and original, festival which was unique to the Coast and fun for all.

Prior to 2019 the Central Coast was the only region in Australia in the top 15 largest (we are number 9) with zero national celebratory symbols for our large and local LGBTIQ population, our friends, families, neighbours and businesses, leaders, organisations and innovators all wanting to push for a more equitable local region tackling the broader negative perceptions of the region. With 800 expected and over 7,000 showing up, the festival has continued to grow from strength to strength, last year hosting over 9,500 people and completely sold out across 7 days and 15 events.

This September 26 – October 2nd welcomes the festival back for its 3rd incarnation in what has become the Coast’s glitteriest week of the year with 7 days of jam–packed surprises, playful and profound fun and learnings with LGBTIQ Arts & Culture from across our region, our state and our country as artists, thinkers and innovators all come together to present work that simultaneously entertains and expands our worlds, our understanding of resilient communities and our possibilities as a region as one which is equitable, welcoming and original, cooking up our own brand of quirky, coastie, kitsch.

Multiple Central Coast hubs will come alive with free and ticketed events to suit all ages and abilities across Woy Woy, Ettalong Beach, Gosford & Umina Beach with cabaret, live music, film, dance parties, youth and senior activations, art exhibition, workshops, wellbeing hub and even bingo. The shining jewel of the festival, the Coastie Carnie Fair Day on Sunday 1st Oct, will be featuring headliner live music and performance artists alongside locals with all day Entertainment, a Market with makers, local businesses, orgs, Food and beverage, peaking with the now iconic Puparazzi Pooch Parade across the free outdoor event.

This year we return with the popular Foxy Silvers 55+ picnic. Build friendships and community connections and be part of the buzz and vibrancy of our annual festival in a lo–key way. Come on your own or bring your mates!

“Foxy Silvers” is a Coastie 55+ social club for people of diverse sexualities and genders (LGBTIQA+) to empower older (LGBTIQA+) people to lead rich and stimulating social and cultural lives, while creating new friendships and building community connections. The goal is to build community through social, cultural, and creative programs and events.

This festival is for everyone with over 55% of the programming all ages and 65% of events free. There are activities and entertainment for everyone, regardless of how you identify and this festival is about promoting and celebrating the beauty of diversity across the natural world.

Full schedule of events as well as RSVP for free events and ticket purchases, giveaways, prizes, raffles, and opportunities www.coastaltwist.org.au