EVENTS Celebrate Mary Poppins, whales and everything in-between
F
amily entertainment, food, beer, fishing, sport, music, community and culture – the Fraser Coast has events to celebrate all of them.
The region has fantastic natural assets bathed in year-round sunshine and a temperate climate backed by a wonderful range of accommodation, from the beach to the hinterland, and great cuisine. We’re also handy to the large population centres in south-east Queensland, which has boosted our profile as a venue for state and national sporting competitions. The growth of sports tourism is bringing thousands of people to the Fraser Coast, many sampling the region for the first time, and after seeing the great way of life we have here and the natural attractions on offer, they are voting with their feet and coming back for extended holidays. FOOD: A new event on the Fraser Coast calendar this year is Food 'n' Groove Fridays at City Park in Pialba. This celebration of music and multicultural food runs during spring and summer. Among our signature events is the Relish Food and Wine Festival in Maryborough in June where you can eat your way through fine local fare then let out a notch on your belt and unwind on the grassy banks of the Mary River. This is followed up in August by the Hervey Bay Seafood Festival, celebrating the region’s amazing wild catch.
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Fraser Coast Holiday Planner
MARY POPPINS: Another major event is the quirky Mary Poppins Festival in late June which has been buoyed by the release of Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns movie and the planned new Story Bank interpretive centre in the building where the author was born. The nine-day storytelling festival, which culminates with A Day In The Park, honours author of the Mary Poppins books Pamela Lyndon Travers who was born in Maryborough on August 9, 1899. She grew up in the Australian bush before attending boarding school in Sydney and going on to international fame. WHALES: Hervey Bay celebrates the return of majestic humpback whales each year. The signature Whale Festival includes a Blessing of the Fleet in July followed by the Fraser Coast Kite Karnival, Whale Parade and Concert, Paddle Out for Whales and Seafood Festival in August.
head to the Teebar Rodeo and Campdraft in June, celebrate the region’s mining history at the Burrum Coal Fest in July and soak up the atmosphere at the Torbanlea Picnic Races in October. Tap your toes at the Munna Creek Country Music Festival, also in October or watch the action at the rodeo in November. SPEED: Feel the need for speed? Cruise to the Maryborough Speedway to see some of the best young drivers in Australia at the National Junior Sedan Titles in January or head to the track for one of their regular meets. Then in November-December, hit the beach for the high octane thrills of powerboat racing as Hervey Bay hosts the Offshore Superboat Championships.
MUSIC: Our annual By The C concert returns in May this year headlined by rocker Jimmy Barnes. More great acts perform in pubs, clubs and other venues across the Fraser Coast throughout the year.
SPORT: The region’s first marathon will be run in April as part of the Bay Break Multisports Festival. This new addition to the sporting calendar builds on the Junior State Touch Football Carnival in July, the Hervey Bay Pier 2 Pub swim in September, the Joeys Mini World Cup junior football tournament in October along with the Barge to Beach Swim and Hervey Bay 100 triathlon in November.
FISHING: The Fraser Coast capitalises on its reputation as one of the country’s premier fishing destinations by hosting a range of contests for anglers including the Burrum Heads Easter Fishing Classic in April and the Game Fishing Classic in Hervey Bay in November.
BEER: For those who prefer to exercise their elbows, Hervey Bay hosts the Kondari BBQ Festival on Australia Day in January while Maryborough is the spot for the colourful World’s Greatest Pub Fest in May and the Kondari Oktoberfest happens in October!
OUT OF TOWN: If you want a dose of country hospitality, you can stroll through the gates of the Maryborough Show or
ON WHEELS: If the spectacle of brilliantly turned-out vehicles puts a smile on your dial, check out the Australian Street Rod