Three Central Coast Events to Hit on a Weekend Adventure This March
Bookmark these family-friendly events for any upcoming trips up north.
Three Central Coast Events to Hit on a Weekend Adventure This March
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Bookmark these family-friendly events for any upcoming trips up north.
Summer might be on its way out, but that doesn't mean things are starting to slow down. In fact, regional hubs across New South Wales are renewing their focus on the months ahead to keep visitors and residents alike as entertained as ever. This month, the Central Coast will join the fun and play host to an exciting array of events to keep people coming back for more.
The Central Coast is an easily accessible day trip or weekend destination for Sydneysiders. The towns along the coast are peaceful enough to avoid feeling overcrowded — and yet are lively enough to ensure there is always something to see or do.
We've rounded up some of the can't-miss events happening on the Central Coast to add to your itinerary for your next drive up north this autumn.
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March kicks off with the return of annual music festival, the Girrakool Blues Festival. For the seventh year running, this celebration of a genre loved worldwide will bring global big names of blues to The Entrance for a whole weekend.
Running from Friday, February 28 to Sunday, March 2, this year’s lineup is set to rock as hard as ever. Expect tunes from the likes of Ross Wilson and The Peaceniks, Bondi Cigars, Jesse Redwing, Pete Cornelius, Steve ‘West’ Western and many more. And although the music ought to be top-notch, you’ll also find market stalls, First Nations cultural activities and a family carnival day on Sunday, all in Memorial Park on The Entrance’s main road. The best news? Unlike certain other big-name festivals, entry here is free of charge.
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Food festivals have always been a great excuse to make weekend plans, with big-ticket events like the Bastille Day markets and the Good Food and Wine Show regularly drawing hungry crowds. But what about options for members of Australia’s constantly growing vegan community? One of the most popular alternative food festivals around Sydney has to be Alive Plant Based Festival, running for one day only on Saturday, March 8.
Organised by Vegan NSW and supported for the first time in 2025 by the Central Coast Council, this year’s edition is set to be bigger than ever. Ideal for a family day out or a scrumptious solo feast alike, you’ll be able to browse the tastiest vegan and plant-based treats around, from hot and fresh desserts to artisanal goodies. You can also look forward to live music, yoga sessions and speakers, and the entire (free-entry) festival is kid and dog-friendly.
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When Great Southern Nights is set to take to the stage, you should expect big things to happen. This statewide music festival is all about heroing local musical talent and is doing so with hundreds of gigs in regional hubs of NSW — including the Central Coast — between Friday, March 21 and Sunday, April 6. From Erina to Doyalson and beyond, some of the festival’s headline acts will be sprinkled all throughout the area.
The main venues joining in on the fun are The Sunken Monkey in Erina, Wyong’s The Art House, Warners Bay Theatre, Doyalson RSL and Drifter’s Wharf in Gosford. As to the lineup — there are legends of the Aussie music industry like Baby Animals, Troy Cassar-Daley and Marcia Hines, plus plenty of newer faces like The Rions, Ngaiire, Telenova and more. Events range from free entry to ticketed, so you’d best visit the Great Southern Nights website to start planning or check out our guide for tips on how to enjoy your time on the Central Coast.
For more information on what’s happening on the Central Coast, you can visit the Destination Central Coast website.
