Overview
If you live in southeast Queensland, coming up with a reason to hit the beach is easy. The sand and surf is just there, waiting, and luring Brisbanites up and down the coast. But if you plan your beachy stints around festivals, then you've likely been loving the growing number of new oceanside events that keep joining the region's cultural calendar — such as music fest Springtime in Surfers Paradise, Byron Bay's Revel Food and Culture Festival and now the just-announced Burleigh Festival.
The latter will debut across the weekend of Friday, September 16–Sunday, September 18, taking over Justins Park on the Burleigh Heads Foreshore for three days. On the agenda: food, wine, music and surfing — aka a golden quartet for any festival, especially one setting up shop right by the water.
Burleigh Heads' culinary scene sits at the centre of the new fest — and while the event is free overall, obviously you'll be paying for what you eat and sip. Food-wise, venues such as Tropic, Tommy's, Maman, Costa Taco and Tarte will serve up their signature dishes, spanning everything from Mediterranean bites and Italian cuisine through to Middle Eastern-inspired and Mexican dishes.
Also on the vendor list: Al Natural Oysters, Freddy's, Lil Mami, Lucia, NAAMI and Rosellas. And, to wash everything down, Burleigh Festival is celebrating local wine via tipples from Naked Bunch, Flor Grocer and Jackson West.
Grabbing a plate, some vino and enjoying a beachside picnic is one of the fest's big drawcards — but the event will give you something to watch and listen to as you eat and drink, too. The music lineup hasn't been announced as yet; however, it'll showcase local talent as it soundtracks your festival experience, with Boo Seeka curating the bill.
If it's the surfing part of the program that'll have you rushing to the shore and vicariously living out your Point Break or Blue Crush dreams, you'll be able to catch spectacular wave action via the the inaugural Burleigh Festival King and Queen of the Point surfing competition. Hosted by Burleigh Boardriders and Summer of Surf, it'll run across two days, on Saturday, September 17–Sunday, September 18, and see top Aussie surfers competing for a $5000 prize pool.
Burleigh Festival runs from Friday, September 16–Sunday, September 18 at Justins Park on the Burleigh Heads Foreshore, Burleigh Heads. For further information, head to the event's website.