More than 9,000 people flocked to Peninsula Recreation Precinct at Umina Beach on October 3 as the Coastal Twist Festival culminated in Coastie Carnie Fair Day.
Featuring a huge line-up of 15 events over seven days, the festival, put on hold for the past two years due to COVID-19, put arts and culture front and centre following two years of restrctions and devastating weather events.
The Fair Day alone saw an increase in audience numbers of 40 per cent from the inaugural festival in 2019.
Festival director, Glitta Supernova, said audiences lapped up the entertainment and art installations, with police reporting a well-behaved crowd on the warmest day in months.
Supernova said the festival, supported through the NSW Government’s Regional Events Acceleration Fund, attracted 50 per cent of its audience from the Central Coast, with the remaining 50 per cent comprising visitors from across regional NSW, Queensland, Victoria, the ACT, Tasmania and South Australia and all ticketed events completely sold out.
“The festival continues (to amass a huge) following amongst local businesses from Wyong to Terrigal and Woy Woy to long Jetty, all displaying their involvement though their Be the Change window displays, participation in events and as stall holders,” Supernova said.
“The festival also held the largest youth (12-17) dance party the PCYC had hosted with over 120 registrations, a partnering of Headspace, Naughty Noodle Fun Haus “YAAS” (Young Authentic And Social) program and PCYC.
“Coastal Twist Festival is a community-built festival based on all of us celebrating the diversity that is life together.
“The Central Coast has a cheeky, fun, open, heart that’s been fighting for a very long time to have its own unique identity.”
Supernova said that identity will continue to build as communities connect, build voice and work together for a sustainable and equitable future – a happier, healthier and more welcoming Central Coast.
“Many artists performed new or unreleased songs during their sets, international headliners butted against local emerging Naughty Noodle artists and Naughty Noodle Intern and Central Coast Youth of the year Jack Williams was announced as the newest member of the House of Slé, the Sydney based artist based collective,” she said.
“Poised for success with a strong track record, Coastal Twist is already enshrined as a unique and much loved original quirky Australiana vibrant regional experience that’s not to be missed.”
Source:
Media release, Oct 5
Coastal Twist