Gascoyne in May is a coordinated circuit of festivals held on consecutive weekends across the region. Mostly free to attend, each festival is themed to reflect its diverse and individual locations, each celebrating and sharing local culture in their own Gascoyne style. In 2017, the festivals include:
TropiCOOL Festival
Date & Location: Friday 5 May – Sunday 7 May 2017, Carnarvon
The four day event consists of the ‘Pop-Up Dining Experience with Fervor in a mystery location, where you will immerse yourself in fine food at Multicultural Eventide on the Fascine. This is where good food, culture and community come together.
The TropiCOOL Twilight Concert and TropiCOOL Family Fun Day feature a rich program of the region’s best music acts, markets, great food and awesome entertainment. This four-day event extravaganza allures people of all ages, background and abilities, so come and feast with us and celebrate everything Carnarvon has to offer.
Barefoot Black Tie
Date & Location: Friday 12 May, Denham foreshore from 5.30pm
A twilight performance featuring a String Quartet from the Perth Symphony Orchestra, Grace Barbe, international festival favourites Johan Wellton (Sweden), Eliose Green (Adelaide), Raymond Edney and much more!
Burringurrah Festival of Fire
Date & Location: Saturday 20 May 2017, Burringurrah Remote Aboriginal Community – 40kms south of Mt Augustus Tourist Park.
Fire sculptures by the Burringurrah community are teamed up with international festival favourites Johan Wellton (Sweden), Grace Barbe, Mark Atkins, Kelido Company, Ray Edney and Perth Symphony Orchestra String Quartet!
Come and feast next to the fires and enjoy bush tucker while aerial enchantresses Jade Mills and Theaker von Ziarno perform under the vast and ancient night sky. This festival is only for self-reliant travellers.
Accommodation and fuel can be found 40kms away at the Mount Augustus Tourist Park http://www.mtaugustustouristpark.com/ and road and weather conditions must be checked before your start your drive!
Festival of the Reef
Date & Location: Friday 26 May – Sunday 28 May 2017, Exmouth
Set in the scenic bliss of Coral Bay and featuring a UV Flash Mob, Seaside Cinema will be showing ‘Bubble’ - Gascoyne in May’s very own ‘Finding Nemo' (a real parrot fish who actually lives in Coral Bay). It’s animated by Sadie James and features voices of an all-star cast of Gascoyne personalities.
Love, Light: The Bay sees a magical twilight performance of aerial grace as the Kelido Company dance between land and sky, followed by an international award winning circus star Johan Wellton (Sweden), Grace Barbe, Mark Atkins, Dave Mann, Bec Schofield, Miss Max and more - all on the beach in the Bay.
Gascoyne River Music Festival
Date & Location: Saturday 3 June – Monday 5 June, Gascoyne Junction Pavilion on Scott Street.
Featuring international festival favourites and set in the ‘Guts of the Gascoyne’ the 2017 Gascoyne River Music Festival boasts a jam packed program guaranteed to enliven one’s spirit and get everyone dancing - Upper Gascoyne Style!
Set south of the Kennedy Range National Park, the community of Gascoyne Junction is proud to present a vibrant weekend of arts, culture and of course music.
Ningaloo Whaleshark Festival
Date & Location: Friday 9 June – Sunday 11 June 2017, Coral Bay foreshore
This massive festival highlights the community’s relationship with the annual return of the whale shark and is packed with a variety of exciting activities.
