Caloundra’s inaugural Fringe Festival will get under way today (Friday September 21) with music, marching, and plenty of whizz-bangs.
The Fringe launch runs from 5.45pm to 9.30pm. A street march kicks things off from the Music Festival site, along Burgess Street, down De Vene Avenue and finish at the Surf Stage in Lions Park. The march will feature music, decorated vehicles and lanterns.
It’s followed by ex-Stylus band member Peter Cupples and The Voice contestant Kelsie Rimmer performing at the Surf Stage.
A fireworks display will start up at 7pm in Kings Beach, followed by a second one at Happy Valley at 8pm, with carnival rides operating through the evening – and through the coming week.
A bar will also be operating at Kings Beach.
“It looks as though the weather is going to be ideal for the Fringe Festival opening,” divisional councillor Tim Dwyer said.
“The whole Fringe Festival, which runs to Monday October 1, is a family-friendly event with mostly free entertainment and activities the whole time, except for the Music Festival, which starts the following Friday the 28th.
“With the spring school holidays also starting tomorrow, Caloundra will become a bustling centre and we are aiming to give visitors a holiday to remember,” Cr Dwyer said.
The Busking Festival also begins this weekend, as does Festuri – all now under the umbrella of the Fringe Festival.
On Monday October 1, the final Fringe Festival day, the Morecombe Foundation will take over music festival stages for a Family Day Out, featuring 30-plus child safety and harm prevention exhibitors, appearances from Terri, Bindi and Robert Irwin and Australian swimming coach Laurie Lawrence – and a surprise, free performance from Darren Percival.
A huge range of activities and events will fill the remainder of the week – see the attached at-a-glance list.
In total, the Fringe offers you more than 30 different events across 12 locations in Bulcock Beach, Happy Valley and Kings Beach, Caloundra.
The mainly-free Caloundra Fringe Festival runs from Friday September 21 through to Monday October 1.
The tickets-only Caloundra Music Festival starts Friday September 28 through to Sunday September 30.
More information can be found at www.caloundrafringefestival.com and www.caloundramusicfestival.com