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Lakes Festival Central Coast 2023

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In its eighth year this year, the celebration of our waterways which is The Lakes Festival is making a splash as it returns to the Central Coast. Taking place between 3-12 November 2023 Central Coast locals can look forward to a jam packed 10-day program boasting over 30 events and activities at 10 different locations across the Central Coast from Budgewoi, up north right down to Bouddi and Killcare in our south.

Central Coast Lakes Festival 2023

Always a crowd pleaser the Lakes Festival aims to bring together locals and visitors with its array of wonderful family-friendly events, activities, and cultural and educational programs. There really is a little something for everyone at Lakes Festival in 2023 – keep reading to see some of our top picks of the events on offer.

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Kicking off is the not to be missed “Light Up the Lake” on Saturday 4 November at Memorial Park, The Entrance. Our friends at Curious Creators are bringing back the Flow Walk, an interactive, fun for all ages creative walk. This year’s walk is complete with LED props, and our friends at Roundabout Circus are hosting an LED and circus play space and more. circus play and more. The Community Mural Project by Bella Rose Art is also back. As is (of course) a brilliant lineup of live music and entertainment. Look out for headliners Royel Otis, plus The Buoys, RAT!Hammock, Turpentine Babycino and great local talent Stella Hannagan.

The kidlets have not been forgotten either they can enjoy climbing inside a real fire engine and meeting their local heroes from the NSW Fire Brigade. There will be food and drink stalls plus a Jetpack* and fireworks display to wrap up the day. *Subject to Department of Transport Maritime approval.

Central Coast Lakes Festival 2023 — Roundabout Circus LED play space, image supplied

The Lakes Festival, Central Coast 2023

For the first time ever, comedy shows will be added to the festival program. Avoca Beach Theatre, Link & Pin in Woy Woy and The Ary in Toukley, will see three weekday shows from local comedian Marty Bright and his funny friends, including Julia Wilson (The Comedy Channel), Tommy Dean and Peter Berner. Coasties can also look forward to a weekend Comedy Gala with an amazing line-up of Australia’s funniest stars, homegrown legends, and next-big-things in comedy at the Laycock Street Theatre in Gosford. As well as the returning favourite, CLAMBAKE VI: Sink or Swim where you can enjoy a night of burlesque, drag, circus and cabaret held at Naughty Noodle Fun Haus in Ettalong Beach.

See here for more info on all the funny entertainment coming your way.

Being a festival dedicated to our waterways there is naturally a host of outdoor adventures to choose from. With everything from the Bouddi Coastal Run to kayak eco-tours held at five locations across the Central Coast, including Avoca Lagoon, The Entrance, Budgewoi, Davistown and Patonga, to a two-day Beach SUP Festival and scenic flights where you can take in the wonders of our lakes system, hosted by Central Coast Aero Club. Plus, dare we say it, even more, check out the full program here.

Family fun at Lakes Festival in 2023 on the Central Coast includes the Wonders of Water a community event held at Like Minds in Avoca on Saturday November 4; an educational event exploring our relationship with water and includes your dose of art, dance and culture. Look out for CLIPPED Karaoke at Memorial Park in The Entrance where you can be the star of your own live music video, while also enjoying plenty of activities like laser tag and giant garden games!

Not forgetting the fur babies is The Lakes Festival Dog Walk in Long Jetty on Sunday, November 5 too.

The Arts and Crafts will truly be alive at Lakes Fest this year too. We are excited to join in creating the “Trash to Treasures Mural” hosted by Painting with Prosecco, and the “Turtle Dream Sculpture” with Studio K in Long Jetty where the community will come together to create using collected rubbish found in our waterways. There’s also a Waterside Weaving Workshop in Avoca on Saturday, November 11, the eighth annual Toukley Arts and Crafts Festival on November 4, and Art in the Park at The Entrance North on November 5.

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As we said Coasties – the lineup for The Lakes Fest this year in 2023 is bigger and better than ever, and there really is something for everyone, we can’t wait to see you out and about. Don’t forget to tag @coastiesmag and hashtag #lakesfestival as you’re out and about adventuring.