Incoming: Coastal Twist Festival 2023

Coastal Twist Festival 2023 Wraps Up

And that’s a wrap of the Coastal Twist Festival for 2023.  What an event!  Preliminary figures demonstrate another booming year for the 7 day festival which launched Tuesday, September 26th at with a private exhibition party at their home base in Kibble Park in Gosford.  The opening was overflowing with a room of VIPs including the who’s who of Central Coast professional, government and local business leaders.  A staggering 35% of all the local artist’s works on display were sold on launch night.

Despite Central Coast sweltering through the hottest ever start to October long weekend temps on Sunday, October 1st Fair Day was a hit.  it saw a phenomenal 6,500+ visitors who braved the extreme fire danger, winds and sand storm to support a magical, dusty day of LGBTIQ celebration.  Coasties Mag were proud to be supporting the event and talking all things Coasties Card, inclusion and #supportlocal.

A whopping 70% of the ticketed events across Gosford, Ettalong, Woy Woy and Umina were completely sold out, including the cabaret and dance parties.  Bucking the trend of people not spending or going out due to financial stress. “We are so very honoured in the support, attendance and love for Coastal Twist. As the festival continues to grow and evolve as an original and locally made offering.  We are leading the way in delivering something new, authentic and local  to the Coast that brings locals together and encourages new visitors to the region.  This year visitors come from across the nation, from over 200 Australian postcodes which is mind boggling” stated festival Director Glitta Supernova.

Coastal Twist festival is now in its third year and has cemented its place in the top events to attend on the Central Coast each year. This much-loved, original, quirky Australiana vibrant beachside Coastie experience is not to be missed.

Coastal Twist 2023 is coming!

The Coast’s sparkiest week of the year is back for its third incarnation.  Incoming; Coastal Twist Fetsival 2023.

From September 26th through to October 2nd the greater Central Coast community (no matter how you identify) will enjoy 7 days of jam-packed surprises, and playful and profound fun!  As always, expect learnings and unlearning with LGBTIQ Arts and Culture that is for everyone from across our region, our state and our country.

After the realisation, back in 2019, that the Central Coast was the only region in Australia with zero national celebratory symbols for our large and local LGBTIQ population, the Coastal Twist LGBTIQ Arts & Culture Festival was born.  And, boy did she explode onto the Central Coast event scene; around 800 attendees were expected and over 7,000 showed up.  The festival has continued to grow from strength to strength, last year hosting over 9,500 people with all events completely selling out across the 7 days.  This year the festival is expected to be bigger and better than ever before.

Coastal Twist Festival is a locally made, vibrant and original, festival that’s unique to the Coast and fun for all.  With activities and entertainment for everyone, it’s about promoting and celebrating the beauty of diversity across the natural world. Across our region friends, families, neighbours and businesses, leaders, organisations and innovators all want to see a more equitable local region that tackles the broader negative perceptions of our region.

“The 2023 year’s festival theme “Inclusion Means You” is a call for everyone across the Coast and beyond to join us in nurturing a culture of respect for a happier, healthier, and more welcoming Central Coast.” Festival Director Glitta Supernova states.

“In times as polarising as these, Inclusion Means You encapsulates the ethos that everyone deserves to be heard, valued, and welcomed with respect.”

Related: Naughty Noodle Fun Haus shakes up the Central Coast’s culture

Coastal Twist Festival 2023

Local artists, thinkers and innovators will all come together to present work that simultaneously entertains and expands our worlds and our understanding of resilient communities as well as our possibilities as a region as one that is equitable and welcoming. Coastal Twist Festival is cooking up its brand of quirky, Coastie and kitsch this year with multiple Central Coast hubs coming alive with free and ticketed events to suit all ages and abilities.  The festival events will take place across Woy Woy, Ettalong Beach, Gosford and Umina Beach.  There will be cabaret, live music, film, dance parties, youth and senior activations, art exhibitions, workshops and even bingo!

The shining jewel of the Coastal Twist Festival 2023, is the Coastie Carnie Fair Day which is happening on Sunday 1st of October in Umina, featuring live music and performance artists alongside locals with all-day entertainment, a local makers market including food and beverage stalls. Not to mention the day peaking with the now iconic Puparazzi Pooch Parade.  This free, outdoor family-friendly event is not to be missed.

Get involved in Coastal Twist in 2023

Coasties Mag is beyond proud to be a premier media partner of the Coastal Twist Festival in 2023.  We urge businesses, makers, foodies and the community to get involved with this iconic festival.  With a plethora of ways to get involved, businesses can contribute and be a part of the swell of change across our region. From the annual shopfront window display competition to becoming a festival partner to registering to have a stall on Fair Day to submitting your artwork to volunteering.  You can even have one of the festival’s performers perform at your business by hosting a “Twisted Experience” in your space, the list goes on!

“Our shopfront window display competition is a fabulous way to show your support and join as a community, making the streets come alive with colour and festive flair. Be in the running to win some awesome locally supported prizes for your business–local supporting local!” comments Coastal Twist Festival Director Glitta Supernova.

There are incredible prizes up for grabs to amplify your business including a $1,500 Hit 101.3 promotional package, a $760 Coast Community News advertising package and a $500 Signarama print package.

To find out more about how to get involved and find out more visit the Coastal Twist site here.

Coastal Twist Lineup

Coastal Twist Festival will be cranking up the diversity with their lineup this year.  Beyond excited to be delivering showstopping events they warn to brace yourselves for a tidal wave of LGBTQIA+ talent.  It’s going to be “magic, music, and mayhem!” says Festival Creative Director Glitta Supernova.

Thrilled to welcome New Zealand’s side-splitting Drag Queen, Spankie Jackzon, from RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under, who will reign as our fabulous hostess at the unforgettable Love Club Cabaret. As well as the charismatic Hollywould Star, a favourite from this year’s RuPaul’s Season 3, who’s set to dazzle the Cabaret, Dance Party, and Fair Day. Australia’s party powerhouse, DJ Charlie Villas, along with burlesque sensations Jazida and Danny Golding will be turning up the heat, titillating and tantalizing! Plus, did we mention; international circus sensation Jess Love (La Soiree) will have you on the edge of your seat?

Get ready Coasties you’ll be grooving to the tunes of Pop Icon, Kira Puru, Melbourne’s queer bubble-gum punk duo, Cry Club, Indi-Electronica artist Aya Yves and Australian Idol finalist Jacey Fox who are all set to take stages by storm.

The festival isn’t just about jaw-dropping performances; it’s a smorgasbord of music, art, fashion, and pure entertainment for all offering free and ticketed experiences suitable for all ages and abilities. This year, Coastal Twist is amping up its support for Rainbow Youth, offering a Youth Dance Party, Youth Variety Show, and a dry event tailored to 18–26 year olds.

Coastal Twist Festival runs from Tuesday, September 26 – Monday, October 2, 2023, across the Central Coast.

Events tickets are on sale now at: www.coastaltwist.org.au

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