We certainly missed the festivities that are so rich in the Northern Rivers; postponing our beloved local festivals during Covid wasn’t easy, but now things are back in action, it makes them that much sweeter. Byron Bay is never short of fun-filled events and gatherings for music, film, and so much more, so here are a few favourites to get in your diary!
The Banff Film Festival Australia is a prestigious international film competition. It is an opportunity for filmmakers, producers, and directors of all skill levels to enter their choice of short film or documentary. It covers the vast genre of mountaineering, exploration and extreme sports with strong environmental themes. This annual film festival, born in Banff, Canada sees over 375 submissions per year; the jury then carefully picks the top films that become part of the Australian front liners. They are curated into a 2-hour show that tours the entire country from April to June. The Byron Bay dates are Friday 20th - Saturday 21st of May 2022 and will be hosted at the Byron Bay Theatre. Be ready for an evening of adrenaline and adventure!
Splendour in the Grass will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, which means it will be even more of a good time! This beloved music festival is a highlight in everyone’s calendars, and for a good reason. With a more than epic lineup each year, we see thousands of festival-goers gather and the North Byron Parklands for three days of non-stop tunes, dancing and magical merriment. This year from July 22nd to 24th sees Gorillaz, The Strokes and Tyler the Creator as the top headliners alongside an abundance of incredible bands and talent worldwide. There are so many hidden gems across the weekend too, including the Splendour Comedy Club, the Rainbow Bar and Silent Disco. So cover yourself in glitter, get your gumboots at the ready and book your tickets today!
The Byron Bay Writers Festival is a truly inspirational event. It is a community of creatives where anyone can join together to appreciate their deep love for the written word, for the wonder of novels, poetry and never-ending ideas. This literary festival is designed to stimulate original thinking and share in both laughter and reflection. Join workshops, hear your favourite authors' thoughts and readings and immerse yourself amongst like-minded visionaries. Now hosted in the North Byron Parklands for the first time this year, it is a testament to how much this festival grows in popularity every year. Pre-book your tickets online with their Early Bird special opening from the 15th of June, just in time for the festival starting from the 26th to the 28th of August.
Nothing touches on Byron Bay culture better than surfing, and the Surf Festival is always a hell of a time. Rub shoulders with some of the best surfers in the world, get stuck in on the morning beach cleans and watch as the waves come in at Wategoes Beach. This year it will be hosted at the beginning of September (dates TBD), celebrate the growth of both women and children in surfing, and enjoy local art exhibitions, live music, and surf competitions, to name a few. Not just for the grommies, this is known to be one of the most inclusive surf events in Australia, and we are very proud to have it here on home soil (and water) each year.
