The Bluewater Festival is coming up, and we’re getting excited! Whether you’re visiting the area for the festivities, or you live locally, the Bluewater Festival is one of our favourite annual traditions, and we’re gearing up for this two-day fiesta of music, food and fun!
This family-friendly festival is held annually at Moora Park in Shorncliffe. It’s been an annual tradition in the Sandgate area since 1997, when a creative local lady, Anne Hobbs, got together with friends and put on a festival celebrating the local area’s culture, artistry and music.
Today, the Bluewater Festival is a community-centric event, sponsored by local businesses with vendor opportunities for artists, artisans and others to sell their wares at the festival market on Good Friday. It’s a celebration of the community spirit of Sandgate, Shorncliffe and the surrounding area.
The Highlight of Bluewater Festival
One of the best parts about Bluewater Festival is the views of the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race from Shorncliffe!
The Multihull Yachts start the race just off the Shorncliffe Pier on the Friday of the festival, and you can witness the fire-cannon start and watch these magnificent boats burst into action.
The race runs on Good Friday every year and covers a distance of 308 nautical miles, with 47 vessels in 2023’s race!
Watch the start of the race as the yachters take off from Brisbane headed for Gladstone. You can stay as long as you like to watch your favourite yacht team or simply marvel at the spectacle.
Insider Tip: The Shorncliffe Pier offers the best vantage point but is also packed with race watchers and festival attendees; get there early to secure your spot!
What to Expect at the 2024 Bluewater Festival
Back to the festival, and whether you’re new to the area and you want a fun community event to get involved with or you’re a returning loyalist of the Bluewater Festival, here’s what you can expect this year.
Thursday, March 28th
The opening day of the Blue water Festival 2024 is always a huge hit, with families enjoying many live bands playing; whether Aussie acoustic is your vibe or something a little more upbeat, Bluewater Festival has music for every ear. Stunning soloists and an ABBA tribute band grace the stage at the Bluewater Festival in 2024; you can expect more of the same every year!
Usually kicking off in the late afternoon and running until late evening, the Thursday festivities are the perfect start to the Bluewater Festival. Festivalgoers can enjoy food trucks serving various delicious foods, both local and international. Festivalgoers should arrive sooner rather than later, as some vendors sell out quickly!
Thursday’s evening attractions feature live music, as those who plan to stay for both days prepare for the fun-filled Friday, when Bluewater Festival kicks into full gear.
Friday, March 29th
Friday’s Bluewater Festival kick off sharply at 9:30 am, as market stalls open for local vendors to sell their wares. If you’re looking for some unique Sandgate artist’s work to adorn your walls or want to enjoy a tasty treat from our talented foodies, then the morning market is the perfect way to kick off your Friday at Bluewater Festival.
The kids will love Good Friday at Bluewater Festival, there are free arts and crafts between 9:30 and 11:15. Let your kid’s imagination run wild with painting, drawing, balloon creations and more!
Starting at 11:15 is the opening ceremony of Bluewater Festival, celebrating this stalwart community gathering and the beginning of Easter. The Easter Bunny will make an appearance for the kids and then be around all afternoon for pictures and easter eggs!
Kid’s rides are back on Friday morning along with an appearance by exotic animals from the Australia Zoo in Brisbane. An expert guide from Australia Zoo hosts this interactive experience, offering kids a unique and fun opportunity to see animals outside of a zoo.
Your kids can also enjoy the fantastic face-painting talents of our local face-paint artists! Lions? Tigers? Bears? Oh my! Or even the beautiful butterfly? Whatever your kids’ want to be for the day at Bluewater, our face painters will make it happen!
For adults, there’s plenty of live music still to come as Elvy’s Cafe (one of Sandgate’s prized possessions) opens its main stage for the afternoon’s live bands. The afternoon festivities bring more live music, extra kids’ activities, and appearances by local and national charities seeking donations. Give, if you can, in the spirit of community that the Bluewater Festival is renowned for.
Other Important Information!
- Entry is free to the Bluewater Festival!
- All ages are welcome, though there are height and age restrictions on some of the kids’ rides.
How Do I Get to The Bluewater Festival?
We understand that getting around during festival time can be a pain, so we’ve created this handy guide to help.
By Road:
If you’re coming in from Brisbane for the festival, you’ll need to leave the city early to secure parking in the areas surrounding Shorncliffe Pier. The drive from the Brisbane CBD to Shorncliffe Pier takes about half an hour, but expect traffic delays. Driving directions from the CBD can be found here.
On Foot:
If you’re already in the Shorncliffe Pier area and are walking to the festival, you can take a gorgeous stroll along Lover’s Walk from the Sandgate end (Cliff Street), or you can access the festival grounds via Park Parade.
By Train:
If accessing the festival by train from Central Station, Brisbane or another station, you’ll need to ride the Shorncliffe Line to Shorncliffe Station and then walk approximately 700m to the festival grounds. Why not walk? You can easily walk using these directions from Shorncliffe Station – here.
We’ll See You There!
As a community, we’re extremely proud of what the Bluewater Festival offers every year, whether it’s electric live music that gets people up and dancing or the beautiful surroundings of Shorncliffe Pier and Moreton Bay that provide the perfect place to relax. Families love the Bluewater Festival every year, and our diverse array of kids’ attractions continues to grow.
We hope to see you and your family at the Bluewater Festival this year! You don’t want to miss out on one of the best community-inspired events of the year in Sandgate.
To check out other festivals near Sandgate, click here.
Looking for Accommodation Near Sandgate?
Take a look at these options:
- Affordable: Cottage on the Bay or The Brighton Hotel
- Mid-range: Brighton Retreat or Modern Pool Oasis
- Luxury: Mon Komo
