The 2015 Surfers Paradise Festival is gearing up to be the best yet as the hugely popular beachfront event prepares to return with an action-packed program guaranteed to suit people of all ages.
A host of exciting events celebrating music, art, food and culture will be on show throughout the precinct from April 3 to 18, offering something special for the whole family.
An initiative of the Surfers Paradise Alliance, the sixth annual Surfers Paradise Festival is a permanent fixture on Queensland’s event calendar with headline events including the Australian Street Entertainment Championships, Shorts In Paradise Film Festival (SIPFest) and SeaFire – one of the country's biggest and best fireworks challenges.
The event will play out over four beachfront zones along the Surfers Paradise Foreshore, including the tiered amphitheatre of the Hanlan Street beach volleyball courts.
Firm family favourite, the Australian Street Entertainment Championships, will run from Friday April 3 to Monday April 6 – the Easter long weekend – where Australian and international street performers take to the streets to compete in delighting enthusiastic crowds.
Spectators will be captivated by invited professional street performers covering a range of areas from music, dance, magic and comedy, as well as youth, semi-professional and amateur performers competing for cash prizes.
From Thursday April 9 – Saturday April 18, 2015 the Festival Pavilion located at the Beach Volleyball Courts will be the place to be, offering 10 days of action-packed entertainment including comedy, dance, the Chefs of Surfers Paradise, theatre, fashion parades, acrobatics, kids’ shows and workshops.
There will also be plenty of interactive activities for children to get involved, as well as opportunities to meet sports stars and characters.
The hugely popular SIPFest (Shorts In Paradise) will return to the Surfers Paradise Festival on Sunday April 12 this year, partnering with Gold Coast Film Festival and ScreenIt, to showcase some of the most talented filmmakers in the country.
GCFF SIPFest, a celebration of short film providing a starting point for all filmmakers big and small, will select 10 films to be screened, each with a maximum duration of 10 minutes and each competing for cash prizes. Submissions are now open and close Friday March 27.
Also back this year after a huge audience in 2014 is SeaFire - an amazing night of hypnotic fire performance and thrilling fireworks above Surfers Paradise Beach.
Teams of Australia’s greatest pyro-technicians will go head-to-head on Saturday April 18 in the skies above the foreshore, lighting up Surfers Paradise with cutting-edge fireworks timed to a thumping musical beat.
Visitors will be encouraged to watch the firework displays that will be launched from two barges, anchored just beyond the breakers and will be synchronised to a popular music soundtrack.
Exciting intermission entertainment will thrill the audience and hold their attention between displays and the event will finish with all three companies collaborating in one spectacular finale.
Taking place throughout the Surfers Paradise precinct, including the iconic foreshore, the Festival is expected to attract more than 135,000 people over two weeks and three weekends including locals and tourists from all across the country.
To get involved or to view a full schedule of events for the 2015 Surfers Paradise Festival, please visit Surfers Paradise website.
Australian Street Entertainment Championships
Date: Friday 3 to Monday April 6 (Easter long weekend)
Location: Surfers Paradise Foreshore and Cavill Mall
Cost: Free
The Australian Street Entertainment Championships will see street performers from all over Australia showcasing their skills as clowns, mimes, jugglers, dancers and everything in between from Friday April 3 – Monday April 6. As well as the invited professional street performers who will be operating in the area, the public will get a taste of unsung talent, creative innovation and fearlessly energetic performances as they compete for cash prizes.
Festival Pavilion
Date: Thursday April 9 to Saturday April 18
Location: Surfers Paradise Foreshore - the Beach Volleyball Courts
Cost: Free
From Thursday April 9 – Saturday April 18, 2015 the Festival Pavilion – at the Beach Volleyball Courts - will be the place to be, offering entertainment including comedy, dance, the Chefs of Surfers Paradise, fashion parades, acrobatics, kids’ shows and workshops. There will also be plenty of interactive activities for children to get involved providing an outlet for families during the April School Holidays.
SIPFest (Shorts in Paradise)
Date: Sunday April 12
Location: Surfers Paradise beach (Festival Pavilion)
Cost: Free
After dark, Shorts in Paradise Film Festival (SIPFest) is broadcast live in the Pavilion, premiering short films from some of Australia’s best up and coming directors. Gold Coast Film Festival’s SIPFest is a celebration of short film, the starting point for all filmmakers big and small. Submissions are now open and close Friday March 27.
SeaFire Fireworks Challenge
Date: Saturday April 18
Time: 7pm
Address: Surfers Paradise Beach
Cost: Free
A favourite at last year’s Surfers Paradise Festival, SeaFire Fireworks Challenge will see teams of the country’s best pyro-technicians go head to head in the skies above Surfers Paradise Beach with their collections of cutting edge fireworks timed to a thumping musical beat.
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