Coastal Twist Festival - Alicia, Alison, Sarah & Erin on the beach
Coastal Twist Festival – Alicia, Alison, Sarah & Erin on the beach

Central Coast NSW is set to fly its Rainbow flag nationally for the very first time

Coastal Twist festival gets set to strap on its bustier with an inclusive bright & bold program across 3 delicious days & nights

Coastal Twist brings a curated program of free and ticketed day and night events across the Peninsula which includes a line-up of International, Australia wide & local LGBTIQA+ Performances & visual artists, DJs, Musicians & National LGBTQ organisations cooking up vivacious variety that’s choc-o’block with choices from Cabaret, DragFilm, live music, Dance Parties & Exhibitions.

“Our hub will span a 5 km Peninsula region across Umina Beach, Ettalong & Woy Woy, showcasing a welcoming and inclusive Central Coast, from the largest employer in the country Woolworths who will be dressing up its shop fronts to smaller local businesses such as Republik café hosting Internationally acclaimed photographer Belinda Mason’s photography into the lives of LGBTIQ people with disability.

There is something for absolutely everybody with world-class fringe cabaret performance on Friday 4th October & Sydney’s Club Kooky DJ Jonny Seymour leading the Saturday night Surrealist Bauhaus dance party which will be a night like no other driven by the arts of costume, make-up, special effects and creativity without borders. Saturday day will be an all-ages free “Life’s a Beach” picnic on Umina Beach with a joining of the forces of Sal’s surf school and the Ocean Beach Malibu club presenting what we believe is the world’s first LGBTIQ Longboarding event, guest Judge the one and only Nell Schofield (Puberty Blues)”. The “Australian Surf LifeSavers with Pride” will be there representing beaches across Australia & Promoting a progressive, inclusive and welcoming beach life-saving culture for the LGBTIQ community with thanks to the Ocean Beach SLC who’s sharing all their resources.

Australian LGBTIQ Film Institution “QueerScreen” known for its annual Sydney Mardi Gras festival is curating its first-ever Central Coast screening at the “Twist Top Short Shorts”, the closing event of the festival with drinks & tunes on the Ocean Beach surf club deck at sunset and a home-cooked performative Indian dinner for all by the sassiest brown cooking queens in the business “2 boys in Saris”.

The Coastal Twist Festival will be culminating in a huge landmark oceanfront Fair Day @ the Peninsula Recreation Precinct, Umina Beach Sunday, Oct 6th, Auslan interpreted day stage across the day with world-class lgbtiqa+ Entertainment from Drag to Live bands, Youth spaces, Rainbow family zone, curated food, Drag Storytime & Puparazzi Pooch Parade, Curated food vendors, artesian markets with Fixx events will be complimenting community stall holder from across the country. The largest Youth LGBTIQ organisation in the country. Wear it Purple & Twenty 10 will be there empowering inclusive and visible environments for rainbow young people & PFLAG for families and friends. Central Coast council also hosting the “Including You” tent with a range of hearing and visual aids and noise-cancelling headphones, sensory tools, and a quiet space to escape noise and crowds associated with events supporting not only people in the community living with a disability, their families and carers but elderly people, parents with prams and others with limited mobility (from injuries or illness).

Bring a picnic blanket, grab your pozzy and get set for a memorable day aligning your belly, heart and choices with Human Rights & Equality for all peoples.

WHEN      Friday 4 October – Sunday 6th October 2019

WHERE    Umina Beach – Woy Woy – Ettalong Beach