Your Guide to the Coastal Twist Festival

Let’s twist again! The Central Coast is about to become a vibrant explosion of colour and creativity as the region comes to life from 1-6 October with the Coastal Twist Festival.
Ready for another year, the landmark local event returns for all ages and abilities, with Auslan across events in accessible spaces in Umina Beach, Woy Woy, Ettalong Beach and Gosford.

Coastal Twist LGBTIQ Arts & Culture festival launched on the Central Coast in 2019 as a locally made, original fun for everyone way of entertaining and connecting Coasties and their guests, families and party goers, teens, and seniors. The Festival is already enshrined as one of the most “quirky, kitsch Australiana'' experiences and has grown into one of Australia’s most unique Pride festivals, celebrated for its bold embrace of diversity, creativity, and community spirit.

This year’s theme, "Rise & Shine," symbolises resilience, renewal, and transformation, represented by the powerful image of the phoenix. The festival unites the community and its allies in a vibrant celebration of queer expression, collective growth, and a commitment to fostering an inclusive, welcoming Central Coast.

Over six days and nights, the festival will offer a rich line-up of free and ticketed events, featuring live music, film, cabaret, art exhibitions, and dance parties. Everyone is invited to explore the Coastal Twist list of what’s on, from families to kids, couples to colleagues, even to people’s dogs at the Puparazzi Pooch Parade, there will be roaming performances, presentations, beach activities, live entertainment sets and safe spaces to attend across the long weekend.

Life's a Beach

1 October 2024

Pack your hamper, brolly, towels, whatever it takes to make you comfy and happy, then grab your mates for some real fun in the Coastie sun. 100% free event, with a 10am kick off on the golden sands of Umina Beach - just look for the bright Coastal Twist marquee near Umina Beach Skate Park and the surfboard action on the sand.

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Coastal Twist Festival LGBTIQA+ Art Exhibition

2-7 October 2024

In a celebration of locally based professional, mid-career and promising emerging multiplatform artists, the Coastal Twist LGBTIQ Arts & Culture Festival will be unveiling a major new exhibition “Rise & Shine” aligning with the 2024 Festival theme. The exhibition will display pieces of varying mediums including ceramics, painting, photography, multimedia and sculpture with each work offering a fresh Central Coast LGBTIQ perspective, with a unique Coastal Twist. Head to the FunHaus factory from 2-7 October and see an exquisite display of art!

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Love Club Cabaret

4 October 2024

Featuring some of Australia’s most significant LGBTIQ Artists across stage, screen, and club scenes all in for an immersive evening at Naughty Noodle Fun Haus, Ettalong Beach. Swap out your linear lounge room and digital doldrums for an explosive bedazzling burst of live human connection – this is the commotion you have been waiting for as Coastal Twist Festival presents a Performance Party welcoming mates, dates, singles, families, and allies from across Australia.

Find out more and book your table

Bauhaus Fire Birds

5 October 2024

Come together for a night with the Bauhaus Fire Birds, the ultimate Surrealist costume ball that stands as a pinnacle event within the Coastal Twist LGBTIQ Arts & Culture Festival. Step into our transformative dance party where mythical beings emerge, dancing on the ashes of their former selves to reclaim their power and ignite the dancefloor with newfound energy. Don’t forget to wear your costume that embraces Morphtastic Surrealism and be prepared for a stunning line-up of DJs, performers, projections, and Go-Go dancers, blending fashion, art, and untamed energy on the dancefloor.

Find out more and register to attend

Coastie Carnie Fair Day

6 October 2024

This is the biggest and most colourful event of the Festival with FREE all-day entertainment, markets, curated food and bar, plus much more. This year’s Fair Day will feature ARIA Award-winning neo-soul artist Kaiit, whose smooth vocals have earned her comparisons to Lauryn Hill, with over 30 million streams and 90,000 followers on Spotify. Other artists ready to light up the stage include viral sensation and runner-up on Australia’s Got Talent, Greg Gould, pop artist Vetta Borne, Shauna Jensen and more.

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Rainbow shopping trail

The most anticipated local business shopfront window competition is back!

After a hugely successful debut, we’re excited to share that the Coastal Twist Shopfront Window Display Competition is running again this year! Explore a rainbow range of local shops each jumping on board across Central Coast town centres of Umina, Woy Woy, Ettalong, Gosford, Terrigal and Long Jetty! Last year’s winning entry from Lifeline Shop at Woy Woy was fabulous, so this year we expect to see even more local businesses show off their wares in this colourful competition as a part of a happier, healthier and more welcoming Central Coast.

• Share photos of your fave window masterpieces – tag  @LoveCentralCoastNSW & @CoastalTwistFestival
• Include hashtag #RainbowWindows & #CoastalTwist and of course #LoveCentralCoast