Thirroul Seaside & Arts Festival is back bigger and better than ever this year. Photo: Thirroul Seaside & Arts Festival.
The skies above Thirroul Beach Reserve turn technicolour this Saturday with a new addition to the Thirroul Seaside & Arts Festival.
Family Kite Day takes place from 10 am to 3 pm at the southern end of the reserve, inviting families to bring their own kite or purchase one on the day, and help create a spectacle.
While it’s tipped to be a highlight, it signals neither the beginning nor the end of the cherished annual festival, which is a celebration of everything the local community holds dear.
Art has been displayed in businesses across Thirroul for weeks in the lead-up to the main event, but per tradition the festival will officially kick off on Friday 30 May at 7 pm with the launch of the art show at Thirroul District Community Centre.
Your $25 (paid at the door) gets you access to drinks and finger food, and the first look at works for sale. There will be more than 300 main art pieces including paintings, sculptures and mixed media works, as well as more than 200 minis.
All prizewinners will be announced on the night — except the people’s choice. Voting for this coveted prize will be open for the duration of the art show — Saturday 31 May from 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday 1 June from 10 am to 2 pm, with entry by gold coin donation.
“Rebecca Brennan is always a favourite of mine, and this year Peter Taylor is new to the art displayed in Thirroul shops. He has created some beautiful images of rock pools,” festival volunteer Kim Morris says.
“For a more traditional artist I turn to Chris Hill. She leads the art show committee and always creates such fine work.
“But really, every single artist in the show brings something wonderful.”
As always the festival will culminate in the Family Festival on Sunday 1 June from 9 am to 3 pm, transforming Thirroul Beach Reserve into a vibrant hive of colour and activity.
There will be close to 80 diverse market stalls, including showcases of local creators, food trucks, carnival and pony rides and live entertainment on stage.
“The forecast looks sunny which is wonderful because last year we had to cancel due to inclement weather,” Kim says. “This year, we’ve sprung back bigger and better than ever.”
Now in its 33rd year, the Thirroul Seaside & Arts Festival is a not-for-profit project of the Austinmer/Thirroul Lions Club Inc. All proceeds are returned to the community via projects benefitting local groups, organisations and individuals.
Since 2004 the Lions Club, through the festival, has disbursed $318,000 back to the community, including $50,000 to Disability Trust Kidswish for essential equipment, $44,000 to local primary schools for library and creative arts projects and $46,000 to the local surf club for equipment.
The Thirroul Seaside and Arts Festival 2025 runs from Friday 31 May to Sunday 1 June in locations across Thirroul.
