Big Central Coast events you won’t want to miss in 2024

The event scene on the Central Coast is well and truly alive - and this means the calendar for 2024 is jammed-packed with something for everyone to enjoy... From festivals by the sea to river boat regattas, paddock to plate cuisine to cultural coastline walks, we're sure our beautiful region will continue to keep you on your toes, awaken your taste buds, and open your heart to the wonders of human creativity and connection! Now let's check out those headline events for each month...

The NSW Central Coast is proudly home to a growing community of makers, creators and producers, and you can easily experience the fruits of their labour at a local market every, single weekend! Simply follow this list to find a Central Coast market near you that fits your week: Where and when to find local markets on the Central Coast

Love Lanes Festival, Wyong

10 February, 4pm-9pm

A perfect way to lead up to Valentine’s Day. Love Lanes Festival is an annual festival held in the heart of Wyong, with four lanes, three music stages and one park. Explore hidden gems and get lost in lane ways, listen to live music and feast on delicious food. There’ll be markets, art displays, roving entertainment and circus performers. Immerse yourself in the colours, hype and buzz of this outdoor community street ‘love’ themed festival.

NSW Pro Surf Series, Avoca Beach

4-8 March

NSW Pro Surf Series, World-class surfing will return to Avoca Beach in 2024 with this prominent surfing event for the Men and Women's Qualifying Series QS3,000 event.  

Central Coast Italian Weekend, Ettalong

9-10 March

The Galleria and Ettalong Beach Tourist Resort are turning into a bustling hub of activity for the Central Coast Italian weekend. The market and piazza stages will host free entertainment from Italian singers, a pasta eating competition and a plethora of Italian food to try. A spendido weekend!

Coastal Fusion, Terrigal

23 March

Coastal Fusion will fuse culture and community through music, food and art. Coinciding with Harmony Day, the newly developed Flavours by the Sea supports the region's multicultural community through performing arts, culinary delights and interactive activities.

Glenworth Vallery Easter Egg Hunt, Glenworth Valley

31 March

The Easter bunny has been spotted scattering chocolate eggs around Glenworth Valley's wilderness. Gather you friends and family for the Central Coast's Giant Easter Egg Hunt and enjoy a morning of fun, laughter and Easter cheer. 

Central Coast Regional Show, Gosford

13-14 April

Back for another year, The Central Coast Regional Show will be a jammed packed weekend of family fun. Enjoy seeing the animals, watching the displays, browsing the local artisan markets, tasting the local cuisine and dancing along to the live music. 

Origami - Folding Light & Sound, East Gosford

13 April

Engage your senses across multiple immersive spaces with a tactile, audio-visual feast. Dance inside a traditional Japanese teahouse, stroll meandering pathways, take in live music at the Japanese pavilion, immerse yourself the dry-stone garden live performances or just sit in nature & connect with mates at this year's Origami.

Words on the Waves Writers Festival, The Peninsula

29 May-3 June

Immerse yourself in a festival of stories and ideas on the Central Coast, with over 60 authors coming from all corners of Australia. Words on the Waves will be held at multiple venues across the Peninsula at Unima Beach, Ettalong Beah and Woy Woy. 

Central Coast Airshow

25-26 May

Look up to the sky as aircraft from Warnervale Airport will roar into life for the Central Coast Airshow. With the sights and sounds of the world's most iconic warbirds, world-class aerobatics and the latest in military aircraft technology, this is day the whole family will love.

Central Coast Chilli Festival

23 June 

The Sizzling Central Coast Chilli Festival Fiesta returns with an unforgettable day at 'The hottest Day on the Central Coast'! The free event promises fiery fun for all ages with a chilli eating competition, chilli products to buy and chilli infused food to enjoy!

Harvest Festival Central Coast, Central Coast Hinterland and Mountains

8-9 June

From paddock to plate dining experiences, wine tastings to produce picking, hands-on workshops, meeting the farmers and producers and much more, the Harvest Festival Central Coast will take visitors through the Central Coast Hinterland and Mountains to explore and celebrate fresh local food.

Glenworth Grazing Food & Wine Festival, Glenworth Valley

8-9 June

With over 80 local vendors and the region’s top restaurants, there’s a huge range of craft beers, premium wines, handmade gins and incredible food to enjoy at Glenworth Grazing Food and Wine Festival. And with amazing live music, delicious food experiences and tons of kids entertainment, it’s the festival for all ages.

5 Lands Walk, Macmasters Beach

22 June

A physical, spiritual, and cultural journey along 10km of spectacular coastline linking five villages on the NSW Central Coast. The 5 Lands Walk combines Aboriginal cultural experiences, live music, art exhibitions and sculptural installations. It is a collaboration between the Aboriginal peoples and the broader communities of Darkinjung Country: the artists, the surf clubs, the schools, the local businesses. It is held on the Saturday closest to the winter solstice, when the whales, a significant totem of the Darkinjung people, are migrating north.

Bark Park, Gosford

28 September

Gosford waterfront will transform into a pawsome day out for dog lovers and their furry friends. Bark Park is all about dogs, beer and music, along with epic activations, food vendors and market stalls, it's the ultimate dogs day out!

Coastal Twist, Woy Woy, Ettalong Beach, Gosford and Umina Beach

1-6 October

Coastal Twist back for it's 4 year and this year the 6 day 'Rise and Shine' festival is jam packed full of sparkly fun, play and learnings. The festival brings artists, thinkers and entertainers together to celebrate diversity and resilience in the community across the Central Coast.

Long Jetty Festival, Long Jetty

9 October

Showcasing all things music, art, creativity and local culture, the Long Jetty Festival is not to be missed! Long Jetty has boomed with alternative culture and creative hype and for one day the streets and venues will be activated with local artisan markets, live music and delicious cuisines.

Woytopia, Woy Woy

13 October

Woytopia festival celebrates sustainable living on the Woy Woy Peninsula and Central Coast with green talks, gardening workshops, bushtucker and wildlife shows, and an eco-market featuring everything from artisan produce to planet-friendly clothing and jewellery. But you don’t have to be a greenie to enjoy Woytopia — it’s a fantastic free family day out with great music, delicious food, free yoga, heaps of kids’ entertainment and more. 

Davistown Putt Putt Regatta and Wooden Boat Festival, Davistown

13 October

Brisbane Water is home to many putt-putt boats, so it is fitting to host this free family friendly event to showcase the history, heritage and local character of these watercraft. The Davistown Putt Putt Regatta attracts putt putts travelling from as far as Queensland and the ACT and is one of the largest of its kind on the eastern seaboard offering water focussed activities and on-shore entertainment.

ChromeFest, The Entrance

25-27 October

A tribute to classic American autos, hot rods and rock n’ roll. Held at Memorial Park, The Entrance, ChromeFest is a three-day event is jam-packed with plenty of entertainment and family-fun activities with market stalls, live performances, rock n’ roll dancing competition and vintage cars!

Gossy Weekender

1-3 November

Gossy Weekender is a brand new live music activation running over three days from Friday 1 November to Sunday 3 November in Gosford's newly established Live music precinct in the CBD. Over 70+ musicians will play around multiple venues. 

Patonga Blues Across the Bay Festival, Patonga

2 November

Australia's only water accessible live music festival is back this November. Bring your own picnic and drinks, catch the ferry from Patonga to Broken Bay Sports and Recreation Centre and enjoy a day of Blues under the sun at the Patonga Blues Across the Bay festival. A magic line of live music includes Chain, Chasin; the Train and Liza Ohlback and the Mercy Train. 

The Lakes Festival, Central Coast

8-17 November

The Lakes Festival showcases one of the Central Coast’s greatest assets – our waterways.  The festival involves community events across various locations in the region, providing family friendly events and educational programs.  

Lighthouse Festival, Norah Head

9 November

The historical Norah Head Lighthouse will be the venue for the much loved Lighthouse Festival which is back again this year bigger and brighter! Featuring an amazing line up of live music and good food and wine, set against a simply picturesque backdrop. 

Brisbane Water Oyster Festival, Woy Woy

10 November

The Brisbane Waters Oysters Festival is a day of oysters, food, wine, entertainment and market stalls. 'How Many Oysters Can You Eat in 30 Seconds' is a highlight of the day with many competing for the famous trophy and prize.

Rolling Sets, The Entrance

7 December

After the huge success of their first festival on the Central Coast, The Entrance will once again come alive with live music and sea of festival goers. Rolling Sets will deliver an epic line up of live music, food stalls and entertainment to get you in the mood for summer!

New Year’s Eve Celebrations, The Entrance

31 December

Celebrate the last sunset over the water by dancing along to live music performances, jump on the amusement rides and tuck into the tastiest of food on New Year's Eve. Hussy Hicks will headline the celebrations and festivities end with an incredible firework display at 9pm.

Lost Paradise, Glenworth Valley

28 December 2024- 1 January 2025

Across four glorious summer nights, Lost Paradise will transform Glenworth Valley into a kaleidoscopic alternate reality. Escape the everyday embracing the unusual, celebrating music, dancing, community, colour, culture and connection on the Central Coast