Central Coast Biggest Events and Festivals (2023)

What's happening on the Central Coast NSW in 2023? Check out our annual events and festivals by the month.

January

Australia Day

Activities including inflatables, pool parties, entertainment and food stalls will be happening in Central Coast on Australia Day.

Held at Leagues Club Park, Gosford from 4pm – 9pm on Thursday 26 January 2023. Plus fireworks display at 9pm.

Australia Day Hawkesbury River Picnic Train

Celebrate Australia Day with your family and friends aboard the Hawkesbury River Picnic Train. The train travels from Maitland to Brooklyn. 

Book a family air-con carriage, an opening-window carriage or a private compartment.

Click here to find out more or to book.

February

Love Lanes Festival

Love Lanes Festival will see a bustling CBD packed with food, market stalls and live music and entertainment. There will also be a kids zone and guided walking tours along the Wyong Heritage Walk.

Held in Wyong on Saturday 11 February 2023 from 4pm – 9pm.

Find out more about Love Lanes Festival.

Bouddi Coastal Run

Participate in a 14km or 21km trail run in Bouddi National Park. You’ll run over varied terrain like smooth trails, rocky landscapes and hills while enjoying stunning views. It’s a great challenge. 

Find out more about Bouddi Coastal Run. 

March

Girrakool Blues Festival

This festival offers great performances from Australian and international Blues music bands.

This year’s lineup includes Eugene Hideaway Bridges, Ben Waters, Ray Beadle Band and more.

Girrakool Blues is free and family friendly.

Held at The Memorial Park, The Entrance on 3-5 March 2023.

Find out more about the Girrakool Blues Festival. 

Opera in the Arboretum

Enjoy an open-air festival with great opera singers. Some past years performers were David Hobson, Sally-Anne Russell, Michaele Archer, Sally Maer and Andrew Jones.

The festival is held in the beautiful grounds of the Crommelin Arboretum in Pearl Beach. It’s a lovely spot surrounded by large trees. Take your food and drink, a picnic rug and chairs. 

Held on Saturday 11 March 2023 from 3:00pm to 5:30pm. 

Find out more about Opera in the Arboretum.

Lighthouse Festival

Enjoy live music, food and wine at Norah Head Lighthouse. The view of the coastline in the background is amazing.

There will be quality pop-up food and drink stalls.

Held on Saturday 11 March 2023. 

Find out more about the Lighthouse Festival.

Long Jetty Festival

Enjoy over 250 food and market stalls, live music, craft bars, a kid corner and more at the Long Jetty Festival. The place will be bustling with amazing activities. 

Some of the bands include The Rubens, Meg Mac and Little Quirks.

Held at Long Jetty Foreshore on 12 March from 10am - 6pm. 

Find out more about the Long Jetty Festival. 

Flavours by the Sea

Flavours by the Sea is a chance to immerse yourself in the many cultures of the Central Coast. 

Enjoy a diversity of multicultural food, music, and art. There'll be plenty of live entertainment. 

Held on Saturday 25 March from 11am - 3pm along the Terrigal foreshore. 

Find out more about Flavours by the Sea. 

April

Davistown Putt Putt Regatta & Wooden Boat Festival 

This festival celebrates the history of putt putt and timber boats.

You'll see boats that have been restored to their former glory in all shapes and sizes.

The festival is family friendly. There are amusement rides for kids like jumping castles, food stalls and live music.

Located at Illoura Reserve in Davistown.

Find out more about the Davistown Putt Putt Regatta & Wooden Boat Festival.

Central Coast Regional Show

The Central Coast regional show returns in Gosford this year full of favourite shows... kid activities, fruit and vegetable and fruit cake judging, animals, cars and more.

There’ll be many food vendors and stalls for everyone.

Held on 22-23 April 2023 at Gosford Showground. The event will run from 9am - 6.30pm on Saturday and 9am - 4pm on Sunday.

Find out more about the Central Coast Regional Show.

May

June

Words on the Waves

Love good storytelling and the written word? Interested in current affairs and the environment? Then check out this writers festival occurring at Umina and Ettalong Beaches during the June long weekend.

Words on the Waves caters for all ages - kids will enjoy the schools program and Family Fun Day. 

Held at Ocean Beach Surf Club, Umina Beach Surf Club, Jasmine Green, and The Naughty Noodle fun house.

Find out more about Words on the Waves.

Harvest Festival Central Coast

The Harvest Festival is a great family event. 

Explore the farms in the hinterland, pick fresh produce and see farm animals. There is plenty to do, from a food tasting to pecans picking to farm tours.

Held on 10-11 June 2023. 

Find out more about the Harvest Festival Central Coast. 

Glenworth Grazing Food & Wine Festival 

Enjoy delicious food, wines, beers and spirits at the Food & Wine Festival Glenworth Valley. Kids will love the entertainments, petting farms, pony rides and more.

Read our full post OR check the official website. 

Bay to Bay Running Festival

Bay to Bay Running Festival is one of the two most popular half-marathons & fun runs on the coast. There's also a kids run. Run alongside thousands of other runners along beautiful waterways from Woy Woy to Gosford.

The profit from this event goes to local charities.

Find out more about the Bay to Bay Running Festival.

5 Lands Walk

5 Lands Walk is a popular 10 km walk along the coast from Macmasters Beach to Terrigal. Thousands of people of all ages and levels of fitness take part each year. The walk happens during the winter solstice. It's the best time to spot migrating whales. 

Read our full post on the 5 Lands Walk.

July

August

The Food and Wine Festival

Enjoy fine food and wine from the Hunter Valley, Mudgee and Tasmania and live entertainment.

The festival is fun for the whole family.

It’s $10 for beverage tastings including the festival glass.

September

Central Coast Music Festival

Enjoy local performers including Dan Sultan at Central Coast Stadium on 17 September. This event is free.

There will also be interactive workshops and pop-up music performances.

Find out more about Central Coast Music Festival.

October

ChromeFest

ChromeFest is a 3-day event for car and rock 'n' roll lovers. There are hundreds of old classic cars: American Classics, Hot Rods and pre-1978 full body Fords, Holdens and Chryslers.

There's also free live entertainment, rock 'n' roll bands and dancing, retro stalls, retro fashion parade and a Pinup Doll Competition. 

27, 28, 29 October 2023

Woytopia

Woytopia is the Central Coast’s biggest sustainable living festival. It focuses on positive and practical eco-living. You'll learn about saving energy, growing veggies, keeping chickens, organic food and more.

Enjoy music, eco-market stalls, talks and workshops, delicious food, and native animal and bush tucker shows.

The festival is family-friendly and there's entertainment for kids.

Entry is free (optional gold coin donation).

Find out more about Woytopia.

November

Patonga Blues Across The Bay

Patonga Blues Across The Bay is a blues music festival held at Broken Bay Sport & Recreation Center on a Saturday afternoon.

The event is accessible by ferry from Patonga or Palm Beach.

The past years lineup included Big Scary, Montaigne, Methyl Ethel, Grizzlee Train, Blue Eyes Cry and No Zu.

Find out more about Patonga Blues Across The Bay. 

Lighthouse Festival

Enjoy fabulous artists in a spectacular location overlooking the ocean with great food and wine.

John Butler will be performing this year! You’ll also see Jack Botts, The Sea Gypsies and Elaskia.

Held at Norah Head Lighthouse.

Find out more about the Lighthouse Festival.

The Lakes Festival 

The Lakes Festival is a 10-day event that offers a line up of activities around the Central Coast, from SUP Yoga to food trucks to comedy shows.

Check the Lakes Festival program here. 

December

Avoca Twilight Market

The Twilight Market is held on the waterfront at Avoca Lagoon.

There will be 100+ stalls, tasty food trucks, dessert bars, live music, carols, and of course Santa.

Find out more about the Avoca Twilight Market.

The Christmas Fair Central Coast 

Enjoy 160+ quality stalls and live music at the Entertainment Grounds in Gosford. Stalls include handmade arts and crafts, fresh food, international food, beer and wine.

In the spirit of Christmas there are Christmas puddings, carols, children choir and a visit from Santa. And lots of fun things for kids like puppet shows, face painting and jumping castles.

Gold coin entry fee. 

Held at the Entertainment Grounds, 4 Racecourse Road, West Gosford.

Find out more about the Christmas Fair. 

Lost Paradise

Lost Paradise is a three-day music festival held in the bush of Glenworth Valley.

Enjoy an excellent music lineup, eccentric outfits, yoga and meditation corner, family corner and food. Past years' lineup included bands like Flight Facilities, Sticky Fingers and Gang Of Youths.

It's an impressive festival. 

Find out more about Lost Paradise.

New Year's Eve Celebrations

Celebrate New Year's Eve at The Entrance - enjoy a fun-filled family event from 6:00pm to 9:00pm with fireworks at the end of the evening.