Central Coast Events and Festivals - 2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure for more information. 

What's happening on the Central Coast NSW in 2021?  Check out our yearly events and festivals by the month.

January

February

Bouddi Coastal Trail Run 

Bouddi Coastal Trail Run is a 14 km and 21 km trail run in Bouddi National Park. You’ll enjoy fabulous coastal views and varied terrain.

Find out more.

The Food and Wine Festival

Enjoy fine food and wine with more than 100 stalls and live entertainment at the Food and Wine Festival.

This festival is great for all ages.

Located at Mt Penang Gardens Event Park & Parklands, 1 hr 15 min from Newcastle and 1 hr from Sydney.

Find out more.

March

Girrakool Blues Festival & BBQ

Girrakool Blues Festival has a great lineup of Australian and international blues and roots music bands. And there's at least one Aboriginal band. The festival is family-friendly and it's held at Mount Penang Parkland.

Enjoy a Southern American barbecue which symbolises blues music in the United States.

You can camp overnight.

Find out more.

Narara Music Festival

Narara Music Festival is an outdoor music festival that plays rock, blues & psychedelia music. It's held at Mount Penang Parkland.

Some of the previous years' performers included The Vanns, The Snowdroppers, Lepers and Crooks, Wild Honey and Polish Club.

You can camp overnight.

Find out more.

April

Central Coast Italian Festival

Central Coast Italian Festival is about everything Italian.

Enjoy Italian drinks, cuisine, coffee, live music, cars and bikes and more. There's also a kids zone with Italian theme arts and crafts and other amusements. You can also learn to cook Italian food. 

The festival is held at the Ettalong Beach Tourist Resort.

Find out more.

May

June

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.

5 Lands Walk

5 Lands Walk is a popular 10 km walk along the coast from Macmasters Beach to Terrigal. It's a great day out! The purpose of the walk is to connect “people to people” and “people to land”. 

Along the walk you'll enjoy art and entertainment by Aboriginal and cultural communities. 

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. 

Shuttle buses run all day between each beach and from and to the Palm Beach Ferry in Ettalong.

Check out 5 Lands Walk website OR read our our full article.

July

Whale Dreamers Festival

Whale Dreamers Festival is held at Norah Head Lighthouse. It's a great spot to watch migrating whales. The festival raises awareness of the plight of whales and raises funds for conservation and research. 

There’s entertainment, live music, food, talks and marine displays.

This event attracts thousands of people.

Find out more.

The Entrance Winter Blues and Roots Festival

Enjoy live Blues and Jazz performances at Memorial Park at The Entrance. There's also free entertainment and amusement rides for kids.

Take a chair or picnic rug. 

Find out more.

Lighthouse to Skillion Coast Walk

Lighthouse to Skillion Coast Walk is a challenging 27.5 km walk along the coastline. The walk starts at Norah Head Lighthouse and ends at the Skillion in Terrigal. About half of the walk is on the sand.

You can also walk a shorter distance if you start at The Entrance.

The money raised goes to charity.

Find out more.

August

Central Coast Craft Beer and Cider Festival

Central Coast Craft Beer and Cider Festival is an excellent event if you like microbreweries!

Brewers from the Central Coast and from all around Australia come together to display their craft beers and ciders. Taste these delicious craft beers and ciders at Kincumber Hotel.

There's also live music and food stalls. This event attracts nearly two thousand people.

Find out more.

September

Yarramalong Valley Spring Festival

The highlight of the festival is the scarecrows. You can see funny scarecrows along the roads at Yarramalong Valley. There’s a scarecrow competition as well.

The festival runs from late August through September. It ends with the Agricultural Show with wood chopping, amusements for kids, “Wife Carrying” competition, live music, and more.

Find out more.

October

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.

Held at Davistown. 

Find out more.

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. 

ChromeFest is held at The Entrance. 

Find out more.

November

Patonga Blues Across The Bay 

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

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

Some of the past years' lineup included Big Scary, Montaigne, Methyl Ethel, Grizzlee Train, Blue Eyes Cry and No Zu.

Find out more.

Central Coast Kids Day Out 

Enjoy lots of entertainment for young children like amusement rides, stage performances and pony rides. There's also food and information stalls.

The aim of this festival is to bolster the well-being of families and young children.

Held at Kariong Mountains High School.

Find out more.

The Lakes Festival 

The Lakes Festival is a 10-day event.

The festival is made up of many events and it’s quite varied... from fireworks to concerts to triathlon and stand-up paddleboard competitions.

Find out more.

Brisbane Water Oyster Festival 

Enjoy fresh local oysters, wine from the Hunter Valley and international food.

There are 100+ food and wine and art and craft stalls and live entertainment. There’s also an oyster eating competition. Kids can be amused in the kids’ zone with face painting and more.

This is a great day out for families and wine and food lovers.

This festival happens on the second Sunday of November on the beachfront at Ettalong.

Find out more.

Lighthouse Folk Festival 

Enjoy folk music performances at Norah Head Lighthouse. The view of the coastline in the background is amazing.

Artists are locals and also from all over Australia. Past performers included Paul Kelly, Charlie Owen Winterbourne and Husky.

There are quality pop-up food and drink stalls like Six String Brewery, The Hungry Traveller, Donnie Eats and Sugar High Creations.

Find out more.

Central Coast Half Marathon 

This half-marathon and 10 km fun run is held at The Entrance Memorial Park. The run is on a flat surface along Tuggerah Lake. 

Find out more.

December

The Christmas Fair Central Coast 

Enjoy 165+ quality stalls and live music at Mount Penang Gardens. 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.

Find out more.

Lost Paradise

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

There's 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.