The annual Port Kembla Festival returns for round three after a highly successful two years! Set in the beating commercial heart of Port Kembla, the festival hosts 40+ artists across 10 venues which include outdoor gardens, motorcycle stores, and dedicated live music venues. The event is taking place on April 20th from 12PM to 10PM, and free to attend with an RSVP via www.portkemblafestival.com. With an expected attendance of more than 2,000 patrons, the festival has introduced three new stages to an already stacked event.
The event is produced by Holy Pavlova, a boutique event production and booking agency who has developed a reputation for creating unique exhibitions and live music experiences in the Illawarra. Port Kembla Festival was developed to encourage free exploration of the many interesting spaces in the area, achieved by programming an eclectic range of live entertainment and arts experiences along Wentworth St. They believe there is a need for events which deliver a diverse line-up and are free for the community to enjoy, contributing to cultural vitality of the area. Port Kembla Festival 2024 was brought to life through partnership with BlueScope, WIN, Multicultural NSW and Wollongong City Council; in addition to local legends Seeker Brewing, Principle Brewing, Hoochie Mamma Distilling Co and Port Kembla Chamber of Commerce.
Live music isn’t the only focus for Port Kembla Festival. Building on last year’s light installations and projection mapping, the festival is working with local artists to project manipulated works on building murals. Also returning for the 2024 event is “world of food”, twilight markets and Yoga Jam, a unique pairing of live music and guided yoga to open the day. The festival is proud to host artists from all corners of Australia, presenting a range of flavours for patrons to enjoy.
“The last couple years have been genuinely inspiring. It’s hard to look past full venues and smiling punters... each year just seems to get bigger and better. The event attracts a broad patronage and we’re proud of that. To accommodate the festival’s growing audience, we’ve introduced a new laneway stage which is our largest and most immersive space. The team is super excited about it.” – Harrison Hall, Festival Director
Despite its association with heavy industries, Port Kembla has a rich music and arts history dating back to First Nations communities who inhabited the area for thousands of years. The festival is the largest annual live music event for the area and owes its success to the hard work of host venues which include The Servo, The Iron Yampi, The Bank Space, The Vault, Black Metal Motor Co, The Commercial Hotel, The Shave Cave, The Pantha Way & The Wentworth.
Port Kembla Festival is an inclusive, community event that aims to deliver high-quality arts programming to emerging areas. The festival is proudly produced by Holy Pavlova who welcomes artists and patrons from all backgrounds to enjoy the 2024 event.