For three weekends, Manly Wharf and Main Beach give themselves over to surf, music and art. Elysium Manly is the festival's Official Hotel Partner, so the best of it is close by, and a quiet suite is waiting when the evening winds down.
Throughout the festival
Jeremyville Outdoor Art Trail · 16 October – 1 November · Manly Wharf
Curated by New York-based artist Jeremyville, the wharf becomes an open-air gallery of large-scale inflatables, sculpture and installation. Free to wander at any hour.
DEFENDER Live Art · 16 October – 1 November · Manly Wharf
Five vintage Land Rover Defenders, painted live over the three weeks. A world first, and free to watch as each one takes shape.
Dining at Manly Wharf · Open daily
Waterfront restaurants and bars along the harbour, open to you throughout the festival. Spend an afternoon moving between them.
On the beach
Boardriders Competition · 31 October – 1 November · Manly Main Beach
Two days of surfing led by world champion Joel Parkinson, across Men's Open, Women's and U18 Junior divisions. Free to attend.
Live music
Evening performances take place in Felons Barrel Room, with doors at 7pm, unless noted.
- Fri 16 Oct · The Whitlams · Felons Barrel Room
- Sat 17 Oct · The Beautiful Girls · Felons Barrel Room
- Sat 24 Oct · Skegss · Felons Barrel Room
- Sun 25 Oct · Babe Rainbow · Felons Barrel Room
- Thu 29 Oct · Kita Alexander · Felons Barrel Room
- Fri 30 Oct · Skunkhour · Felons Barrel Room
- Sat 31 Oct · Yolanda Be Cool · Felons Barrel Room
- Sat 31 Oct · Sounds Good DJs, 5–10pm · Felons Manly Jetty
- Sun 1 Nov · GANGgajang · Felons Barrel Room
- Sun 1 Nov · Winston Surfshirt, secret location · Manly Wharf
A few evenings worth planning around: The Beautiful Girls bring their surf-rooted songwriting on the first Saturday. Babe Rainbow close the second weekend with their psychedelic, sun-warmed sound. On the final Saturday, the Sounds Good DJs take the jetty as the light fades, before Yolanda Be Cool at Felons Barrel Room. The festival closes with GANGgajang, four decades into their career, and Winston Surfshirt marking ten years of "Be About You".
