From 25 August to 3 September, as Queensland’s winter draws to a close, the highly anticipated festival will captivate locals and tourists alike with a diverse array of music, cabaret, theatre, comedy, family events and more.

Horizon Festival salutes the vibrancy of the Sunshine Coast, with artists, their stories and the community at the heart of this year’s program. Staged in stunning locations and unique venues, the 2023 program is bursting with free and ticketed events for all ages and interests.

First Nations led programming once again beats through the heart of the Horizon Festival program, celebrating local Kabi Kabi and Jinibara artists and makers, who share their incredible cultural experiences throughout the Festival.

Horizon Festival Director Hannah Clissold said this year’s program was designed to offer visitors to the region an abundance of opportunities to engage with premiere works by local artists, as well as nationally and internationally recognised acts.

The festival’s opening weekend is jam-packed with programming in and around the popular Wonderland Spiegeltent and Festival Hub at Cotton Tree Park, with an array of free events and experiences, including the Opening Ceremony followed by NOISE by Dancenorth, a work of epic proportions featuring the newly formed Horizon drumming band; interactive installations from Kabi Kabi Connections and Concrete Collage as well as free live music program Live & Local.

An impressive array of internationally recognised shows at the enchanting Spiegeltent ROUGE, a decadent circus for grown-ups; the all-ages Circus Wonderland: A Neverland Adventure; Dirty Laundry, a fun and fabulous cabaret from Briefs Factory; Conversations with Men, moderated by Clementine Ford; Common People Dance Eisteddfod; and the Sunshine Coast Comedy Gala.

“The atmosphere at the Festival Hub will be exhilarating and uplifting, and this year we’ve programmed more food, free live music, art experiences and family entertainment to complement the world-class program of shows.

Ms Clissold said accessible and inclusive experiences guide the program with a wealth of free programming and a rich roster of activities and productions for children and families including a free maker space, a rock concert just for kids and performances by the eye-popping Dr Hubble’s Bubbles and Bees by Polyglot Theatre.

The festival continues to present programming across the region in a range of stunning locations including a unique live music program featuring an intimate sunset performance by Lior in the Glass House Mountains, From Rations to Wages to Treaty at Coolum and Blak Social Party, Solbar.

Visual art lovers can experience six diverse exhibitions, including the leading Sunshine Coast Art Prize, You Are Neither Here Nor There by Queensland artist Sam Cranstoun, Your Local

Photo Club a collaborative photo exhibition, WARP by Jack MacRae, group exhibition at the historic Old Ambulance Station Nambour and moving Jinibara exhibition Njumga Djum Yo:ran Ba Djuwan in Maleny.

The closing weekend of the Festival unfolds with the world premiere of Tallo-Billa (Humpback Whale in Kabi Kabi language), an on-water experience on Sunreef’s Whale One, internationally acclaimed theatre work Yes Yes Yes, Living Waters: A Short Film Event in Maleny, workshops and performances by Let’s Organise Your Leisure; all ages and family-friendly Sunshine Sounds Festival, in Eumundi and the festival’s signature ceremony Dawn Awakening at Stumers Creek; a moving multi-arts celebration of remembrance, dreaming and ritual.

“There are so many special and unique experiences in this year’s festival, and I hope this year’s program will leave a lasting impression on everyone who attends,” Ms Clissold said.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson invites visitors to the region to experience Horizon Festival, describing it as one of the Sunshine Coast’s most anticipated annual events.

“We are proud to present an accessible, inclusive and diverse program this year, with exhibits, performances and events from the coast to our beautiful hinterland,” Mayor Jamieson said.

“Across 10 days and nights, the multi-arts festival supports the growing and sustainable arts and cultural ecology of the Sunshine Coast.”

Horizon Festival 2023
25 August – 3 September 2023
Various locations around the Sunshine Coast
www.horizonfestival.com.au

Get ready to soak up the vibrant energy of the Sunshine Coast Chamber Music Festival as it returns for its third year. Over the King’s Birthday long weekend from Friday 9th to Sunday 11th June, the festival will delight music enthusiasts with a range of bespoke events held in stunning natural locations and intimate venues across the Sunshine Coast.

This year’s program promises to be an innovative and immersive experience, blending contemporary and classical chamber music with site-specific, cross-form, and cross-cultural elements. It will bring for the first time ever in the same Festival three of Queensland’s finest chamber orchestras and ensembles – Camerata, the Southern Cross Soloists and Topology!

They are joined by a stunning array of world-class musicians and companies, including Alex Raineri, Chris Williams, the DeepBlue Orchestra, Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre, the Beier-Griffin-Pollak Trio, and a stunning line-up of First Nations artists including Deline Briscoe, Emma Donovan, Fred Leone, and local Kabi Kabi songman Lyndon Davis (see the full program here).

Artistic Director Lynne Davies said, “Our 2023 festival provides visitors with a range of unforgettable and inspiring experiences by programming a world-class line up of musicians and connecting them with the special places, people and the cultures of the Sunshine Coast region. My advice is The Sunshine Coast is the perfect location so pack your bag and join us for a long and luxurious weekend of music, sunshine, food and wine.”

Expect the unexpected as you are taken on a stunning journey through beautifully bespoke performances in natural landscapes.

Sunshine Coast Chamber Music Festival
9 – 11 June 2023
Various locations throughout the Sunshine Coast region
www.sccmf.com.au

Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket and relax in the sunshine whilst enjoying the amazing tastes of Asia. There will be live entertainment all afternoon. This is sure to be a not to be missed afternoon so get a group of friends and come and enjoy!

Join them for an afternoon Riesling Masterclass with Spicers own sommelier Peter Marchant. Due to the nature of this event unfortunately dietary requirements cannot be catered for.

Sunshine Coast Asian Food Festival 2019
16 February 2019
Spicers Tamarind Retreat
www.spicersretreats.com

‘You’re entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are.’
-The Mad Hatter-

The New York SMASH HIT production of Lewis Carroll’s timeless classic ALICE IN WONDERLAND comes to life on stage in the most hilarity-filled madcap fun – touring Brisbane, Gold Coast & the Sunshine Coast during these July school holidays. Tumble down the rabbit hole and join Alice, one of literature’s most beloved heroines, in her adventures through Wonderland.

With the cast being summoned from across the country and led by Queensland’s first lady of theatre in Karen Crone, as the Mad Hatter (in a casting twist similar to that of the Cheshire Cat’s smile), this stage production features incredible costumes and sets and is a must-see for children and adults alike – for everyone who loves one of the world’s most-read stories!

Creating Wonderland is NIDA and WAAPA graduate Georgina Walker (Alice), Mamma Mia star James Shaw (White Rabbit), veteran of stage and screen Simon Burvill-Holmes (Queen of Hearts/Cheshire Cat), Karen Crone (Mad Hatter), Oliver Lacey (March Hare), Matilda-award nominated Jackson McGovern (Dormouse/Caterpillar), Queensland stage star Justine Anderson (Tweedle Dum) and Sarah Whale (Tweedle Dee), together with a handful of brilliant puppeteers, who bring to life over 20 unforgettable characters using their ingenious stagecraft and limitless possibilities of imagination.

Australian Producer, Ethan Walker, began this production at the Brisbane Powerhouse in early 2016 and it has since enjoyed sold-out runs all over the world, including in New York & Los Angeles, where it became the highest-grossing show at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood for the last five years. He said it was one of the most universal of all stage stories.

“The original Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has been translated into 174 languages. People from all walks of life can relate to it. The same speaks true for our production as we have many international people working on our team. Our Set Designer, Zachary Lieberman is from Los Angeles, our Graphic Designer Yi Ling is from Singapore and our Emmy Award Winning Costume Designer- Diana Eden is from Canada. Throw these talented people in with our Australian Director, Penny Farrow and you have an international group of people being united through the work of Lewis Carroll,” he said.

“We tell this extraordinary story through actors and puppets. There is something magical about seeing a life size puppet come to life. You truly believe it’s the White Rabbit and forget there’s a Puppeteer controlling him. Wonderland is a very enchanting place, and that enchantment should not be lost when transitioned onto the stage.”

“We have massive mushroom props that the Actors use throughout the performance to tell the story. In one scene the Caterpillar is sitting on a large mushroom, and in the next scene that same mushroom turns into a tree trunk table for the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. It’s truly magical to watch. We also have a highly respected Australian Actress, Karen Crone who plays the Mad Hatter. I’ve never heard of a production before who has cast a female into the role of the Hatter. There would be no point in producing a show that was a cookie cutter of every other Alice in Wonderland production. We needed to think outside the box to ensure that this production would be extra special, while at the same time staying true to the essence of Lewis Carroll’s work.”

The ‘entirely bonkers’ story of Alice in Wonderland has delighted the world for generations & this newest incarnation will continue that tradition – dazzling family members of all ages! Don’t be late for this very important date – book your seats now!

ALICE IN WONDERLAND – LIVE ON STAGE
SUNSHINE COAST
The Events Centre, Caloundra
7th July 2018 @ 2pm & 6pm
Tickets from $39.90 www.theeventscentre.com.au Ph: 5491 4240

BRISBANE
Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm
10th July @ 7pm
11th- 13th July @ 11am & 2pm
14th July @ 11am, 2pm & 7pm
Tickets from $39.90 www.brisbanepowerhouse.org Ph: 3358 8600

GOLD COAST
HOTA, Surfers Paradise
15th July @ 1pm & 4pm
Tickets from $39.90 www.hota.com.au Ph: 5588 4000