PORT MacDonnell’s long-running Bayside Festival is set for a major revamp next year.
The festival will move onto Sea Parade in 2019, sport a “street party” vibe and have a strong focus on the town’s main attractions – southern rock lobster and a laidback coastal lifestyle.
The event committee has also decided to move the festival to February, scrap the entry fee in favour of a donation and is even considering renaming the festival, with “The Bay Escape” a new potential title.
Mount Gambier businessmen Ryan Donovan and Max Bruins are two of several new committee members behind the push to reinvigorate the annual event.
“It’s a great community event, but it’s been running for 24 years now and needs a new look and feel,” Mr Donovan said.
“The committee is stepping up and making some changes so it can be a success for the future.
“We’re looking to give it a bit of atmosphere and make it a social event, really fun, entertaining and with a strong local focus.”
In coming months, Mr Donovan said the committee would be reaching out to Port MacDonnell businesses and local community to get involved in the event.
“There are a lot of great businesses here and I want everyone to feel involved and feel like they have a say in the future of this event,” he said.
“The sky is the limit really – our mindset is to attract a new audience to Port Macdonnell and we want people to come to us with big ideas.”
With food and wine festivals among the state’s most popular events, Mr Bruins said he expected a new “foodie” focus to be a popular move.
“Port Macdonnell is known for its amazing southern rock lobster and we want to make it a feature of the event,” he said.
“Of course, it’s nice to have a glass of wine or a craft beer with your crayfish so we also want to invite local wineries and producers to be involved.”
The event’s underlying coastal theme has always been a main factor in the day’s activities, but the committee plans on expanding that vision by introducing lifestyle elements, including boat, holiday home and caravan vendor displays.
To amp up the live entertainment factor, the committee has applied for a community grant through Grant District Council to help with performer costs.
Mr Donovan thanked major sponsor Bendigo Bank and also Grant District Council for its continued support of the event.
Some things may be changing, but Mr Bruins said the event would still have plenty of family-friendly activities, including the community market stalls and children’s entertainment.
“Although we’re taking the festival in a new direction, we want to respect the traditions of the festival that made it what it is today,” he said.
“We still want it to be a family-friendly day, but we’re also after a new market as well and to make it a destination event for people from outside the region.”
The committee has also decided the festival’s most popular and controversial event will continue.
“The octopus throw will still be around – we would never cancel that,” Mr Donovan said.
“It’s a new look festival with some good old favourites and we are inviting everyone to come and enjoy the new improved event for 2019.”
The 2019 festival will be held on February 23.
Email ptmaccommunity@gmail.com to contact the committee.
