Image by John McGrath.

CQUniversity The Village Festival is the Capricorn Coast’s premier arts, music and community culture event. It combines local talent, well-recognised national artists and a variety of arts genres. Situated on the Yeppoon foreshore with the beautiful Keppel Bay as the backdrop, it showcases the best of the region’s talent in all arts genres.

With a local history dating back to 2003, the festival boasts a significant live music programme, a vast array of performing and visual arts productions, street theatre, workshops, food and market stalls, and children’s activities.

The festival is held in Yeppoon every August.

Mayor Andy Ireland said the CQUniversity Village Festival is one of the biggest annual events in Central Queensland, attracting thousands of people from across the State and Australia.

“Council is extremely proud to once again support the event as a major sponsor and encourages the community to take part in the countless performances and experiences on offer throughout the nine-day festival,” Mayor Ireland said.

“It’s important to point out that this not-for-profit community festival is run and managed entirely by volunteers, who work tirelessly to provide a unique event that reflects the talent and charm of our region.

“The social and economic benefits of hosting events such as the Village Festival are massive and provide a huge boost to local businesses and the tourism sector, especially after a challenging 12 months as a result of COVID-19.

“On behalf of Council and the community, we sincerely look forward to welcoming all artists, performers, and visitors to the region next month.”

In 2021, the community will celebrate the 18th Village Festival in the tranquil setting of the Yeppoon foreshore and at various locations and venues throughout the town and across the Capricorn region.

Festival Chairman Phil Henry said the core music programme for the Village Festival is staged on the iconic Yeppoon Foreshore amphitheatre and is complemented with a number of key venues running significant music and arts programmes.

“This year’s event will be extra special because of the challenges that COVID-19 has presented for the Village Festival Board’s planning,” Mr Henry said.

“As the operating environment is still changing, the Board continues to make adjustments to ensure the 2021 Festival is the best it can be.

“As well as the events on Yeppoon’s main beach, other smaller venues will present a range of arts programmes and installations. Activities are also planned for Beaman Park and Bell Park in Emu Park.”

Where do I get a program?
Our full program is available under the Events tab or on our Facebook page.

What sorts of activities and stalls are there?
The Festival program includes a huge variety of things to see and do:

• Live music and performing arts featuring over 50 local and national artists
• Visual Arts
• Workshops and hand-on activities
• Street theatre
• Food and market stalls
• Rides.

What age groups are catered for?
Festival activities on the Yeppoon Foreshore and the Yeppoon Kraken are designed to be family-friendly and are suitable for any age. As part of the program, there may be special performances by child entertainers for those under 12 years of age. Some Festival venues are licenced and these may have age restrictions.

For more information on the event programme, visit thevillagefestival.org.au

Post credit to Capricorn Enterprise.