Port Macquarie has rocked its event hosting credentials to a new level by securing the 10-day Wintersun Festival in June 2011, after a 15-year history on the Gold Coast. In a massive boost for tourism around 60,000 people will attend, injecting around $25million into the local economy.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and Events NSW worked in partnership to secure the Festival which is Australia’s leading rock ‘n’ roll nostalgia retro event – a celebration of rock ‘n’ roll music, all things Elvis, classic cars and great dancing.
The Wintersun Festival, Australia’s leading retro and rockabilly event will return to Port Macquarie in 2011
“This is a huge coup for Port Macquarie to be the first regional area in NSW to secure the festival. Wintersun represents not only an enormous economic boost but also another notch in expanding the reputation of Port Macquarie as a premium event tourism destination,” said Linda Hall, tourism manager at Greater Port Macquarie Tourism.
“With its warm winter climate, parks and open spaces, beaches and waterways, a range of accommodation and first-class facilities and infrastructure, Port Macquarie is the perfect venue.”
Port Macquarie is growing its winter events program to boost the low visitor season, it also hosts the Australian Surf Festival (August 2009) and the Ironman Australia Triathlon (May 2011), plus a range of other sporting and cultural events.
“Over the coming months the local tourism industry will be working closely with the Wintersun event organisers to promote the event scheduled for June next year to both new and existing markets.” she added.
The economic benefits will flow to accommodation and attractions, cafes and restaurants, retail and transport, and a range of other businesses.
The Wintersun Festival is primarily a family event with attendees expected from regional NSW and interstate including Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.
Held around the first week in June, Wintersun delivers two weeks of day and night events across various venues including concerts, dancing and dance workshops, classic and vintage car parades, music quizzes, kids entertainment and a street parade.
