Tag: Surfers Paradise

Excitement builds for Pacific Airshow Gold Coast as sister event wows crowds in the USA

Posted on by Kesha West

Earlier this year the Gold Coast announced that one of the world’s largest and most spectacular air shows would be hosted in the city from August 2023, recently its sister event in Huntington Beach showed exactly why Australians should be getting excited.

With millions of people in attendance over the event’s three-days, the 2022 Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach didn’t disappoint, providing an incomparable spectacle in the sky with heart-pumping aerobic displays and awe-inspiring aviation feats.

Major Events Gold Coast CEO Jan McCormick said the event was everything she had expected it would be, and much more.

“The sheer scale of the Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach is something most of us would never have experienced before and knowing that we’ll be bringing this spectacular event to the Gold Coast from 2023 is something we are incredibly excited about,” said Ms McCormick.

“Now that we have seen the reaction of spectators to the airshow at Huntington Beach first hand and witnessed the economic benefits it brings to that local economy, we’re confident this will be a game changer for the Gold Coast and deliver a significant economic boost.”

“Wow. That’s the only way to describe what I witnessed at Huntington Beach,” said Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.

“This show will blow people’s minds when it takes to the skies over our city in 2023. I applaud Code Four and Major Events Gold Coast for making it happen. The best news for Gold Coasters is – it’s free. See you in August 2023.”

The Pacific Airshow Gold Coast will be the first time the event is held outside the United States and will take off over the skies of Surfers Paradise from 18-20 August 2023.

“Our event here in Huntington Beach continues to draw more fans every year and we believe it will be the same when we head to the Gold Coast – big the first year and then bigger again, year on year,” said Kevin Elliott, Pacific Airshow Executive Director. “It’s going to be like nothing the Gold Coast has ever seen before.”

While visitors will be able to watch the spectacle from Surfers Paradise beach for free, tickets will be on sale later this year for premium seating and corporate hospitality areas at the Pacific Airshow Gold Coast. To find out more visit the Pacific Airshow Gold Coast website.

SPRINGTIME celebrates its debut year

Posted on by Kesha West

The Gold Coast’s new free music festival proves why it’s an important staple for the city in its inaugural year. 

Major Events Gold Coast’s latest free all-ages music festival SPRINGTIME finally bloomed over the weekend, bringing live music, skateboarding, art, food and entertainment to Surfers Paradise, as Australia officially welcomed in the warmer months of Spring!

Thousands of music fans, holidaymakers, families and locals flocked to the iconic beachside destination to enjoy live music with sand between their toes. Those travelling in through the Gold Coast Airport were treated to an early taste of SPRINGTIME with festival artists spinning tunes in the terminal.

In addition to showcasing the best local and homegrown musicians, artists and skaters, the festival provided locals with the perfect excuse to get reacquainted with Surfers Paradise and explore the countless bars, restaurants and entertainment offerings that have rapidly popped up across the precinct in recent years.

With Surfers Paradise’s beachfront and streets packed with people, SPRINGTIME proved why the Gold Coast is the perfect destination for a three-day contemporary music festival.

Festival Director Mark Duckworth said the inaugural SPRINGTIME had been a huge success and had achieved exactly what it set out to do – showcasing the Gold Coast as an incredible music tourism destination.

Mark Duckworth, Festival Director:

Holding a festival like SPRINGTIME is important for so many reasons, not only does it put a spotlight on our local music scene and highlight the calibre of our artists, but it also provides a much-needed economic boost for the local community.

While eager music fans danced on the sand to their favourite artists, crowds gathered to watch ‘The Cleaners’, an interactive durational performance installation by multi-award-winning contemporary performance makers Shock Therapy Productions. Festivalgoers needed no encouragement to fire paint-filled balloons via a giant slingshot at the actors 7m above. 

Local artists, Dion Parker and Camille Manley, armed with spray cans and paint brushes transformed the festival precinct in real time with spring-themed murals, further highlighting the Gold Coast’s growing arts and culture scene.

At the Gold Coast’s Home of the Arts (HOTA), the 8th annual Gold Coast Music Awards proudly presented by SPRINGTIME, shone a light on more than 85 of the city’s most talented musicians, across twelve categories. 

SPRINGTIME proved itself as the perfect opportunity for punters to explore the many offerings of the Gold Coast, while getting a taste of the best live music the country has to offer.

Produced by Major Events Gold Coast, SPRINGTIME wraps after an incredibly successful first year with thanks to our Sponsor Family – City of Gold Coast, triple j, Artesian Hospitality, Gold Coast Airport and Yugambeh Region Aboriginal Corporation Alliance.

This project received grant funding from the Australian Government, under the Recovery for Regional Tourism program administered by Austrade.

SPRINGTIME partners with Artesian Hospitality for boutique beachside bars

Posted on by Kesha West

Major Events Gold Coast’s new three-day, free music and entertainment festival SPRINGTIME has officially welcomed two iconic Gold Coast bars to the beachfront this September thanks to partnership with iconic hospitality group Artesian.

Positioned at the northern area of the SPRINGTIME precinct, close to the Lifeguard Tower Stage, the SPRINGTIME Pavilion will offer up a relaxed vibe, with drinks and a plethora of food options among a sea of laid back lounge areas. Guests of all ages can enjoy tasty treats and drinks in the sand as the warmer months of spring descend upon the festival grounds.

SPRINGTIME also welcomes the Cali Beach Bar, where the iconic Surfers Paradise venue comes alive inside the festival thanks to the creative minds at Artesian Hospitality. This 18+ hot spot offers side stage views to enjoy the perfect event experience.

Visitors attending one of Artesian Hospitality’s boutique pop-up bars will be able to take full advantage of the festival, which includes live sets from some of Australia’s most beloved artists, including Thelma Plum, Hermitude DJs, Ninajirachi, Alex The Astronaut, Skegss and heaps more.

Festival Director Mark Duckworth welcomed Artesian Hospitality’s support of the new festival and said MEGC was excited to partner to release SPRINGTIME on the beachside at Surfers Paradise.

Festival Director Mark Duckworth:

The wonderfully creative team at Artesian have created some exceptional venues on Gold Coast and we look forward to seeing their ‘pop-up' energy across the three days.

Artesian Hospitality’s founder and managing partner Matthew Keegan said the group was delighted to be partnering with MEGC to help bring to life SPRINGTIME as part of Artesian’s expansion into the festival and event space.

Artesian Hospitality’s Matthew Keegan:

The excitement of a beachfront festival, and the activation opportunities it presented, felt like a natural extension of the good times our venues celebrate year-round. We have some really exciting things planned, so we can’t wait to September when we can welcome our new and existing customers to celebrate a weekend of fun, sun food and drink on the sands of Surfers Paradise.

This project received grant funding from the Australian Government, under the Recovery for Regional Tourism program administered by Austrade.

Free Gold Coast music festival springs to life

Posted on by Kesha West

SPRINGTIME is coming to the Gold Coast this September, featuring the best homegrown and national artists in leftfield alternative, electronic and hip hop. 

Major Events Gold Coast has unveiled a brand new, three-day music festival to be held on the beach and in the streets of Surfers Paradise, across multiple FREE outdoor stages in the first weekend of September (2-4 September).

Supported by triple j, SPRINGTIME shines a spotlight on Australian artists, highlighting local music, local entertainment and local businesses, and celebrates the best parts of the country’s most popular beachside destination.

Leading SPRINGTIME’s debut lineup will be none other than Gamilaraay pop queen Thelma Plum, surf-garage rock trio Skegss and Australian electronic-hip hop duo Hermitude. Having all performed around the country at some of Australia’s largest music festivals, they’ll all be appearing at SPRINGTIME, for free!

Living up to its promise to focus primarily on Australian artists and put homegrown talent front and centre, the festival also welcomes Aussie acts Sneaky Sound System, Alex the Astronaut, JK-47, Skunkhour, Haiku Hands, Ninajirachi, Teen Jesus & The Jean Teases, and triple j host and DJ Ebony Boadu.

Spread across multiple free outdoor stages and sideshow partner venues, including a partnership with the Gold Coast Music Awards to be held at the city’s iconic art precinct HOTA, SPRINGTIME is the perfect opportunity for punters to explore the many offerings of the Gold Coast, and locals to get reacquainted with the city they live in.

Festival Director Mark Duckworth said the SPRINGTIME team is excited to be adding a fresh and fun new music festival experience to our calendar of events on the Gold Coast.

Mark Duckworth, Festival Director:

We can’t think of a better way to welcome in spring on the coast than with an all-age contemporary music festival like SPRINGTIME. The Gold Coast has such a strong calibre of artists emerging from the city and we can’t wait to showcase their music alongside the country's best, in this perfect location.

We’re also proud to be partnering with the Gold Coast Music Awards 2022 to celebrate the creativity in the Gold Coast’s music sector and will be supporting local venues with official SPRINGTIME sideshows for paid ticketed offerings.

Book a flight, book a room and join us on the Gold Coast for a long weekend of great Australian music.

This project received grant funding from the Australian Government, under the Recovery for Regional Tourism program administered by Austrade.

The Gold Coast looks skywards to secure major international event

Posted on by Kesha West

In a huge coup for the Gold Coast, Major Events Gold Coast (MEGC) with the support of the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, has secured one of the world’s biggest and most spectacular airshows.

Renowned for its heart-pumping aerobic displays, awe-inspiring aviation feats, huge crowds and dazzling party atmosphere, Pacific Airshow is the biggest event of its kind in the US.

The inaugural sister event – Pacific Airshow Gold Coast – will launch over Surfers Paradise beach in August 2023.

It marks the start of a five-year partnership that will see this globally popular event take off on the Gold Coast every year until at least 2027, injecting a significant boost into the local economy.

Major Events Gold Coast CEO Jan McCormick said securing a major international event of this calibre was a game changer for the Gold Coast.

MEGC CEO Jan McCormick:

MEGC was created in July 2020 to build a portfolio of major world-class events and attracting the Pacific Airshow is everything we have been working towards. The Gold Coast, and indeed Australia, has never seen an airshow of this scale before.

The event helps cement our city’s reputation as a world-class events destination with capacity to host the biggest events and shows on the planet.

Forget what you think you know about airshows – Pacific Airshow Gold Coast will completely redefine the experience, with an amazing family-focused entertainment and lifestyle festival over three days.

Pacific Airshow Gold Coast

Pacific Airshow is the brainchild of leading US events company Code Four which is planning to transform the sky over iconic Surfers Paradise into Australia’s biggest stage, with high-flying performances by elite military aviators and the best civilian performers from around the world.

Code Four CEO Kevin Elliott:

We looked around the globe to find the best venue to recreate the Pacific Airshow experience and we couldn't go past the Gold Coast. The destination is ideal with its long coastline, great climate, world-class hospitality and accommodation.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the Pacific Airshow will put the city on the map as a global player on the events stage.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate:

This is the kind of event people will travel far and wide to experience, attracting not just aviation enthusiasts and families from across Queensland and Australia, but international visitors as well.

Today’s exciting announcement follows more than two years of negotiation and meticulous planning, all while navigating a global pandemic and multiple time zones.

Pacific Airshow Gold Coast is supported by Major Events Gold Coast and the Queensland Government via Tourism and Events Queensland and will feature on the It’s Live! In Queensland events calendar.

Watch the Pacific Airshow Gold Coast video to see what everyone’s talking about.

Pacific Airshow Gold Coast will soar across our skies in August 2023. Look out for more details landing soon on the Pacific Airshow website.

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