Fest overload
We’re famous for fun and the can-do attitude and it’s paying off
WHEN the Gold Coast 500 supercars bosses asked to temporarily shutdown the Sundale Bridge to traffic last year for a promotional stunt ahead of the event, they were surprised to get a supportive and enthusiastic response from the city.
But that’s the Gold Coast right? Where others see headaches and disruption, this buzzy tourism and events capital sees promotional opportunity and global cutthrough.
That’s just how we roll. Exhibit A: the beach festival down south at Coolangatta that’s being headlined by the city’s homegrown DJ superstar Fisher which has been given council backing. Exhibit B: the ginormous round two of the Pacific Airshow that brought 250,000 ticketholders through its gates to the Surfers Paradise beachfront in its inaugural year in 2023.
Street race with noisy V8s that takes over two suburbs and blocks up traffic and slows up commuters? No problem, bring it on.
Beach take over for a World Surf League pro event finale featuring one of the hottest names in festival music Fisher? Sign us up.
Giant airshow that shuts down part of the Glitter Strip esplanade for a few weeks in the lead up and takes over a kilometre of sand for three days during? Strap us into the cockpit Captain.
The more the Gold Coast keeps sending a message that it’s open for business, able to adapt to challenging circumstances brought on by helping make events a success, the more this city will keep ending up on the radar for sporting fixtures, arts and music, conference and conventions. The noisy minority can have a devastating impact on progress and opportunity. Examples abound down the decades.
A great example of this sort of chutzpah was shown by Mayor Tom Tate with his ambitious bid to try and save the Commonwealth Games axed by Victoria for 2026.
It ultimately failed but that is the type of bold, innovative seeking of the possible that develops its own kind of energy.
Events bring people which brings spending which hypes the whole place and ticks the boxes of what this city is good at - hosting visitors and putting on a good time.