For 10 glorious days this May, Horizon’s bold, eclectic program of over 30 events will light up locations and venues spanning the Sunshine Coast’s hinterland, coastline, skyline and urban streetscape.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with everything from joyous sunset performances on the shoreline to the contemplative tranquillity of the hinterland and music spilling out into the streets of Maroochydore, the festival really runs the gamut of the arts, offering something for everyone in the community.
As Horizon Festival Director Bec Martin put it, “Horizon Festival belongs to the Sunshine Coast. We’ve created a program where art doesn’t just visit our region, it responds to place, transforms experiences and celebrates community.
“Our artistic community is vibrant, courageous and collaborative, and this year’s program brings ambitious new work to life across extraordinary settings.
“Audiences are invited to gather in unexpected places and to be moved, enchanted and surprised by all that the Sunshine Coast has to offer.”
What to expect
The festival will open with an incredible night street party that is the best kind of alliteration: fun, free and family-friendly! It will take place Kings Beach in Caloundra, which will become a home to live music, performances by local artists, food, and drink, getting attendees in the mood for the amazing performances the program has in store.
Among this year’s highlights are Yauar Warai Wandi – Sing, Dance, Gather, which will celebrate the living connection between flora, fauna, and country through contemporary and traditional performance, music, ceremony and sculpture.
Another celebration of culture, connection and resistance, will come in the form of M’ap Boulé, a musical journey through the charismatic Nancy Denis’s many identities. And, fresh-off a critically-acclaimed season at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Butterfly Who Flew Into the Rave’s relentlessly electric, endurance dance work will have you thrumming with energy!
And it’s not just music and dance! Thanks to Horizon’s varied locations and unique venues, the festival also serves as backdrop to experimental and engaging events across every genre: from the food-focused Burnt Earth: Bonyi Bounty — in which First Nations chefs will collaborate to create a spectacular three-course meal set among an ancient rainforest — to Family Film Night, where the whole family can enjoy a timeless Aussie classic: Babe.
It’s no wonder that, in its 10 years of life, Horizon has drawn over 300,000 visitors, and has become a centrepiece in the local art scene and the fabric of the community, so this is your chance to knit yourself into this patchwork of creativity and hope.
Practical information
This year’s Horizon Festival will take place at various locations across the Sunshine Coast from Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 10.
Ticket prices vary depending on the event, and you can see the full program and buy yours here.
