Major festival locked in for Coffs Harbour

One of Coffs Harbour’s biggest festivals will deliver double the bang this year for the community at a cool new venue. 

The All One Under The Sun celebration will stretch over two action-packed days at the refurbished Brelsford Park in the CBD on Friday and Saturday, 24-25 October. 

The event will be supported by a $30,000 grant from the City of Coffs Harbour while the NSW Government will kick in $146,050 through the Stronger Together Local Council Major Festival Grant program. 

“This is outstanding news for an event which can trace its roots back to Harmony Day. It has evolved and is a dynamic celebration which showcases music, food, the arts and cultural history and sees diversity as a strength,” City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Nikki Williams said. 

“Importantly, the festival pulls apart stereotypes and builds mutual respect as well as highlighting the region as a welcoming place.” 

Organisers say the gala will be inclusive in all aspects – from First Nations Gumbaynggirr peoples through to the waves of migration over the decades and the more recent settlement refugees who now calls Coffs home. 

“Global cuisines and family-friendly activities will be the engine of this two-day extravaganza,” City Planning and Communities Acting Director Ian Fitzgibbon said. 

“Highlights are set to include a parade, street art, a skate workshop, cooking demonstrations, a silent disco, fireworks and fashion parades.” 

A six-a-side football (soccer) tournament is also planned, featuring sides representing Coffs Harbour’s multicultural communities. 

“In 2024, All One Under The Sun was held over a single day at the Botanic Garden. This year it will be double the fun and at the all-new Brelsford Park and a crowd of up to 10,000 is the aim,” Mayor Williams said. 

“The event will be led by a steering committee of seven major organisations supported by 20 additional partners. It’s a great fit for Coffs as a designated Refugee Welcome Zone.” 

The NSW Government is investing almost $4 million this year to support major festivals across 20 councils, including Coffs Harbour. 

“Our State is home to people from more than 310 different ancestries, and festivals are a wonderful way of fostering greater understanding and bringing us all together,” Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said. 

“These events boost local economies while showcasing the rich cultural traditions of our communities.”  

All One Under The Sun organisers hope to attract at least one high profile headline performer, with broad community appeal who also reflects the diversity of the local population. 

According to the 2021 Census, 15.6 per cent of Coffs Harbour residents were born overseas, slightly higher than the Regional NSW average of 12.2 per cent.  

More than 12,000 people living in Coffs Harbour in 2021 were born overseas, with 22 per cent arriving between 2016-2020. 

Coffs Harbour also has a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population (4.9 per cent). 

“The event will culminate in a large-scale community parade featuring drumming, lanterns and dance, plus fireworks and lighting installations – a treat for all-ages,” Mayor Williams said. 

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All One Under The Sun organisers hope to attract at least one high profile headline performer.