Gladstone Festivals and Events

Gladstone Festivals and Event's is responsible for organising the week-long celebration that we have come to know and love as the Gladstone Harbour Festival. The festival has a humble past but a very exciting future! 52 years ago the Gladstone Harbour Festival was born - a one-day celebration to greet the winners of the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race as they crossed the finishing line. The Festival rapidly expanded to seven days and nights, jam-packed with entertainment that we now know as the Gladstone Harbour Festival. The Festival has enjoyed a huge growth, with over 70 000 spectators visiting the annual event. Much of this success can be contributed to the range and quality free entertainment provided at the Festival throughout the entire week. GFE is also responsible for organising council events such as Ecofest, Australia Day and SunFest. Ecofest is Gladstone Regional Council’s way of working with industry, business and the community to highlight environmental initiatives and celebrate successes that make this planet a better place to live. The festival has a unique hands-on and interactive focus, with a range of activities PLUS a variety of environmentally focused stalls and displays featuring the region’s major industry, local businesses and volunteer organisations. Held on the first Sunday in June and coincides with the theme of World Environment Day. Australia Day, January 26, is observed as a public holiday in all States and Territories to enable residents to celebrate what’s great about Australia and being Australian. GFE organises activities within the Gladstone area to celebrate Australia Day. Held over two weeks each January school holidays, SUNfest provides young people with a variety of workshops, activities and events that are offered free or at a subsidised cost. SUNfest gives local youth the opportunity to undertake and experience development activities that are normally unavailable to them at school or after hours in their own pursuits. SUNfest is managed by Gladstone Festivals and Events for Gladstone Regional Council and is guided by input from an organising committee and from experienced staff working in the field of youth development. GFE also provides event management services to the Gladstone community.