Sydney & Newcastle’s closest regional neighbour, Central Coast NSW, is set to fly its Rainbow Flag again with the much-anticipated Annual Coastal Twist LGBTIQA+ Arts and Culture Festival.

After a 2-year absence from lockdowns, the festival is back with more surprises, vibrancy, fun, and some of the biggest headliners to date! Set across seven days and nights 27th Sept – 3rd Oct.

Your next beach and bush staycation is only 75mins away from Sydney, and everyone is invited to pack up their drag bags & come join the seaside pleasures of Umina Beach, Woy Woy and Ettalong Beach this Oct long weekend!

Festival Director Glitta Supernova called out, “Celebrating diversity in a regional area is so important for the ongoing visibility, morale & growth in our region & communities. We are delighted to see things opening again, people enjoying the outdoors and having a hoot enjoying the Arts and Coastal Twist Festival. We want to encourage all our neighbours to come to visit, #supportlocal – regional NSW needs this as much as you do, so it’s a win, win for the Central Coast, for equitable communities, for fun & celebrations; it’s more than time to smile and enjoy some of the good things in life..”

As the festival continues to grow, so do the programming and activations. Proudly funded by NSW Government, the Festival this year has been able to amass some real star power, including a Global headliner making their way to the Central Coast for the 1st time, Australian electronic music duo Electric Fields who famously combines modern electric-soul music with ancient indigenous culture and direct from RuPaul’s Drag Race Down under Etcetera Etcetera, even internationally acclaimed puppetry innovators “Erth” making an appearance in the festival.

The list continues with one of Australia’s most significant DJs, Jonny Seymour, International Circus Icon Empress Stah, Melbourne’s Burlesque Baddie Ruby Slippers & a Comedy showcase by Kweens of Comedy Plus; there will also be more local & national LGBTIQA+ Performing Artists & Musicians than you can throw shade over this Oct long weekend!”

Coastal Twist Festival has also expanded on its community programs benefiting LGBTQ youth, Seniors and all abilities with Auslan across events in accessible spaces, the festival continues to authentically promote inclusion through variety with a wide range of fun and innovative content with Festival Highlights The Love Club Cabaret, The Futurismo Surrealist Dance Party,

The Rainbow Youth teens Dance party, Comedy show & of course, our biggest Community, free, family-friendly events, the beach party picnic “Life’s a Beach” with a day on the sands of Umina Beach with DJs, entertainment & the Coastal Twist Festival centrepiece “Coastie Carnie Fair Day”, the biggest & most colourful event of the Festival with all day entertainment, Markets, Curated Food & Bar area, Rainbow Family area, Drag Storytime & a Teen zone & the Pupparazzi Pooch Parade.

A full schedule of events during the week and RSVP for free events and ticket purchases, giveaways, prizes, raffles, and opportunities. www.coastaltwist.org.au