Gladstone Harbour Festival

The Gladstone Harbour Festival is an annual event held every Easter in Gladstone, Queensland, Australia.[1] Beginning on the Wednesday preceding the Easter weekend, the five-day festival is centred around the GPC Marina Parklands and consists of an array of novelty events and entertainment, including talent quests, live music, the Great Raft Regatta, a street parade, children's entertainment and fireworks displays.[2][3][4] Ambassadors of the Gladstone Harbour Festival are also crowned at the event.[5]

Background

The Gladstone Harbour Festival was first held in 1963 attracting an estimated 5000 people.[1] It is believed an estimated 70,000 people in 2011 attended the festival.[1][6]

The Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race predates the festival by 14 years, having begun in 1949.[7] One of the biggest attractions at the festival is watching the finish of this yacht race, which commences in Moreton Bay on Good Friday and concludes in Gladstone Harbour with the trophy presentations to the winners on the afternoon of Easter Sunday.[8]

There were concerns about the festival's financial viability in 2005.[9][10][11][12] The festival attracted some controversy in 2006 and 2009 after stallholders at the event were observed selling Nazi flags.[12][13]

References
  1. Fountain, Rachel From the back of a truck to mega-festival status, ABC Capricornia, 3 February 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  2. Sbeghen, Hannah Raft racers have flour bombs ready, The Observer, 29 March 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  3. Taylor, Matt Easter Parade lights up Marina, The Observer, 2 April 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  4. Taylor, Matt Harbour Festival an exciting time for community (editorial), The Observer, 3 April 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  5. Sbeghen, Hannah An emotional win for young Gladstone queen, The Observer, 29 March 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  6. Gladstone festival attracts thousands, Sunshine Coast Daily, 29 March 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  7. About the race, Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race website. Accessed 4 April 2018.
  8. "Our history". gladstonefestival.com. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  9. Call for harbour festival donations, ABC News, 18 April 2005. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  10. Community urged to back harbour festival, ABC News, 19 April 2005. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  11. Harbour festival organisers welcome funding, ABC News, 2 August 2005. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  12. Festival organisers hopeful of making small surplus, ABC News, 18 April 2006. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  13. Nazi supporters enjoy democracy, The Observer, 10 April 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
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