Byron Bay Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Byron Bay, New South Wales - NSW, Australia)

Each Year in Byron Bay, the town plays host to a number of fun festivals and seasonal things to do. These events range from pagan gatherings and lively music festivals, to weekly markets at Butler Street and the Railway Park.

Without question one of the town's premier events is the East Coast International Blues and Roots Music Festival, which is generally abbreviated as simply the Byron Bay Bluesfest and is staged over the Easter weekend.

The Bluesfest was first held in Byron Bay in 1990 and now ranks amongst Australia's biggest musical events, recently winning the Robert Helpmann Award for Best Australian Contemporary Music Festival. Formerly based at the Belongil Fields, the Bluesfest now has its own dedicated land on the nearby Tyagarah Tee Tree Farm, between the town and the Brunswick Heads, and draws almost 20,000 visitors each day.

General Information

A increasingly popular alternative to the East Coast Blues and Roots Music Festival each April is the Splendour in the Grass Music Festival, which takes place over a weekend in July, at the Belongil Fields. Many major names have played at this musical extravaganza in the past, including the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay, Kaiser Chiefs, Lili Allen, Moby, Snow Patrol, Supergrass and the Scissor Sisters, as well as countless other bands and artists.

Those with literary interests will likely be drawn to the Byron Bay Writers' Festival, which is another major local event and is held in late July or early August. Highlights include a series of workshops, readings, poetry competitions and live entertainment at venues such as the Byron Bay Community and Cultural Centre Theatre, the Byron Bay Services Club and the Railway Friendly Bar, all of which reside on Jonson Street.

Established in 2005, the Byron Bay International Film Festival (BBFF) has grown in popularity ever since and now lasts for roughly ten days in the middle of February, when some 100+ films are screened to large audiences. Other notable events include the following:

• Brunswick Heads Kites and Bikes - mid-March
• Big Joke Bangalow Comedy Festival - mid-March
• Byron Bay Triathlon - early May
• Festival for Art Lovers and Artists (FEHVA) - late May
• Brunswick Valley Nature Festival - early June
• Lismore Lantern Parade - early June
• Old and Gold Fair - mid-June
• Fatherhood Project and Festival - mid-September
• Big Scrub Rainforest Day - mid-September
• Summer of Cycling - September and October
• Labour Day - 1st Monday in October (ACT, NSW, QLD, SA)
• Byron Lighthouse Run - mid-October
• Byron Bay Latin Fiesta - early November
• Bangalow Christmas Eve Festival - December 24th