Organisers elated at Nightjar Festival’s return

NIGHTJAR Festival, one of Torquay’s most popular summer events, has announced its return to the town’s foreshore in 2024.

The festival hosted its most recent event in early 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the major events industry and caused it and many others to hit pause.

Nightjar had spent a decade growing into a local favourite during preceding years, with its array or art installations, stages, roving performers, food offerings and market stalls engrossing patrons at Torquay Common.

Festival founder Lyndelle Flintoft said organisers shed tears of joy when she confirmed Nightjar would return next summer after its four-year hiatus.

“My team, who have been with me for a very long time, was so excited when I said ‘Guess what? We’re coming back’.

“There was tears – we’re all very emotional about coming back.

“We love Nightjar and it just doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to the staff and to the community.

“It would be very sad after so much work to see it just disappear. It’s a really unique event.

“We’re excited to bring it back in the form that we’re bringing it, that we think is going to be able to offer so much more to the town and the community.”

The relief at the event’s return followed what Ms Flintoft admitted was a difficult period during the pandemic when the festival’s future hung in the balance.

“When COVID hit, we literally lost everything overnight. Our staff, our officers, everything just turned on its head and the whole industry was shut down.

“Not knowing what was coming up was really daunting.

“So we are really grateful to be able to come back. We weren’t sure whether we were able to or not.

“Ultimately Nightjar is there as an event that nurtures community connection, I think people are ready to come out again.”

With more announcements to come regarding artist line-ups for coming events, Ms Flintoft said she was excited to share news in coming months about what Torquay can expect when the festival returns to help “restart” the local music industry and as a venue to foster community connection.

“As a long-term resident in this town, I believe that Nightjar has been a huge part of connecting our community over the past 14 years.

“I think it’s a great event in that it’s affordable, and this year you’re going to be surprised on the lineup and surprised on everything we have to offer.

“I think it’s a fantastic event for the community to bring people out and we really hope that everyone comes out and supports it, like they always have.

“There’s a lot of new locals as well, and I’m sure they’ll be surprised at the calibre of event that Nightjar is.”