‘We hear you’: Bringing more families back to Nightjar

TORQUAY’S favourite home-grown event, the Nightjar Festival, is back and off to a cracking start.

With two nights of festival fun remaining, the event’s organisers have made it easier for families to access the festival with subsidised family tickets.

Festival founder Lyndelle Flintoft said people were struggling with the cost of living and she wanted the last two nights of the Nightjar Festival to be about the local community.

“We want everyone to know, we heard you, and we have taken on board the impact of the current financial climate amongst many families.”

The event’s organisers hope the subsidised tickets will support families in the region who haven’t had the opportunity to attend the festival or those who are keen to attend again.

“We really want you to experience how great it has been to bring back Nightjar – the live entertainment, the amazing Big Top and all the free kids entertainment,” Flintoft said.

Family tickets (two adults and two youths) for this Friday, January 12 are now available for $40.

Tickets for children under the age of 9 are free.

Flintoft said the event’s organisers had faced insurmountable challenges bringing the Nightjar Festival back into a post-COVID space, including rising costs and public scrutiny.

Along with its new format, the festival has returned with new infrastructure, including fencing, toilets, lights, generators and security.

“There is an incredible amount of time, love and energy that goes into bringing events to life,” Flintoft said.

“Unfortunately small independent promoters are disappearing as large corporations come in with much bigger budgets.

“Just this week another small independent promoter on the Peninsula had to cancel.

“We need to start supporting small promoters doing amazing things or they will disappear.”

With an incredibly talented line-up of acts such as Steph Strings, Ash Grunwald, Vasco Era and Fanny Lumsden, along with kids entertainment and local markets, the last two nights of the Nightjar Festival are not to be missed.

The final two nights of the Nightjar Festival will be held on Thursday, January 11 and Friday, January 12 at the Torquay Common.

Tickets available at nightjarfestival.com.au or at the gate.