Exciting new winter festival for Byron Bay

A NEW winter festival in Byron Bay is among a series of events planned across the Northern Rivers following a funding boost aimed at stimulating the local economy.

Destination Byron will host the event in mid-2027 to help local businesses through the off-season after securing a $200,000 grant through the NSW Regional Night-Time Economy Program.

The new night-time celebration will showcase the traits that make the Byron Shire special, with a focus on sustainability, wellness, arts, creativity, music and entrepreneurship. The program is expected to feature everything from live music and TEDx-style talks to local food and beverages.

Destination Byron and the Byron Chamber of Commerce are set to begin planning in August, with the funding covering project coordination, marketing and promotion, as well as activations within existing businesses and community organisations.

A business collective of key partners has already been established to help deliver the festival and report outcomes to the funding body. Members include Bangalow Theatre Company, Beach Hotel Byron Bay, Byron Community Centre/Byron Theatre, Common People Brewing Co., Frida’s Field, The Loft Byron Bay, Main St Burger Bar, No Bones and The Great Northern Hotel.

Lennox Head will also introduce a new monthly night-time program, with the launch of Lennox Alive in August set to build on feedback from the community’s annual Love Lennox Festival.

While the festival attracts strong attendance, local business feedback highlighted that a single annual event alone cannot provide the consistent activity required to support shopfront businesses throughout the year.

Delivered by Business Lennox Head, the town’s Chamber of Commerce, Lennox Alive will run on the second Saturday of every month until June 2027.

 

 

The initiative will bring together local businesses, cultural and community groups, sporting organisations and other organisations to deliver a diverse program across hospitality venues, the Lennox Head Cultural Centre, retail spaces, parks and galleries.

A local shuttle bus service will operate on event nights to help residents and visitors move easily between venues and participate safely.

The program will also celebrate Indigenous culture, creating opportunities for Indigenous artists, performers and storytellers to share culture, art and knowledge as part of the monthly program.

Creative and community partners include Le-Ba Boardriders, Lennox Arts Board, Brush and Beats, Vibin Dance, Lennox Sessions and The Comedy Commune, alongside hospitality and tourism businesses across the town.

Murwillumbah is also set to host two film-related events planned six months apart.

 

These include a week-long film festival at the Art Deco Regent Cinema around October, and a closed laneway event in Proudfoots Lane featuring light projections and street food, followed by an outdoor cinema screening in a nearby car park planned for around April 2027.

The towns are among 10 regional centres chosen for the NSW Government Regional Night-Time Economy Program pilot, delivered by the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner.