Community-driven Nightjar Festival returns

The first artist announcements will be made in the coming weeks. Photos: TIMOTHY MARRIAGE

TORQUAY’S favourite event is back this summer with an electrifying two-week celebration of music, art and community.

The Nightjar Festival will run on January 3 and 10 and bring an unmissable line-up of award-winning and emerging musical talents to town, with the first artist announcement expected in the coming weeks.

Lyndelle Flintoft, who founded the festival 15 years ago, said the event is proudly run by locals for locals, and the community could once again expect an “amazing, local home-grown event”.

“We’ve got the Big Top coming back [and] we are running five musicians a night,” she said.

“It really hits the heart of grassroots music.”

The Big Top will be back in 2025, with five musicians set to take the stage each night of the festival.

In addition to its live music roster, Ms Flintoft confirmed the festival will also feature vibrant art installations and roaming performers, along with mouth-watering dishes from local food vendors and a carefully curated selection of market stalls.

Festivalgoers will also be able to unwind with a drink, with much-loved companies Blackman’s Brewery and Flowstate Distillery teaming up with the event’s organisers.

“In front of our stunning Big Top, we have a boutique bar area. However, the rest of the event remains unlicenced, allowing teenagers to experience their first music festival with their mates,” Ms Flintoft said.

“They can come in the gates, without their parents, and have a great time.”

After a four-year hiatus, the beloved music festival made its triumphant return to the Torquay Common earlier this year, boasting impressive new infrastructure and a revamped vision that cemented the music festival’s status as the most affordable on the calendar.

Founded 15 years ago, the Nightjar Festival is run by locals for locals and hits the heart of grassroots music.

And with many of the Nightjar Festival’s past acts going on to become some of the biggest touring acts in the country, it’s an event locals won’t want to miss.

Applications are currently open for food vendors and market stalls holders.

The event organisers have said tickets for the festival will be available in the coming weeks.

With a limited capacity of 5,000 this year, they recommend securing your tickets online as soon as possible before they sell out.

For more information, head to nightjarfestival.com.au