About!

Over 35 events, strategically spread throughout Noosa region celebrating 10 days of unique performing arts excitement! NOOSA alive! Festival creates stories within the natural setting of Noosa, each event has a story, a visual attraction and while the stage is set in Noosa’s fabulous facilities from The J Theatre to local school facilities or our famous Main Beach the Festival has something for every genre.

Noosa’s unique natural environment and village-style atmosphere provide the inspiring backdrop for this festival that offers visitors beautiful beaches and national parks, fabulous food, cultural stimulus and community events for all ages– an experience for the body, mind and soul.

NOOSA alive! is an incorporated association and is registered as a not for profit organisation, governed by a voluntary Management Committee. The Festival would not exist without the generosity of these volunteers, and the many other volunteers who commit their time to the success of the Festival. Just as important are the many sponsors who provide financial and in kind assistance to the Festival. Our Patrons, Friends and Business Friends provide financial and staunch support to the Festival. The Management Committee thanks all of our supporters for their loyalty and generosity. To make a contribution to NOOSA alive! Festival get involved.

David Williamson AO and his beautiful wife Kristin Williamson started the Noosa Long Weekend Festival with a group of friends in 2002 and eventually rebranded to NOOSA alive!.

David and Kristin are in integral part of the fabric of the NOOSA alive! Festival. A David Williamson play has been the cornerstone of many festivals and since its inception, NOOSA alive! has consistently hosted a dazzling list of luminaries, including: Authors Clive James, Tariq Ali, Peter Carey, Thomas Keneally, Tim Winton and Li Cunxin; Journalists John Pilger, George Megalogenis and Barrie Cassidy; Actors Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson, Drew Forsyth and John Bell; Film directors Bruce Beresford and Rolf De Heer; The famed Goldner String Quartet; Academy Award winning cinematographer Russell Boyd; Singers Marina Prior, Caroline O’Connor and Opera Australia soloists; Artists Michael Leunig, Mirka Mora, Bill Leak and Ken Done; Musicians Piers Lane, Kate Miller-Heidke, Paul Kelly, James Morrison, Paul Grabowsky, Karin Schaupp and Jane Rutter; Comedians Max Gillies, Jean Kittson and Wendy Harmer; Commentators Campbell McComas, Margaret Pomeranz, David Stratton, Tim Flannery and Alison Broinowsky; Presenters Maxine McKew, Peter Thompson, Geraldine Doogue and Kerry O’Brien.

The Noosa Alive Festival recognises that events are often one of the biggest creators of single-use plastic waste, and we are committed to evolving our systems and operations in the pursuit of a more sustainable festival. This journey will be ongoing, as we continue to create tangible actions that limit our environmental impact. Part of that journey is engaging our patrons to take action with us.

What You Can Do

Reuse Your Cup

If you’re drinking at the Festival, please consider reusing your cup or ensure you place it in the cup deposit bin when you’re finished.  We try to reuse the cups provided.  At some events we offer NOOSA alive! branded cups made from sand so you can reuse your cup to save the water used to wash the cups up which are provided from the bar.  You can purchase these for $5 ea (RRP $11 ea).  They are a cool camping cup, look good at a picnic and they fold up to fit in your pocket.

Catch the Bus

Translink offers free weekend bus travel within the Noosa Shire. Buses will arrive at the Noosa Heads Bus Interchange on the corner of Noosa Parade and Noosa Drive, which is a short walk from the Festival Village. Refer to our arriving page for more details including bus timetables.

BYO Drink Bottle

Drink bottle refill water stations will be provided at the Festival, to prevent single use plastic bottles.

Fly Carbon Neutral

For those flying to attend NOOSA alive!, airlines offer the option to fly carbon neutral as a way to offset carbon emissions. Your carbon offset contribution is donated to approved abatement projects under the Australian Government’s Climate Active Program.

Trees for Tourism

To help in the mission to protect Noosa’s pristine environment for generations to come, we are proud to support the Trees for Tourism program, a partnership between Tourism Noosa and Noosa & District Landcare where $1 from every paying event participant is donated to the program and its projects.

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Renee Stafford

Festival Director

Ian Mackellar joins the NOOSA alive! team to showcase and curate live performances presented in NOOSA alive!’s 22nd year.