A Year-Round Guide to Celebrations and Festivities
For those planning their 2024 travel calendar, Noosa’s vibrant array of events and festivals offers an ideal opportunity to immerse in local culture, art, and sports. Thereis no shortage of events to include in your itinerary for the year in Noosa. Due to the region’s beauty, it has become a mecca for festivals and events related to art, surfing, food and wine, as well as other performances like theatre, music, or influential talks. With accommodation so close to town and some of the best venues, it’s easy to turn the event or festival your attending into a trip of the senses. Below is a list of Noosa Events and festivals that take place in the region throughout the year. Plan your trip around them, or get lucky and knock two birds in one stone if you are there simultaneously.
Active Events:
With a community so ingrained in the environment around it, events surrounding activities like running, cycling, and surfing are only natural.
Runaway Noosa Marathon
Taking place in May, this marathon winds through Noosa’s main town and beachside and will have several distances to choose from. The marathon will be bustling with fun thanks to the ability to run in teams, join in on live music, or the ability to jump into the crystal waters of Noosa Main Beach to cool off.
- Date: Saturday 25th May 2024
- Details: A choice of distances, team runs, live music, and beachside fun.
- Website: Runaway Noosa Marathon
Noosa Ultraman
A true test of endurance, the Noosa Ultraman challenges competitors to embark on a 10km swim, 420km bike ride, and an 84.4km run through Noosa, Laguna Bay, and Noosa National Park.
- Date: 11-13 May 2024
- Details: A challenging endurance event featuring swimming, biking, and running.
- Website: Noosa Ultraman
Noosa Festival of Surfing
The biggest event of the year and one of the world’s largest surf events is the Noosa Festival of Surfing that takes place every March. Surfers young and old come together to compete on Noosa’s famous peeling waves that have clean conditions year after year. Don’t be surprised if you see surfing dogs catching a wave or two. The surf culture in Noosa is immense, with arts, music, and films all taking place during the competition.
- Date: 8th – 17th March 2024
- Details: One of the world’s largest surf events with a blend of surf culture, arts, and music.
- Website: Noosa Festival of Surfing
Noosa Ultimate Sports Festival
This sports festival, also known as the winter festival, is a multi-sport event involving competitors in a swim, cycling and running, taking place in May every year.
- Date: 28th – 29th May 2024
- Details: A multi-sport event with swimming, cycling, and running.
- Website: Noosa Ultimate Sports Fest
Noosa Blue Water Swim or Summer Swim
In the months of May and February, different swim events take place allowing people to come together and swim into the big ocean blue, either for 1km, 2km or a 500m swim through Tea Tree Bay and Noosa Main Beach.
- Date: 17th -18th February 2024
- Details: Ocean swim events at various distances.
- Website: Noosa Summer Swim
Noosa Classic
The Noosa Classic is a thrilling cycling event that invites riders of all levels to experience the breathtaking beauty of Noosa and its surroundings. This annual event offers a range of courses, catering to both seasoned cyclists and those seeking a more leisurely ride. The routes showcase the stunning landscapes of Noosa, from coastal roads to hinterland climbs, making it a truly memorable experience. Whether you’re in it for the challenge or the scenic journey, the Noosa Classic is an unmissable event for cycling enthusiasts.
- Date: August (postponed 2023 and looking unlikely for 2024)
- Details: Cycling event featuring diverse routes through Noosa Hinterlands.
- Website: Noosa Classic
Noosa Triathlon
Taking place in October, Noosa hosts one of the biggest triathlons in the country, challenging both national and international competitors to swim 1,500m, cycle 40km, and finish with a run of 10km.
- Date: 30th October – 3rd November 2024
- Details: A major triathlon event featuring swimming, cycling, and running.
- Website: Noosa Triathlon
Arts and Culture:
Arts and culture are also a vibrant facet of the Noosa community, and they inspire several large events every year. Aside from annual events, there are markets, galleries, and museums open year-round for anyone looking to experience the culture of Noosa.
Australian Body Art Festival
Each year, artists around Australia participate in this festival by drawing, painting, and airbrushing live models with wearable art. Every year’s art is influenced by a different theme, making it a fun and exciting event for everyone to attend.
- Date: 20th & 21nd April 2024
- Details: A celebration of wearable art with live model painting and airbrushing.
- Website: Australian Body Art Festival
Noosa Rainbow River Festival
This festival brings about sheer fun for one weekend, celebrating the LGBTI community of Australia. Join in drinks by the river, a bar hop, and plenty of music and parades around the town.
- Date: March (postponed 2023 and awaiting 2024 date)
- Details: A weekend event celebrating the LGBTI community.
- Website: Noosa Rainbow River Festival
Noosa Eat and Drink Festival
One of the year’s largest events celebrates chefs’ culinary achievements in Noosa with the Noosa Food and Wine Festival. People come together to see what some of Noosa’s finest have been experimenting with in food that becomes art itself. Those in attendance will dine along the beaches, rivers, and throughout Noosa’s hinterland, indulging in local produce, textures and tastes inspired by the region.
- Date: 30th May – 2nd June 2024
- Details: Culinary delights by top chefs, beachside dining, and local produce.
- Website: Noosa Eat and Drink Festival
Noosa Alive
An expansive experience in arts, culture, literature, dance, and music is hosted by Noosa Alive, which showcases performances by many artists in many different mediums. Many events are free, making it a perfect way to spend the weekend getting the rundown on creativity that goes on in Noosa.
- Date: 19th – 28th July 2024
- Details: A festival showcasing arts, culture, literature, dance, and music.
- Website: Noosa Alive
For more on Noosa’s aquatic allure, check out our ultimate guide to swimming in Noosa at Noosa Swim, which offers insights into the best swimming spots and events in the area.