It has been a long while since Avalon set the stage for a big, vibrant, village celebration, but get set to kick off summer as the Oasis Beyond the Bends brings you the most incredible long weekend of community, ideas, music, art, coastline and connection, Friday to Sunday, December 5 to 7.
Inspired by the bustling, thriving scenes of Market Day from years gone by, the inaugural Deep North Festival will bring creative energy with a monster program of free and ticketed events and a whole host of local businesses on board to offer in-store experiences including sunset sessions with none other than Kid Kenobi, in-store wine and whiskey tastings, massive tug-o-war and treasure hunt, artist residencies, talks and free wellbeing, breathwork and meditation sessions. It’s genuinely too much to write it all down.
The heartbeat of the Deep North celebration will be the Big Top Town Tent, a spectacular 500 seat theatre hosting national and local icons Meg Washington, James Morrison, Le Shiv, William Barton, Bob Brown, Geraldine Brooks and the Super Silly Seaside Circus! Hopefully there are still tickets left by the time this goes to print!
The Deep North came about through casual conversation, often over coffee at Bookoccino, the Northern Beaches bookstore where festival director Sally Tabner is a partner, alongside Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Raymond Bonner.
“Avalon Beach has long been known as a creative community,” says Sally. “It might be the incredible natural beauty of the place, it might be the laid-back lifestyle, it might be something in the water, but there is no doubt, the village is full of talent and ready to spring to life.”
For almost a year leading into the Deep North Festival a loose group of artists including Joshua Yeldham and Mika Utzon, filmmaker Melanie Hogan, cultural planner Sue Boaden, photographer Sarah Ducker and creative director Pia Dorer met to shape the vision of an inclusive, diverse and inspiring weekend for the Northern Beaches community.
There are now 6 people working around the clock to realise the vision for a world-class arts-led celebration, supported in their endeavours by NSW State funding through the Uptown Grant. All of them are professionals in marketing, live music, production and design.
“I genuinely have the best job,” says Sally. “I spend my days talking to people about books and ideas, hosting events with leading authors and drinking tea with artists, teachers, entrepreneurs, writers, fashion designers, tradies and CEO’s.
“It’s a massive honour to be a part of this community and it feels like this kind of festival celebration is the inevitable result of being immersed in this melting pot of talent and potential.”
Tawny readers are going to go nuts for this wonderful event. It is community and creativity at its very finest on our gorgeous stretch of coastline.
Visit deepnorth.au for the event schedule and all info.
Follow @the_deep_north on socials for all updates.