Horizon Festival will mark 10 years on the Sunshine Coast with beachside music, Babe under the stars, a First Nations-led gathering, and a boot-scootin’ dance floor finale.

The annual arts and cultural festival runs from May 1–10 on Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country, with 35 events across 13 locations and a program moving through music, performance, film, dance and hands-on creativity.

Supported by Sunshine Coast Council, this year’s program is being framed as a milestone edition for the festival, with free and affordable events designed to bring locals and visitors together across the region.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the 10th anniversary was a chance for the community to experience creativity in some of the region’s most recognisable places.

“Horizon is a festival for our region, by our region, and this milestone year is about offering inspiring, welcoming events that make it easy for everyone to join in,” Mayor Natoli said.

A crowd settles in under the stars for an outdoor beachside movie night. Photo: Supplied.

Opening by the beach

Horizon Festival Opening Night will launch the program at Kings Beach Park on Friday, May 1, with a free all-ages beachside celebration from 4pm to 9pm.

The opening night is being described as a joyful “opening ceremony” for the festival’s 10th anniversary, with live music, creative surprises, family activities and food and drink options rolling into the evening.

Gathering on Country

Yauar Warai Wandi – Sing, Dance, Gather will take place at Lions and Norrie Job Park in Coolum Beach on Saturday, May 2, from 5pm to 8pm.

The free First Nations-led outdoor gathering will honour living relationships between flora, fauna and Country through performance, ceremony, music and storytelling.

Audiences are invited to come for the full three-hour sunset event or stay as long as they like, with picnic rugs, chairs, water, hats and layers recommended.

Festival basecamp in Maroochydore

Horizon Hangout will run at The MET in Maroochydore City Centre from Monday, May 4 to Thursday, May 7, offering a drop-in festival basecamp from 9am to 3pm each day.

The space will include live acoustic music, kids’ play, creative activities, roving moments, workshops and giant games on the grass.

The MET will also host extra Horizon experiences, including The Song Shed on Monday, May 4, where participants can form small teams and explore melody, lyrics and rhythm in a collaborative songwriting session.

Later in the week, Danny Widdicombe & The Wand’rin’ Stars will perform a free show on Friday, May 8 from 6.30pm to 9.30pm, with Widdicombe returning to folk-and-country roots through songs from his new album Everything is New Again.

Jem Cassar-Daley will perform on Saturday, May 9 from 6.30pm to 9.30pm, bringing her First Nations indie-pop songwriting to a festival night out.

Babe under the stars

Family Film Night – Babe Under the Stars will take over Baringa Forest Park on Saturday, May 9, with a free outdoor screening celebrating 30 years of Babe.

The family-friendly event runs from 3.30pm to 7.30pm, with live music, a farm-animal petting zoo and local food vendors before the film begins at dusk.

Dance floor finish in Nambour

Horizon Dance Hall will close the festival at Hungerford Hall, Nambour State College, on Sunday, May 10, from 9am to 6pm.

The free all-ages finale turns the last day into a dance-floor gathering. Expect performances, demos and workshops across boot scooting, Bollywood, hip-hop, samba, swing and bush dancing.

Food and market stalls will also be on site across the day.

Plan your festival

Many Horizon Festival events are free, but registration is encouraged and some sessions have limited capacity.

Visit horizonfestival.com.au for the full program, accessibility details and bookings.