The inaugural four-day Shore Leave Festival celebrating the Mid-West’s premium produce, history and culture kicks off in Geraldton today.
The festival runs from September 24 to September 27 and will be a major tourism drawcard for the region.
The McGowan Government has provided $300,000 to support the festival, which will include
an array of exciting activities and events for visitors including food and dining events, sight-seeing tours, exhibitions and live entertainment.
There will also be opportunities to experience the Indigenous culture of the region and to learn more about the world-class local lobster industry.
The Abrolhos Long Table Lunch will be a festival highlight, providing a unique dining experience sampling gourmet local seafood prepared by chef Brendan Pratt, all while overlooking picturesque Turtle Bay on East Wallabi Island.
The Foreshore Feast will be another crowd favourite, showcasing the best of Geraldton’s seafood and regional produce and include cooking demonstrations, food tastings and live entertainment.
For full event details, visit shoreleavefestival.com.au.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“The Mid-West is rich in history and the inaugural Shore Leave Festival provides a fantastic opportunity to shine a spotlight on this important region of Western Australia.
“Thousands of visitors are expected to attend the four-day event, providing an important boost for the local economy.
“I encourage everyone to get along to support local businesses, many of which were significantly impacted by Tropical Cyclone Seroja earlier this year.”
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“It has been great to see industry take up our challenge of creating a festival that celebrates the stunning food, tourism destinations, culture and entertainment on offer in the Mid-West region.
“Occasions like this bring people into our regions and enable them to share their unique assets, generating a boon for local businesses that will last long after the last stall is packed away.”
As stated by Fisheries Minister Don Punch:
“Shore Leave is a fantastic example of the resilience and ingenuity our local seafood industry has shown over the past 18 months as it continues to work through the impacts of COVID-19.
“Geraldton is a top destination for boating and fishing and is the centre of Australia’s most valuable rock lobster fishery, which supports local jobs in Geraldton and surrounding coastal communities.
“Mid-West fisheries contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to the State’s economy and produce some of the best and freshest produce in the world – and festival attendees will be treated to an array of premium local seafood over the weekend.”
As stated by Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton:
“Geraldton is a premier tourist destination.
“We have everything you need for a great escape, pristine beaches, some of the best seafood in the world, friendly people and this new festival will showcase all of this and more.
“I am so excited to see Shore Leave debut and for the McGowan Government’s investment to support Mid-West tourism.”
