Lake Mac poised to get Fast and Loud in May

Published on 31 March 2022

Superboats will roar across Lake Macquarie as part of May's Fast and Loud Festival.JPG

Lake Macquarie will come alive with the sights, sounds and tastes of its inaugural Fast and Loud Festival in May, with two weekends of action on and off the water.

The festival includes the local round of the Offshore Superboat Championships on 14-15 May, the Australian Power Boats Grand Prix on 21-22 May, Paul Bennet air-shows, motocross displays, concerts, family-friendly lakeside activities and the Belmont Beers, Blues and BBQ evening on 21 May, featuring Ash Grunwald.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said eased COVID restrictions meant the city could finally return to large-scale outdoor events and festivals.

“After two long years where events have been few and far between, Fast and Loud will be fantastic fun for all ages,” she said.

“We’ve spread the action across two weekends and both sides of the lake to appeal to the largest possible audience.”

Warners Bay foreshore will be the focal point of the festival’s opening weekend, with the Offshore Superboat Championships roaring into action.

A free Friday night “Super Sounds” event featuring live music and food stalls will kick off the weekend along the foreshore.

Food vendors, children’s rides, a petting zoo and family-friendly live entertainment will continue the foreshore festival feel on Saturday and Sunday.

VIP tickets will secure the best vantage points of the racing action, as well as VIP entry to festival bars, fast-passes to skip bar queues, shuttle bus passes and a range of other benefits.

Matt Hall Racing aircraft will do flyovers on both days, while Speers Point Park will host farmers markets on 14 May and a vintage car show on the 15th.

The park’s Multi-Arts Pavilion mima is set to host ARIA Hall of Fame blues legend Russell Morris on the Saturday evening, supported by The Viper Creek Band, The Appointments and Piper Butcher.

Council Manager Arts, Culture and Tourism Jacqui Hemsley said the second weekend included a host of activities on the western side of the lake at Rathmines Park.

“This will be an amazing weekend out,” she said.

“We’ll have the Australian Powerboat Grand Prix, a freestyle motocross show and the incredible stunts and aerobatics of the Paul Bennet Airshow, together with live entertainment, food and drinks.”

Sunday’s lakeside action at Rathmines includes the ticketed Lake Macquarie Food and Wine Festival, held 10am-4pm and featuring more than 100 food and drink stalls.

Ms Hemsley said the Belmont Beers, Blues and BBQ Festival would also make a return on Saturday 21 May after its sell-out first instalment in 2019.

Blues singer-songwriter Ash Grunwald is set to headline this year’s event, supported by Caitlin Harnett and the Pony Boys, and Justin Ngariki and the Dastardly Bastards.

Go to lakemac.com.au for event information, ticket prices for the various events comprising the festival, and to make bookings.