Supercharged Fun at Lake Mac as Fast & Loud Festival Hits Full Throttle This Weekend

19 October 2024

Get ready for a weekend of speed, sound, and spectacle as the 2024 Fast & Loud Festival kicks off with a roar across the streets and shores of Lake Macquarie. Hosted by Lake Macquarie City Council, the festival promises high-octane entertainment, including offshore superboat races, thrilling aerial displays, and live performances.

In a first for the festival, the streets of Belmont and Warners Bay will close to traffic, transforming into vibrant hubs of activity with live entertainment, food trucks, and market stalls. Headline acts include country music band Darlinghurst, adding a musical touch to the festivities.

The main attraction? The offshore superboats and powerboats slicing through the water at breakneck speeds. With their twin-hulled designs and top speeds of 240km/h, these sleek vessels will compete in the opening rounds of the 2024-2025 Offshore Superboat Championships. The racecourse spans from Marmong Point to Booragul, offering prime viewing from various lakeside spots including Eleebana, Warners Bay, and Speers Point.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz is excited to bring this dynamic event to the community, especially with the support of the NSW Government’s Open Streets Program. “We’re delivering a weekend packed with speed, fun, and entertainment for all ages,” Shultz said. “The festival sites around the lake are perfect for watching the races, enjoying live music, and soaking up the energy.”

In addition to the on-water action, aviation fans are in for a treat as Red Bull’s Matt Hall takes to the skies for breathtaking aerial displays. Hall will perform at both Warners Bay and Belmont, showing off his gravity-defying stunts in back-to-back sessions over the weekend.

Festival-goers can also visit the pit area at Empire Marina, where they can get a closer look at the superboats and meet some of the pilots, including world champion Darren Nicholson.

The festival kicks off on Friday night with a free concert at the Warners Bay rotunda, featuring Love That Hat from 6-9pm. Over the weekend, five live sites will operate around the lake, offering the best vantage points for both the boat races and the aerial displays.

For the full event schedule and live site locations, visit Lake Macquarie City Council’s website.

This adrenaline-filled weekend is proudly funded by the NSW Government and delivered in partnership with Empire Marina. Don’t miss out on the biggest Fast & Loud Festival yet, where the streets come alive with action both on the water and in the sky.

Key Event Highlights:

Friday: Free concert at Warners Bay rotunda, 6-9pm.
Saturday: Superboat and Powerboat races, street parades, live music, and Matt Hall’s aerobatic displays.
Sunday: More boat races, a ‘Show and Shine’ car show at Speers Point, and live entertainment.

Grab your spot at one of the lakeside live sites and prepare for an unforgettable weekend of speed, sound, and entertainment!