Airlie Beach Special Events

Twilight Yacht Racing
The Whitsundays Sailing Club organises twilight yacht racing every Wednesday evening between 3pm and 7pm. Watch or take part as local charter boats sail off into the early evening sun displaying their friendly rivalry in this weekly competition. Everyone is welcome to join in and become a member of the crew for the evening, whether you're an experienced sailor or complete novice. Just show up at the Sailing Club before 3 and see if they have a position available. If not, you can still meet up with the crew for after race drinks, dinner and some friendly team banter.

Airlie Beach Festival of Music
The Festival of Music is an annual event in Airlie Beach that features artists and musical talent from all over the world. There are an abundance of venues over the Whitsundays to accommodate all the upcoming events of the festival, with shows put off daily in the many different locations! Visitors to the music festival can buy passes to the 3 day festival which includes food and alcohol in the main tent, making for an all inclusive festival! This is a highlight week in the Whitsundays that both tourists and locals look forward to every year.

Reef Festival
This four day festival has range of events including comedy shows, dining and fashion shows and free music concerts suitable for all the family. The first day begins with local businesses dressing up and strutting their stuff down the main strip of Airlie, while the local fashionistas of Airlie spend the day preparing for Frocktails dining and fashion show. The first evening ends with a spectacular fireworks display to signal the start of this fantastic festival. Throughout the next couple of days Airlie is filled with sand sculpting competitions, street parades and the Whitsundays Recyclable Regatta. This family friendly event encourages local businesses, schools and families to build a raft using only recyclable materials and race along the lagoon. Chill out in the park with friends, mosey around the night markets, get into the spirit and celebrate the tropical lifestyle.

The Great Barrier Reef Dancesport Great Open Championship
Perfectly combing the glitz and glamour of Dancesport with the beautiful scenery of the Whitsundays, this fun, relaxed competition held in the middle of July is something you wouldn't want to miss. With an open air marquee on the foreshore of the crystal blue Whitsunday coast and a purpose built dance floor specially made for the event, you're guaranteed to see some of the highest standards of dancesport and have a fabulous evening with friends. Over a couple of days you'll see dancers as young as 6 years old to master competitors all competing through the rounds to the final. They even have a fun-filled championship event for dance competitors and spectators alike. So if you're dancesport enthusiast or just like to boogie from time to time, why not include this in your Airlie Beach holiday experience.

Airlie Beach Race Week
This week long yachting gala is held annually in Airlie Beach. Both competitors and spectators can enjoy the world class event with lots of fun activities for all the family on and off the water. And as this is the biggest sporting event in the Airlie Beach calendar, the atmosphere in the marina is buzzing. As well as the obvious racing that takes place on Airlie Beach waters, there are also daily live music shows, and other events to keep you busy between races.

Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival
The Airlie Beach triathlon is held in August every year and has events suitable for all ages and abilities. For those who have been training hard all year, there is the triathlon (750 metre swim, 20km cycle, 5 km run.) For keen sporty kids there is even a junior triathlon that will have them doing team sprints and open water swimming. And that's not all. If you'd rather sit back and watch others do all the hard work, then why not check out the volleyball and sports expo.