The dynamic program of entertainment, eateries and Eastern Beach activations has been revealed!
The annual waterfront and Corio Bay takeover of sailing, sun and sound, Festival of Sails, returns for 2025, with this year’s program promising to be bigger and better than ever!
The festival returns to the Geelong waterfront foreshore for three-days from 25 – 27 January 2025 with world-class sailing action at the forefront of the festivities, and a sensational selection of music, food, and entertainment.
Festival of Sails
- When: Saturday 25 January 2025 – Monday 27 January 2025
- Where: Various locations across Geelong Waterfront and Royal Yacht Club
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
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Live Music
As always, the Geelong Waterfront will be buzzing, not just from the thrilling face of sails on the water but from the amplifiers setup across multiple stages.
This year the Festival of Sails lineup of artists is a diverse range of local and famed favourites from across Australia. Leading the charge is The Southern River Band, alongside tribute act of Freddie Mercury and co, Queen Forever, and local angel Freya Josephine Hollick. The Mik Maks will be on-site to make the whole family happy with their educational and exciting songs.
At Tipi on the Bay at Fairne Park, Forte Magazine will be on-site with new partners K Rock for a competition for the local songmakers. On Saturday 25 January, the Emerging Artists Series will be in full swing and on Sunday 26 January the newly introduced We Are The Youth! Series will takeover, showing the talent of the 12 – 17 year old artists of the region.
Sailing Experiences
As the Festival of Sails title suggests, sailing is the sight drawing everyone down to the waterfront. The legendary Melbourne to Geelong Passage Race will be underway, with the best seat in the house aboard the ticketed Regatta Cruise on Saturday 25 January.
If you like what you see on the waters, the festival is inviting new faces into the sailing world with their Come & Try Sailing series. You will be able to get out of the water from two days of free sailing experiences on state-of-the-art keelboats.
Food and Drink
You can’t have a three day festival in the sun without something to sip on a something to savour. Naturally food trucks will be on site with pop-up bars and eateries littered around the festival site.
This year the festival welcomes iconic and popular Federal Mills site, Paddock Bakery, as a partner who will hosting the Paddock by the Bay stage which will include tipi bar serves local wines, brews, and gourmet bites. Lounge on the lawns, enjoy live music, and soak in stunning bay views.
Activities
The RAAF Roulettes Aerial Show will be a sight to behold has they soar above the regatta. If you’re less into the adrenaline and would like to soak in the tranquillity of the events, join the free Yoga by the Bay. On day three you can kickstart the Monday morning with a beach-side stretch.
Day one wraps up in the most magical way, with a dazzling fireworks display lighting up the bay above the sea of yachts from 9pm. Finally close out the weekend with a Sunday Session Presentation Party.
There is all this and so much more on display at the Festival of Sails 2025. Explore the full program here and dive into the additional experiences here.
