What do dirtgirl, surfboards, garbage trucks and Christmas decorations made from bottle lids have in common? They're all part of one seriously fun (and completely FREE!) day out at The Entrance this November!
The Sustainable Future Festival is back on Saturday 14 November, bringing live music, hands-on workshops, wildlife encounters and loads of creative fun to Memorial Park.
And the best bit? While the kids are busy getting grubby, making stuff and dancing along to some fab performers, they'll be learning a thing or two about looking after our beautiful Coast. And with loads of clever workshops, talks and demonstrations for grown-ups too, you might just learn a thing or two yourself! Pretty clever, we reckon!
Scroll down to learn more, or click the button below to head straight to the festival website.
Get Grubby with dirtgirl, scrapboy and Costa the Garden Gnome!
Gumboots at the ready! The much-loved dirtgirl, scrapboy and Costa the Garden Gnome are coming to the Central Coast with The Grubby Bucket Show!
And the fun doesn't stop there!
dirtgirl's Garden Party will be bringing a fabulous four-piece band to the stage. It's a little bit folk, a little bit garden party and a whole lot of fun!
There'll also be live performances from Formidable Vegetable (who make something called Ecological Dance Music – yes, that's a thing!), Amelie Ecology and the Bee Band, and the wonderfully energetic Junkyard Beats.
Expect drumming, dancing, comedy and instruments made from everyday junktastic stuff.
Make, Create, Get Grubby and Take Something Home!
Now for the hands-on fun! There are loads of opportunities for kids (and grown-ups!) to roll up their sleeves and get creative.
You can:
- Make your own beeswax wraps.
- Turn recycled bottle lids into pens and Christmas decorations with the clever crew from Banish.
- Create earrings or a keyring from discarded materials with TrashFish Recycled.
- Plant a succulent in a recycled pot.
- Make botanical body scrubs with Aroma Shak.
- Try your hand at woodworking, painting and planting with House of Tierney.
- Get crafty with Curious Creators and the Get Grubby Team.
- Decorate rocks with Permaculture Central Coast.
- Have a go at freeform stitching with the Sewing Basket.
- Learn about worm farming and composting with Homegrown Health.
- Help create a giant turtle artwork from recycled bottle tops with Mango SEA, or make a whale tail to take home.
And there are two workshops we're particularly excited about!
Surf families, listen up! Internationally recognised surfboard shaper Tom Wegener is coming to the festival! At his On the Tools with Tom Wegener workshop, he'll show how old, discarded surfboards can be transformed into something new. Got a surf-mad teenager or a budding DIY enthusiast? This one's worth checking out!
And with Christmas just around the corner... Why not learn a clever new way to wrap presents? Nina Gbor from Eco Styles will be showing festivalgoers the Japanese art of Furoshiki gift wrapping – using fabric instead of disposable wrapping paper. It's reusable, looks gorgeous and saves you from that mountain of wrapping paper on Christmas morning!
And There's Even More for the Kids!
If you've got little ones who love trucks, animals, music or getting their faces painted, you're in luck!
There'll be:
- Australian Wildlife Displays – get up close to some native Australian animals.
- Bike n Blend – hop on a bike and use pedal power to blend a smoothie!
- Garbage trucks – always a winner with the truck-loving crowd.
- Face painting – because what's a festival without a little face paint?
Got Clothes You Don't Wear? Or Something That Needs Fixing? Bring It Along!
We love this part of the festival that's all about repairing, reusing and getting a little more life out of the things we already own.
Got clothes you no longer wear? Bring 5–10 clean, good-quality items to the Coast Swap Clothes Swap and exchange them for some new-to-you finds. It's a wardrobe refresh without the shopping bill!
Got a favourite piece of clothing that's looking a little worse for wear? The clever crew from Unwanted FC will be running textile repair and upcycling workshops, showing you how to mend, rework and breathe new life into old garments. Book here.
Got a broken bike, piece of jewellery or small mechanical item? Bring it along to the Terrigal Uniting Church Repair Café and see if it can be fixed rather than thrown away.
Pick Up Some Clever Tips for Greener Living
Ever wondered how to attract more native bees to your garden? Whether composting is really worth the effort? Or how to clean your home without all those harsh chemicals?
There'll be experts on hand sharing practical tips and demonstrations on everything from growing herbs and composting to reducing fashion waste, restoring rusty tools and eating more sustainably.
This year's theme is "Our Coast, Our Future", and we reckon that's something worth celebrating.
And we bet you'll head home with a handmade Christmas decoration, a newly repaired favourite, a few fresh ideas and some very happy kids.
Sustainable Future Festival 2026
When: Saturday 14 November 2026, 9am-3pm.
Where: Memorial Park, The Entrance.
Cost: FREE!
Who: Everyone. Even the family dog is welcome (on leash please).
Sustainable Future Festival's website
Sustainable Future Festival's Instagram page
Sustainable Future Festival's Facebook page
The Sustainable Future festival is part of The Lakes Festival program for 2026.
Written By: KATIE STOKES
Founder & Editor
After working in print and online media for more than a decade, Katie launched Playing in Puddles in 2017. A mum of three young boys and local of the Central Coast, Katie loves discovering and sharing all that’s happening in our region.
