Whitsunday Wealth Festival Hub to offer unique fun in central location

Published: 26 May 2023

Preparations are well under way for an event that is intended to be an ongoing feature of the Mackay Festival of Arts program.

The Whitsunday Wealth Festival Hub will transform the lush lawns of the Mackay Civic Precinct into a wonderland of surrealism, comedy, action, live music and locally crafted brews.

In fact, local brewery Red Dog are so excited about the event that they have been perfecting a one-off recipe – Mackay Festival Hub Lager – that will only be found on tap at the Hub.

Kicking off on Monday, July 3, and running through until Sunday, July 9, the Whitsunday Wealth Festival Hub will be home to two must-see interactive shows – High Tea with Booff and Le Coup.

High Tea with Booff will be a uniquely dark and immersive experience of comic theatre featuring an eloquent, other-worldly host with a larger-than-life personality.

Le Coup is billed as fight night at the circus that will feature sword swallowing, daring aerial feats, tap dancing, acrobatics and more – all under a lavish Ukiyo tent.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the Whitsunday Wealth Festival Hub would be a centralised one-stop, pop-up destination that would showcase the essence of the Mackay Festival of Arts.

“This will be a vibrant hub for entertainment, socialising, live music and street cuisine that will bring people together to have a great time,” Mayor Williamson said.

“It’s also sensational to have the team from Whitsunday Wealth on board as the major sponsor,” he said.

“Having local businesses throwing their support behind drawcard events that improve the liveability of our region and help to activate our City Centre is tremendous.”

Whitsunday Wealth managing director Matt Neill said one of Whitsunday Wealth’s key values was community and they were excited to get behind an event that will deliver something new, fun and different for the community.

“It’s also great that the Hub will be centrally located and will have some really original options for festival goers,” Mr Neill said.

“I will absolutely be down here myself with my wife and two boys,” he said.

“We are really looking forward to Le Coup in the Ukiyo and I know there has been a lot of buzz around the office about that show.”

Red Dog Brewery co-owner and brewer Jamie Woods said the Red Dog team was really excited to be getting into the festival space with their big red truck bristling with beer taps.

“It (the truck) gives us the opportunity to take our beer on the road and bring it to people at all the big festivals around the region,” Mr Woods said.

“We can’t wait to have our beer that we brew here in Mackay on tap for Festival goers and we’ve come up with a recipe specifically for the Whitsunday Wealth Festival Hub that will be a one off.

“You won’t get this beer anywhere else, so you will have to get down to the Hub to try it.”

For more information on the Whitsunday Wealth Festival Hub, follow Mackay Festivals on Facebook and Instagram, or head to themecc.com.au/festivals