The Festival of Sails will be held on Corio Bay and along the Geelong Waterfront over the Australia Day long weekend.
The festival is Victoria's oldest continuing sporting event, the first of which was held back in 1844. This year approximately 300 yachts will be seen floating in Corio Bay and 4500 people will compete in races held over the 4 day event making it the largest annual keel boat regatta in the Southern Hemisphere.
Although a yachting festival the event also offers plenty of entertainment for shore bound visitors. There will be live music on three stages spread out in the parks along the Geelong waterfront, art and craft markets, food and wine stalls and a marine and boating exhibition.
There will also be a 'Come and Try" zone set up at Eastern Beach where festival goers can try out water and beach activities in a safe environment. Activities on offer will include wind surfing, stand up paddle boarding, canoeing and more.
Saturday night (26th of January) will see the skies light up with the traditional Australia Day fireworks display. Starting at 9.20pm the display will be visible all along the Geelong waterfront precinct from Rippleside Park to the Geelong Botanical Gardens. Good spots fill up quickly so get there early to see the fireworks light up not only the sky but also the smooth surface of the bay with its hundreds of visiting yachts moored for the evening.
