
Let's celebrate Australia Day - Image: Pixabay CC0 Creative Commons
Christmas is but a distant memory, Christmas decorations have been packed away for another year, Santa is back in the North Pole, hopefully having a well-deserved rest - so what else do we have to look forward to in 2018 in Queensland. I'm a firm believer in having something in the pipeline to look forward to - whether it's a holiday, a special outing or….Australia Day! That's right, people, we have Australia Day on the 26 January and
Lets Go - Moreton Bay Region Events are hosting three superb Australia Day celebrations for us to enjoy.
🇦🇺 1. AUSTRALIA DAY IN REDCLIFFE
Friday 26 January 2018 12.00noon to 7.30pm
Suttons Beach, Redcliffe

FREE Australia Day celebrations in Redcliffe - Image: Lets Go Moreton Bay Region to Australia Day in Redcliffe FB
Come along to the spectacular Suttons Beach in Redcliffe for a laid-back, easy-going dinkum Australia Day celebration. The ideal Australia Day celebration needs live music and the Australia Day in Redcliffe stage will be playing host to a diverse selection of live performers, including some very talented bands. Have a look at who will be performing and at what time.
Redcliffe Stage Live Entertainment
Josh n Ellie @ 12.10pm
Josh n Ellie are an energetic, versatile young acoustic duo, who's strengths are in vocal harmonies and exceptional guitar skills, allowing them to play a wide selection of music.
Lucy Korts @ 1.00pm
Josh Lovegrove @ 2.00pm
Josh Lovegrove is a singer/songwriter who originally hails from Melbourne. With a guitar in one hand and the songs which echo through the masses in the other, Josh Lovegrove performs with his heart on his sleeve. He is a
live looping experience not to be missed.
Hailey Calvert @ 3.00pm
Hailey Calvert's bluesy, rich voice and fluid guitar style has earned this lady from Brisbane many fans as well as turning her into a festival favourite. Hailey is the winner of the blues category in the 2015 International Songwriting Competition. With four CD's under her belt, Hailey Calvert is a memorable performer.

So much fun under the sun - Image: Lets Go - Moreton Bay Region Events FB
Ben Timmings @ 4.00pm
Ben Timmings is a Toowoomba-based acoustic, folk guitarist and singer/songwriter. Ben, with a guitar, a harmonica and a microphone is perfect for your next event and you can check him out at the Australia Day in Redcliffe.
Juzzie Smith @ 5.00pm
Juzzie Smith is the one-man band wonder who's genres include blues, groove and easy listening.
Dosed @ 6.00pm
Dosed are a trio from the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, who have been jamming together from a very young age. Since their formation of the three-piece that they are today, Dosed have been steadily gaining momentum and making noise on the Sunshine Coast music scene. Dosed specialise in getting both the young and the not-so-young up for a stomp-your-feet to some funky fresh tunes.
Silk 'N' Oak @ 6.50pm
Silk 'N' Oak are an alternative rock band with Ricky, Troy and sometimes Lachlan!
In addition to the all-important live music, Australia Day will definitely not be complete without outdoor sporty activities. All Aussies love to be outdoors, doing 'outdoorsy stuff'! So, here's what you can look forward to at
Australia Day in Redcliffe.
Beach Activities

Fireworks Finale will be held at Redcliffe and Bribie Island Australia Day celebrations - Image: Lets Go Moreton Bay Region Events FB
We will be able to participate in beach cricket, beach sack races and beach volleyball at Suttons Beach; or perhaps take a cruise out in the pristine water with the Float 'n' Fun Paddle Boards and Peddle Boards.
Garden Games
Heaps of games have been organised in the Garden Games area - so jump on in and have some fun! Prepare yourself for the Lamington Eating Contest too!
Fireworks Finale
Australia Day will culminate in an extravaganza with the Fireworks Finale - make sure you're still around from 7.30pm when a spectacular fireworks display will light up the skies over Redcliffe!
🇦🇺 2. AUSTRALIA DAY ON BRIBIE ISLAND
Friday 26 January 2018 12.00noon to 7.30pm
Brennan Park, Bongaree

FREE Australia Day celebration on Bribie Island - Image: Lets Go Moreton Bay Region to Australia Day on Bribie Island FB
If you're closer to Bribie Island than Redcliffe, Lets Go - Moreton Bay Region are also hosting Australia Day celebrations on Bribie Island with all the same dinkum fun under the sun! Bribie Island celebrations will include the beach activities; the garden games; the lamington eating contest PLUS the Fireworks Finale from 7.30pm. The quintessential live music to get us all foot-stomping will be hosted on the Bribie Island stage with different performers and bands.
Here's who you can look forward to seeing and what times they're performing at
Australia Day on Bribie Island.
Bribie Island Stage Live Entertainment
Alex Kosenko @ 12.10pm
Alex, a musician/multi-instrumentalist hails from North Brisbane and will be kicking off the Stage Entertainment at Bribie Island.
Jesse Davis @ 1.00pm
Boatkeeper @ 1.40pm

Beach volleyball at Brennan Park - Image: Lets Go Moreton Bay Region FB
Taleena Peck @ 2.30pm
Taleena Peck is an upcoming acoustic singer/songwriter based in Brisbane. Taleena 's ethereal style has an alternative edge that stretches from folk to indie, pop and country pop. After teaching herself guitar at the age of 14, Taleena hasn't looked back, playing at multiple festivals around Queensland.
Homestead Country Music @ 3.20pm
Nik Conomos @ 4.10pm
Geed UP @ 5.10pm
Geed UP are three bearded dudes from New Zealand, who just happen to love R & B music!
The Mirror Keys @ 6.00pm
The Mirror Keys are a band hailing from Brisbane.
Jukebox Heroes @ 6.50pm
Jukebox Heroes are a five-pieced Brisbane band who love nothing better than to entertain you with classic rock and pop hits that span the decades, a nostalgic journey from Abba to Zeppelin - real foot stomping stuff! Jukebox Heroes are a group of world-class musicians who love what they do and provide a magical experience to any venue - a fitting finale to the Australia Day in Bribie celebrations
In true Aussie spirit, the Australia Day in Redcliffe celebrations and Australia Day on Bribie Island are totally
FREE to attend. These two events are proudly brought to you by Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism and partnered with
Moreton Bay Regional Council.
🇦🇺 3. AUSTRALIA DAY 2018
Friday 26 January 2018 9.00am to 3.00pm
Caboolture Historical Village, 280 Beerburrum Road, Caboolture

Visit Caboolture Historical Village for Australia Day celebrations - Image: Caboolture Historical Village FB
Oh what fun!
The Caboolture Historical Village is located on about twelve acres of land just north of Caboolture town centre on the old Bruce Highway. The
Caboolture Historical Village is truly a step back in time to yesteryear, boasting more than one hundred and ten thousand museum pieces and over seventy buildings and what better place to celebrate an Australia Day celebration!
Australia Day at the Village is perfect for all those cash-strapped parents who have just survived Christmas and New Year celebrations and need to get back to adhering to budgets - so bring along your own picnic hamper (alas, no alcohol is permitted) and settle in for a day of dinkum Australia Day celebrations.

Re-enactment of the arrival of Governor Phillip - Image: Caboolture Historical Village FB
There's a parade featuring a variety of vehicles that one usually only gets to read about, but are in fact working machines that have been lovingly restored by their owners and the Village Restoration group.
Famous re-enactments take place at the
Caboolture Historical Village, not necessarily known for their accuracy in historical facts, but infamous for their noise, smoke and entertainment value. Beware the prowling bushrangers in their quest to bestow their eccentric sense of humour on their next victim - always good for a laugh and definitely always entertaining.
If you're like me and suffer a sweet tooth, then look no further than the Fudge Lady (main building) or the Ye Old Lolly shop (opposite the station) - for a variety of sweet temptations. Perhaps you're still looking for a gift for somebody special than pay a visit to the Goat Soap lady, who actually makes her product on the premises and offers many stunning gift packs for sale.

Plenty of sweet temptations for me! Image: Caboolture Historical Village FB
The gates open at 9.00am sharp for the Australia Day celebrations - so get yourself off to the Caboolture Historical Village for a fun-filled family day with minimal traffic hassles and a heap load of action.
Fair dinkum, Australia Day 2018 is promising to be a memorable one!
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi! Image: Pixabay CC0 Creative Commons