A new festival celebrating the connection between surfing, culture, and coastal communities could come to Dee Why in 2027, with the Aloha Festival set to combine live entertainment, ocean safety initiatives, and activities for families.
Read: 15,000-Capacity Festival Proposed For Dee Why’s James Meehan Reserve
The all-ages event is expected to attract up to 15,000 people, according to organisers, with a program featuring live music, surf films, environmental initiatives and cultural experiences. The festival aims to celebrate the Northern Beaches’ coastal identity while encouraging connections across generations.
Dee Why’s Surfing Heritage in Focus
The festival will recognise Hawaiian surfing pioneer Duke Kahanamoku, whose visit to Australia in 1914 included surfing demonstrations at Freshwater and Dee Why beaches. His legacy will be reflected in activities celebrating Hawaiian culture, including hula dancing and lei-making.
Surf films selected by the Australian Surf Film Festival will screen between musical performances, exploring the sport’s history and its connections to the Northern Beaches.
The program includes Paul Witzig’s 1989 film All Down the Line, featuring two-time world surfing champion Tom Carroll. Organisers say it will receive its first Sydney screening since its original release. Long Reef surfer Kobi Clements will also feature in Unwritten, directed by Northern Beaches filmmaker Joel Barker.
Other scheduled screenings include Jack Johnson’s The September Sessions and George Greenough’s Echoes, presented in remastered 4K versions.
Ocean Safety and Coastal Conservation
Shark education will be a major focus, with organisers partnering with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, SharkSmart, Surf Life Saving NSW and Surfing NSW.
The program will provide information about shark behaviour, monitoring technology and safety measures, including drone surveillance and the SharkSmart app. These activities are intended to support greater awareness of ocean safety among beachgoers.
Environmental initiatives will address issues affecting the surrounding coastline. Organisers have identified microplastic pollution in Dee Why Lagoon and dune restoration at Long Reef Beach as areas of focus, with Surfers for Climate and Take 3 for the Sea involved in the program.
An Ocean Lovers Hub will provide further opportunities to learn about marine conservation. Organisers also plan to direct proceeds from a Return and Earn recycling initiative towards the festival’s charity partners.
Family Activities and Cultural Connections
The festival’s Bush to Beach initiative, developed with Manly Surf School, aims to give young First Nations participants and people from diverse communities opportunities to connect with surfing, music and coastal education.
Mental health organisations Gotcha4Life and Blue Minds will contribute to a wellness area featuring activities such as massage and ice baths. Family attractions are expected to include a children’s carnival area, rides, games and a Ferris wheel, alongside a market village and live tattooing.
Live music will remain part of the event, with Wolfmother, Ball Park Music and Yothu Yindi among the announced performers. Festival founder Luke Campbell, a Long Reef resident, has identified community connection, environmental sustainability and cultural education as central aims of the event.
Venue and Development Application
The festival is intended to take place at James Meehan Reserve on Clyde Road, Dee Why, with organisers advertising operating hours from noon to 10.30 pm. General parking will not be available at the festival site, and nearby B-Line bus stops are approximately a 15-minute walk away, according to event information.
Read: Widow Calls for Stronger Protections After Dee Why Shark Incident
The development application, DA2026/1016, remains under assessment by Northern Beaches Council. Planning documents record six submissions during a 28-day public exhibition, raising concerns about noise, traffic, parking, waste, permissibility, amenity, access and environmental impacts. The assessment states these issues could be managed through the mitigation measures outlined in the application.
Further information about the festival and ticket availability is available through the official Aloha Festival website.
Published 31-October-2026
