Published on 06 December 2021
JettyFest100
Port Noarlunga Jetty turns 100 this year, and the community is invited to a three-day festival (10-12 December) to celebrate!
JettyFest 100 features a free and fun-filled program of events suitable for all ages and interests, with the festivities taking place on, under and alongside the jetty, plus on the beach and in the Port Noarlunga township.
The festival, which is being organised by the Port Noarlunga Business and Tourism Association and supported by the City of Onkaparinga, kicks off on Friday 10 December, with a Welcome to Country at 5pm.
Events for Friday festivalgoers include a BYO beach picnic with a DJ, an official opening by the Governor of South Australia, the arrival of sailing ship the One and All, and the opening of the annual Surf Art exhibition at the Arts Centre. Stake your place in the sand nightly with BYO solar lights and help the foreshore and jetty light up after sunset.
Keep an eye out for Port Noarlunga jetty-themed art and photography (including from local school children) throughout Port Noarlunga and in its cafes and restaurants, and find a piece to take home.
Saturday 11 December kicks off with aquatic activities, including surf life saving club training, The Adelaide Mermaids, BYO snorkelling, diving, kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, and a Christies Beach Sailing Club race.
Bring your own buckets and create mandalas, castles, boats and sea creatures in the sand.
In town, you can watch local surf film clips and films featuring the jetty at the Arts Centre, experience underwater virtual reality at Cheffy Chelby's burger bar, and hear a presentation on the building of the jetty at Fleurieu Pantry.
On the jetty, there’ll be music and a fancy-dress parade judged by drag queens, The Southern Sisters, followed by decade-themed fancy-dress dinners, a masquerade party and a pirate party at Port Noarlunga eateries. Head to the JettyFest website to book your dinner tickets.
The morning of Sunday 12 December is recovery time—bring a thermos or grab a cuppa from your favourite café to enjoy the festivities at the foreshore in your deck chair.
There’ll be a demonstration volleyball match, and the opportunity to join beach yoga, scuba diving and snorkelling, or a swim to the reef and back.
Stretch back with live music on the foreshore and enjoy a Cars on the Coast car exhibition at Beck's Bakehouse.
Find a space on the beach from 2.30-3pm on Sunday when a drone will fly by to capture imagery for an official historic photo/film.
There’ll also be a surf culture market where you can purchase the works of talented artists and an exhibition of historic jetty photographs at Fleurieu Pantry.
Wave goodbye to the One and All with The Shanty Choir, and bring in the evening with Christmas Carols at Market Square, Old Noarlunga, or continue the night with local musicians at the Christies Beach Sailing Club.
Head to the JettyFest 100 website to see the entire program!
The current Port Noarlunga Jetty opened in 1921 and it replaced the original jetty, which was built in 1855.