Noosa Alive! Our Top Picks
It’s almost the time of year when Noosa comes ALIVE with theatre, live music, literary events and performance for 10 days from 18 to 27 July!
One of the highlights of the cultural calendar, the IN Noosa Magazine team have already locked in our tickets and are eagerly awaiting the curtain to rise on another fantastic year.
From world premieres and Australian exclusives to family events and more, here’s what we’re most looking forward to during this year’s Noosa Alive!…
Deb Caruso, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
I love lunching at my favourite Noosa restaurants, so what could be better than the fantastic literary events mixing words with wine as part of Noosa Alive! this year? First up is My Father Bryce at Noosa Waterfront on Thursday 24 July, where journalist Adam Courtenay – son of best-selling Australian author Bryce Courtenay – discusses what it was like being raised by this mercurial, impossible-to-know, larger than life character. Tickets still available!
Prime Time with Bec Wilson on Saturday 26 July at Lucio’s Marina is all about making the most of your golden years (it’s already sold out!). And don’t miss The Secret Year of Zara Holt literary breakfast with Kimberley Freeman on Sunday 27 July – an exclusive Australian launch reimagining the life of the woman married to Prime Minister Harold Holt when he disappeared. It’s at the beautiful Noosa Springs Golf & Spa Resort and promises to be fascinating.
Bex Jamieson Dwyer, Editor of Hello Sunshine Magazine
Queensland Ballet is coming to Noosa on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 July and you don’t need to ask me twice! The next generation of talent will be putting their best en pointe shoe forward, with the company’s Jette Parker Young Artists presenting two captivating works. Back to Bach by Greg Horsman features the emotive composition of Bach’s timeless violin concerto, while Curious Beings – a world premiere by acclaimed Australian choreographer Amelia Waller – invites the audience into a fantastical, timeless realm and uses puppetry to blur the lines between human and artificial.
Michelle Tait, Accounts and Administration
I loved Caroline O’Connor in the films Moulin Rouge and Chicago, and can’t wait to see this talented powerhouse performer in person during her My Musical Life event for Noosa Alive! where she’ll share stories from her illustrious career and perform numbers from musicals she’s starred in here in Australia, London, Paris and on Broadway. It’s happening at The J on Saturday 26 July, which gives me the perfect excuse to pop to Flo’s Creperie for a French feast beforehand. It’s music to my ears!
Ali Smith, Content and Creative Director
Australian country singer Amber Lawrence is coming to town for this not-to-be-missed show celebrating all things country music, from Tamworth to Tennessee. After 21 years in the industry, Amber is known for her high-energy shows and ability to connect to her audience through humour, honesty and great music – I’ll have my boots on and will be singing along! See her at The J on Friday 25 July.
Jakki Goodall, Business Development Manager
I absolutely love the theatre, and it wouldn’t be Noosa Alive! without a David Williamson play. We’re so lucky to have this world premier, directed by the festival’s own Ian MacKellar, right here on our doorstep. Sleeping Dogs is a darkly funny and poignant work about the way the past has a habit of casting long shadows into the future, and there are just a handful of tickets left for the preview performance on Tuesday 22 July – go go go before they’re all snapped up!
John Caruso, Writer, Podcaster and Distributor
The Italian in me can’t wait to be transported to the opera houses of Europe with A Night at the Opera, starring the sensational trio Divina, at the one and only Noosa Waterfront Restaurant on Sunday 20 July. Enjoy soaring arias, spine-tingling duets and luscious trios from this Brisbane-based opera trio over a stunning Italian-inspired three-course menu plus a welcome drink. This unforgettable event will be MCd by yours truly – it’ll be tempting, but I promise I won’t break into song. See you there!
Jodie Cameron, Writer
My little ones and I love wandering the beautiful Noosa Foreshore, so we’re very excited to see it transformed into a wonderful world of imagination for the Imagine family fun event on Saturday 26 July celebrating 21 years of Bendigo Community Bank Tewantin-Noosa! From roving performers to pop-up installations, workshops, and family-friendly entertainment, there’s lots to spark joy, whatever your age. The finals of Noosa Stars Alive! will be presented on the River Stage from 11.30am to 4.30pm, with 2025 Australian Idol Winner Marshall Hamburger headlining! With magical surprises roving throughout the event, this is sure to be one for the memory bank. We can’t wait.
See the full Noosa Alive! Program here and snap up your tickets before they sell out!
