Festivals
Mackay Festival of Arts brings you Mackay Festival Sessions, live from the MECC!
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Mackay Festival of Arts won’t go ahead as normal this year.
Instead, we will bring you local performances streamed live from the MECC Auditorium each Saturday in August starting Saturday, August 8, until Saturday, August 29.
Featuring live bands, dance groups, live mural artists and much more!
Just head to Mackay Festival’s Facebook or YouTube page from 6pm. Then, sit back, relax and enjoy the show from the comfort of your own lounge room or local restaurant.
It’s all about supporting local performers, artists and businesses and embracing that community spirit that comes out at Festival of Arts time.
Throw a party at home or book a table at a local restaurant who are showing the live stream on the big screen! If you’re hosting a party or out with friends at a live venue, we want to know about it! Register your party here and you might get a phone call from us to WIN a prize pack! There will be one lucky winner each week.
Don’t miss one of the best parties of the year!
#PressPlay #MackayFestivalSessions #SupportLocal #BuyMackay #WineAndRecline
Saturday, August 8 |
Saturday, August 15 |
Saturday, August 22 |
Saturday, August 29 |
The Festival team at the MECC hosts four major events each year, which are attended by over 50,000 people!
Council has made the tough decision to cancel two of our region’s most popular festivals in 2020. The Mackay Festival of Arts, scheduled for July, and Global Grooves, scheduled for October, will not go ahead this year.
Mayor Greg Williamson said there was no safe way to hold these major festivals while still enforcing social distancing. “While it has been great to see some restrictions being lifted across the state and nation, we can’t hold events with thousands of people and ensure the 1.5 metre social distancing requirement,” Cr Williamson said.
“While it’s a blow for the community and performing artists, we aim to have these events back, better than ever, next year,” he said.
“Yes, it’s disappointing – we had some exciting attractions and acts lined up this year – but with events of this nature that bring in people from across the country, we have to be responsible.
“On the bright side, the MECC team are exploring various entertainment options and formats that they could offer Mackay audiences later this year. “Anything we can do to support local performing artists in this difficult time is worth exploring.”
Mayor Greg Williamson said Mackay Regional Council and the Festivals team had the full support of The Mackay Festival of Arts’ major sponsors G&S Engineering and DBCT. “They have been tremendous, and we really appreciate their unwavering support,” he said.
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