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Events Grants and Sponsorships 2025/26
Council agreed to the following funding and fee waivers through the Events Grants and Sponsorship Program 2025/26, to support organisations to hold community events on the Northern Beaches.
| Organisation | Project | Approved funding (ex GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Mito Foundation | The Bloody Long Walk (BLW) Sydney North is an annual health and fitness challenge delivered since 2013 and open to persons of all abilities including local residents of the Northern Beaches Council area. The BLW is a 35km walk through the picturesque coastline spanning from Governor Phillip Park in Palm Beach to the Manly Promenade with tremendous benefits for local businesses including restaurants, cafes and shops as it brings a significant number of visitors to the Northern Beaches Council. Checkpoints are stationed at regular intervals throughout the course to ensure participant safety with access to hydration including water and fruit for participants. Local community groups are encouraged to participate as teams and we also provide volunteering opportunities for surf clubs, rotary members and local residents. We offer shuttle bus services from Central Station and Manly to Palm Beach to alleviate congestion at the start line and reduce carbon emissions as well as crowd control fencing for spectators. Participants will be provided with staggered arrival times to avoid congestion and ensure safe passage through the course. | $5,000 1-year sponsorship |
| Manly Writers' Festival | The Manly Writers' Festival is a 3-day literary festival that aims to connect readers, writers, and thinkers through a diverse range of writers and voices from around Australia. The festival involves one-on-one conversations, workshops, and panel discussions across a curated space. It also involves a schools program. | $5,000 3-year sponsorship |
| Coordimate Production Services Pty Ltd | The Saturday Swap is a community-focussed sustainability event that offers Northern Beaches locals the opportunity to swap their clothes in a fun environment - ultimately reducing landfill and finding new life for pre-loved clothes. After the success of the Saturday Swap events in 2023 and 2024, Coordimate are looking to expand this year to allow for more sessions, and therefore attendees, by utilising one of the Council’s Community Halls. They would like to also include an "upcycle corner" where they encourage unwanted homewares to find a new home or purpose. The event will be three 1-hour sessions, allowing people to swap, relax and enjoy some live music from a local Northern Beaches talent. | $1,500 1-year sponsorship |
| The Newport | Merivale | The Newport/Bayview New Year’s Eve Fireworks event is a community celebration designed to welcome 2026 with family-friendly entertainment and spectacular pyrotechnics. Held at Rowland Reserve, a popular waterfront and dog-friendly park, this event aims to create a festive atmosphere where residents and visitors can gather, picnic, and enjoy the vibrant surroundings. Two fireworks shows are scheduled to ensure that all age groups can participate. The first display will take place at 9pm, offering families with young children an opportunity to experience the excitement without staying out late. The main show will launch at midnight, marking the official start of the New Year with a brilliant, high-energy display over the water. Fireworks will be launched from a secure area within the Rowland Reserve Dog Park, ensuring optimal viewing from surrounding parklands and nearby vantage points along the foreshore. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to secure a good spot, enjoy picnics, and celebrate with friends and neighbours in a relaxed outdoor setting. This event will be managed with safety as a top priority, including clear exclusion zones around the fireworks launch site and coordination with local emergency services. The celebration promises to be a vibrant and memorable way for the community to come together and welcome the New Year. | $5,000 3-year sponsorship |
| ABHU FC Allambie Beacon Hill Football Club | Allambie carols, held on Allambie Oval unites the local community each year through local entertainers, Christmas carols, food stalls, children's entertainment and of course a visit from Santa. Planned this year for mid-December 2025 and run by the Beacon Hill Allambie united Football club, Allambie Carols is gaining popularity across the local community and growing bigger each year. | $2,500 1-year sponsorship |
| Brookvale Public School Parents and Citizens Association | The Brookvale Halloween Festival (BHF) is a vibrant annual community event organised by the Parents and Citizens Association of Brookvale Public School. Now in its third year, the festival transforms the school, which sits at the heart of Brookvale, into a lively Halloween-themed carnival that attracts people from across the Northern Beaches and beyond. Its diverse, bespoke attractions include carnival games, craft zone, bric-a-brac and book stalls, performances and a spine-tingling haunted hall. Local food trucks offer culinary delights, while the market stall area facilitates meaningful connections between local businesses, artisans and the community. The performance stage presents local artists, performance schools and school groups, serving as a platform on which young performers and community talents can shine. The festival encourages community participation, promotes Brookvale as a family-friendly, creative hub and fosters school and family engagement, volunteering and pride in place. BHF is more than an event, it’s a joyous celebration of community spirit, inclusivity and local enterprise. | $3,000 1-year sponsorship |
| Manly Theatre Group Inc. | The Manly Festival of Short Plays is an annual event produced by the Manly Theatre Group. It features 10-minute plays written, performed, and directed by the local community. The festival is held in November in the centre of Manly, with performances over two weeks. The event is known for showcasing a variety of themes and concepts, with some plays exploring adult topics. This will be the fourth year of the event. There is no other theatre event at this scale in Manly. Manly Theatre Group is the primary, grassroots, completely volunteer-led, community theatre company on the Northern Beaches. Over the last three years the group has consistently held the Manly Festival of Short Plays on the Corso, with thanks to grants and sponsorships to ensure that attendance to local theatre is both accessible and affordable. The plays are always locally written, original Australian works, performed by the community, for the community. There is nothing amateur about the acting, it is top notch and always leaves the audience laughing and crying with emotion. Manly Theatre Group are proud to contribute as it does to the local cultural scene of Manly. | $2,500 1-year sponsorship |
| Warringah Rugby | Sevens By the Sea is Sydney’s premier community rugby sevens tournament. Building on past success, Warringah Rugby is planning a bigger, better, and more innovative event that captures the heart of the Northern Beaches. This one-day festival is set to take place on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Pittwater Rugby Park (Rat Park), transforming the venue into a vibrant celebration of sport, culture, celebration and community. Sevens By the Sea is more than just a rugby tournament—it’s a full-day experience. Designed for all ages, the event will feature high-energy sevens rugby action, live sprint races, local live music and entertainment, family-friendly activities and food vendors showcasing local talent and businesses. With official sanctioning by NSW Rugby, the event attracts teams from across Sydney, Canberra, Newcastle, and even invite international invitational sides. The influx of players, supporters, and families will not only boost local tourism but also stimulate hospitality and retail sectors across surrounding suburbs. | $5,000 1-year sponsorship |
| Northern Beaches Youth Theatre | Utilising experience with Short + Sweet Festival this year, and under guidance of the partnership with Manly Theatre Group, Northern Beaches Youth Theatre will mentor the facilitation of the first Northern Beaches Young Adult Short Play Festival. The festival will empower youth creatives aged 15-25 in all aspects of this presentation of new works; including writing, production, directing, stage and set management, acting and marketing. The intention is to create a collection of original plays that showcase youth storytelling, celebrate youth perspectives and amplifies the voices of our next generation of creatives. | $2,000 1-year sponsorship |
| Wayki Productions | Latin Lights will showcase Latin-American music, which most of it has been written in Australia by Latin - Americans and Australian musicians. The minute attendees walk through the festival gate, they travel 14,000km and get to feel what South America is all about. The events aims to provide opportunities to taste Latin food, enjoy Latin music and breathe what it means to be a Latino. | $4,000 1-year sponsorship |
| Zonta Club of Northern Beaches Inc | The Australia Day Breakfast at Newport beache is a celebration of Australia Day providing a breakfast barbecue of egg and bacon rolls, sausage and onion rolls and pancakes. Music/singing will be provided by local bands and choir. Activities include rides for children, thong throwing competitions, onsite inspection of various Rural Fire Service (RFS) and State Emergency Service (SES) vehicles, speeches by local dignitaries, raising the Australian and indigenous flags, singing of the national anthem, face painting and rides. | $5,000 3-year sponsorship |
| GrooveABLE Disability Discos Inc | GrooveABLE Disability Discos hosts discos for members of the community aimed at offering individuals with special needs the opportunity to enjoy social interaction, dancing, and music in a safe and inclusive environment. The discos are held in two groups, juniors aged 12-17 years and adults 18+. The discos are held separately in the months of September, Late November/ early December, March and June of each year. | $3,000 1-year sponsorship |
| Share the Spark Inc. | Spark Tank 2025 is a flagship youth-led pitch program that empowers Northern Beaches young people (ages 8-24), including those who have overcome hardship, to transform ideas into real-world initiatives. The purpose is to inspire hope, build purpose and foster “bouncing back” mindsets, aligning with Council’s goals for innovation, inclusivity and sustainable signature events. Delivered by Share the Spark in partnership with Young Wisdom and hosted at Rock Lily Auditorium (Pittwater RSL, Mona Vale), the event brings together six finalist teams (~12-36 youth), their families, volunteer mentors/judges, local businesses and community supporters (usually more than 200 attendees). Beneficiaries include participants who develop skills in entrepreneurship, public speaking and resilience; stakeholders such as Northern Beaches Council, venue, AV and catering suppliers; and the wider community, which gains increased cohesion and economic activity. | $1,000 1-year sponsorship |
| YOHKA Pty Ltd | YOHKA is an exciting new fitness and lifestyle event that blends running with obstacle challenges. The event aims to create a high-energy, inclusive experience that brings together athletes, fitness lovers, and local communities in a celebration of resilience, performance, and connection. Three successful events in in Melbourne, Sydney, and the Gold Coast have been delivered in 2025, with two more planned for Sydney later this year. At the heart of the event is the YOHKA Classic Course, a 3km to 5km run + obstacle course filled with physically and mentally engaging challenges. Open to participants aged 12 and above, the Classic Course is designed to be accessible for all fitness levels and is ideal for anyone seeking a fun, rewarding adventure run. For younger participants, the event offers a modified Kids’ Classic Course, specially designed for children aged 6 to 11 years. YOHKA also offers a team-based Challenge Course, this format builds on the Classic 3km to 5km courses by incorporating functional fitness zones that test strength, endurance, and teamwork. Tailored to fitness communities, training groups, and competitive teams, the Challenge Course delivers a unique, high-impact experience grounded in collaboration and performance. | $4,000 1-year sponsorship |
| Bilgola Surf Life Saving Club | Pittwater Ocean Swim Series (POSS) is an overarching service that promotes a set of community ocean swimming events held throughout the summer by the Surf Life Saving Clubs of Newport Beach, Bilgola Beach, Mona Vale Beach, Whale Beach, Palm Beach and Avalon Beach. Each Surf Life Saving Club self-manages the ocean swimming event at their own beach. These ocean swimming events are designed to encourage active appreciation of our beautiful local environment and participation in safe swimming activities for people across the community. Pittwater Ocean Swim Series supports Northern Beaches Council's vision of being a safe, diverse, inclusive and connected community that lives in balance with our extraordinary coastal and bushland environment. | $2,000 1-year sponsorship |
| Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter | The Millie and Tommy short film showcase will bring together members of the community services, legal and philanthropic sectors for a night of film and connection. Millie and Tommy are books written by Daniel Mott and explore the impact domestic and family violence has on children victim survivors. The objective of the community services film event is to provide an engaging and educational experience for members of the community by showcasing two outstanding short films written by Darren Mott, in a welcoming and inclusive environment. This event seeks to foster community services and legal connections and strengthen knowledge of the impacts of domestic and family violence on child survivors. The event aims for the film and connections made on the night to lead to more successful outcomes and/or programs for children victim survivors. | $1,000 1-year sponsorship |
| Northern Beaches Bodysurfers Inc | The 4th Annual Festival of Froth will bring a spotlight to the sport of Bodysurfing on the Northern Beaches to encourage wider participation. There will be 2 bodysurfing competitions run over 1 weekend, creating a bodysurfing event with a festival atmosphere, the first of its kind on the Northern Beaches. The event will celebrate Northern Beaches bodysurf history, the Garigal land on which we play, and our surf side community arts and food culture. The weekend features the 4th Annual Sydney IBSA WC Qualifier which attracts some of the best bodysurfers of the Northern Beaches and Australia to participate in the only Sydney based International Bodysurfing Association (IBSA) world championship qualifiers and the 4th Annual NBBS competition which attracts bodysurfers of all levels, young and old. | $2,000 1-year sponsorship |
| Aboriginal Support Group Manly Warringah Pittwater | Sorry Day is a meaningful community commemoration recognising the history and ongoing impacts of the Stolen Generations. The event invites people of all ages to gather in a spirit of reflection, respect, and reconciliation. The program will begin with a traditional Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country, followed by cultural performances including Aboriginal dance, didgeridoo music, and songs performed by local Aboriginal girls. Children will be engaged through culturally themed activities such as boomerang painting and will receive small gifts as part of the day’s celebrations. A guest speaker will share insights on the Stolen Generations, providing important historical context and promoting greater understanding among attendees. Following the formal proceedings, a community afternoon tea will be held, offering hospitality and an opportunity for informal connection in the spirit of shared respect and inclusion. All members of the community, including council representatives, are warmly invited to attend and participate in this important event. | $1,500 3-year sponsorship |
| Browse Events | The Northern Beaches Chilli Festival 2026 is an exciting community celebration of all things chilli. Building on the success of Chilli Festivals across the Central Coast, Newcastle, and Wollongong, Browse Events are thrilled to bring this unique and vibrant event to the Northern Beaches for the first time. The festival will offer a sizzling experience for all ages, designed to engage locals, attract visitors, and support small businesses. The event will showcase the diverse world of chilli through a packed schedule of activities and entertainment across the day. The event is planned to run from 10am to 3pm, with entertainment scheduled throughout and headline competitions taking place. The festival will activate a key community space and provide an inclusive, vibrant, and spicy experience that celebrates food, fun, and local flavour. | $10,000 1-year sponsorship |
| Eramboo World Studies Centre | Illuminate is a free open studio weekend and a one-night-only celebration of the beautiful, untamed bushland that shapes and inspires our creative lives. As night falls, experiential art installations will come to life among the trees, casting light and imagination into the Winter darkness. Providing some excitement in the holiday-free month of March, the community can step into a world where contemporary art meets the Australian landscape. The Illuminate evening celebration is an immersive event of installation, performance, videography, abstraction and light, brought together by the Eramboo Artist Collective, a group of local artists connected by place, process and community. Attendees can wander through glowing pathways that weave between artists’ studios and the surrounding bush. See works that reflect the terrain itself: raw, layered, and alive with meaning. The studios will be open throughout the weekend, offering an intimate glimpse into the spaces where ideas are born and transformed. At the evening event there will be a welcome to country with a smoke ceremony and tree painting, a live band, delicious warming soup and drinks provided by local vendors, and the promise of new friendships. | $1,500 1-year sponsorship |
| Chabad House Of The North Shore | The Northern Beaches Festival of Light is a free, family-friendly public event celebrating Jewish culture through music, food, art, and tradition - designed to foster community connection, inclusion, and cultural exchange. The festival coincides with Chanukah, a Jewish holiday symbolising light, hope, and resilience. The festival is open to all and invites attendees to experience the joy and richness of Jewish life in a welcoming, interactive setting. The event will feature Main Stage Performances from Jewish and multicultural performers, a Menorah Lighting Ceremony, a Family Zone with face painting, arts and crafts, jumping castle, and hands-on cultural activities for children and parents, a Jewish Food Market with traditional foods such as latkes and sufganiyot (donuts), alongside kosher food stalls, a Cultural Discovery Tent with educational and interactive displays about Jewish traditions, customs, and history and Community Engagement Stalls hosted by local organisations and charities to promote volunteerism, inclusion, and interfaith dialogue. The event is carefully designed with inclusivity and accessibility in mind, offering wheelchair access, and activities for all ages and backgrounds. | $1,000 1-year sponsorship |
| Lifeline Northern Beaches, Mosman to Kirribilli | Lifeline Northern Beaches Bookfair in Forestville is held twice a year in April and October. The event is one of Lifeline’s major fundraisers selling quality donated preloved books, puzzles, CDs, vinyls and games. The event attracts ~7,400 people year from within the Northern Beaches community and beyond. Each of the 2 Fairs are open to the public for 4 days from Wed-Sat, 9am-6pm daily. Entry is by gold coin donation except for Day One which opens at 8am with a $10 early bird entry fee for the first 3 hours. These events are powered by ~200 volunteers across the Book Depot and the Book Fair. The Book Depot accepts donations, cleans and sorts stock and supports the logistics to transport product to the Book Fair venue. At the venue Lifeline Book Fair volunteers, along with school and business volunteers support the bump in process, book sales and community interaction. | $2,000 3-year sponsorship |
| St Paul's Anglican Church Seaforth | A weekend of activities is planned for St Paul's Seaforth 150th Anniversary celebrations, commencing with a Friday night dinner and a Sunday 10am anniversary church service. Saturday 25 October will be an engaging and fun Open Day for the whole community. In September, St Paul’s will launch a competition in the community, asking children, adolescents and adults (3 age categories) to describe (in words or artistically) what they think is most needed in our community in 2025 and beyond. The Mayor and local school Principals have been asked to be judges and the Mayor will announce the winners at 12 noon on the Saturday. There will be a historic display at the church, stained glass windows to view, Devonshire teas, sausage sizzle, coffee van, 2nd hand clothing stall from Anglicare, craft stalls, live music outside, organ music inside the church and fun activities for kids. Seaforth Community Library across the road will be open and Council will have an environmental display there for all to see. | $1,000 grant |
| Volleyball NSW | Volleyball NSW host the biggest beach volleyball event each year, the NSW Champs. Teams are welcomed not only from all over NSW but from other States as well as they compete in preparation for the National Tour. This event has been historically held in Manly Beach with the help of the local club NBVA. |
$2,500 final year of 3-year sponsorship + Fee waivers for beach hire |
| The Link Church | Eggs by the Lake is an anticipated Easter event on the Northern Beaches, attracting families from all around the community for a day of fun, games, and of course, an exciting Easter egg hunt. With over 10,000 Easter eggs hidden throughout the event area, it promises to be a thrilling experience for kids of all ages. This free-to-attend event aims to celebrate the spirit of Easter while providing a safe and enjoyable environment for families to come together. |
$2,500 final year of 3-year sponsorship + Fee waivers for reserve hire |
| North Curl Curl SLSC | The 3 Points Challenge and Ocean swim is an iconic local run/swim. Up to 750 competitors participate in this event with many competitors travelling interstate, from Wollongong, Cronulla, Central Coast, Eastern Suburbs and Western Suburbs. The local community benefits, through hospitality and accommodation sectors as well as local fitness groups and swimming pools befits through additional patronage as competitors prepare for the races. Mental health, physical fitness and general wellbeing are the other significant community benefits of these events. The ultimate aim of these events is to raise much needed funds for rescue equipment. | $2,000 final year of 3-year sponsorship |
| Frenchs Forest Anglican Church | In 2023 the aim is to replicate and expand on the successful Carols in the Park event held in 2022. Aiming for more people to attend and, as the event becomes a regular, recognised community event being held annually at Ararat Reserve, to attract a consistent following. | $2,500 final year of 3-year sponsorship |
| The Link Church | The Link Church is thrilled to present the "Carols by the Lake," a joyous and unforgettable community event that will spread holiday cheer and foster a sense of togetherness. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Narrabeen Lake, this magical Christmas celebration aims to bring the local community together in a spirit of love and unity. | $2,500 final year of 3-year sponsorship |
| Rotary Club Upper Northern Beaches | Christmas Carols in the Park will be held to invite local community to participate in a picnic atmosphere and sings Carols. There will also also be entertainers in between the Carols and of course Santa Claus will be paying a visit. A number of vendors will be selling their foods including Rotary with a BBQ. | $2,500 final year of 3-year sponsorship |
| Frenchs Forest Lions Club | Lionel Watts Carols run by the Lions Club of Frenchs Forest has run for over 45 years. Started in 1977 and is a much-loved event by every generation in the forest and a family tradition. The event hosts a group of schools, local community schools and entertainers. | $2,500 final year of 3-year sponsorship |
| Australasian Dark Sky Alliance | After Dark is an event featuring stargazing, night food markets, planetarium, public talks, nocturnal walks at Lionel Watts Park. |
$2,000 final year of 3-year sponsorship + Fee waivers for reserve hire |
| OceanFit | Swimrun Australia has pioneered the relatively new sport of swimrun in Australia. A swimrrun is an exciting multisport race that involves teams swimming and running over a course that involves multiple swim and run stages. Swimrun Australia events are designed as ‘urban adventure races’ where teams are challenged to navigate an inner-city course in its natural state without any exclusive use of any part of the course. The Swimrun Australia: Sydney North event is designed to showcase the beautiful northern coastline of Sydney Harbour from Clontarf to Manly. |
$3,500 final year of 3-year sponsorship + Fee waivers up to $1,500 for reserve hire |
| Disabled Surfers Association | Collaroy Smiles on Dials - Hands on Event. DSA Sydney aims to support a collaborative event between persons with disabilities and volunteers, to allow all members of the community to share a surf experience and unite in a love for water. The day begins with an orientation for all volunteers and participants outlining the structure of the day, safety briefing and key leaders who will help facilitate the day. Persons with disabilities are supported in a safe, inclusive and enjoyable environment by trained volunteers and specialised surfboards/equipment. Surfing, beach games and supervised unstructured pool activities. |
$2,000 final year of 3-year sponsorship + Fee waivers for reserve hire |
| 2S Entertainment | Night at the Barracks is Northern Beaches and Sydney's newest unique outdoor venue set under the stars - the Parade Ground located within the Barracks Precinct at North Head Sanctuary, Manly. in Audiences were not only entranced by performances from some of Australia's biggest names in music, theatre, ballet, dance, rock, opera and jazz but were also shown some of the most picturesque and beautiful areas of the Northern Beaches. The site is a hidden gem, steeped in historical significance and natural beauty. 2024 will see this (soon, if not already, iconic) event series continue to grow! With the inclusion of both international talent and an already resoundingly positive reputation, this concert series is set to be a Northern Beaches staple, bringing excitement to the local community and draw new people into the area. Attendees are encouraged to visit bars and restaurants in Manly before and after the show to experience all of what Manly has to offer. | $40,000 final year of 3-year sponsorship |