What's On

Celebrate the motors, music and lifestyle of yesteryear at Cooly Rocks On!

Recently awarded GOLD in the Major Festivals & Events category at the Queensland Tourism Awards 2022, come check out why Cooly Rocks On is Australia’s favourite nostalgia festival!

MOTORS

Renowned as one of Australia’s best Show ’N’ Shine displays, Coolangatta will be transported back in time as the streets are lined with over 900 incredible cars. Discover the best hot rods, kustom vehicles and lowbrow art in Kustomville, then wander through Goodwin Park and get up close to a massive variety of vehicles, scooters, bikes and more! For the die-hard motor enthusiasts, take part in this incredible display by showcasing your pride and joy, or partake in one of two (or why not both) Car Runs!

MUSIC

Put on your best dancing shoes and boogie to the tunes of yesteryear you know and love! Cooly Rocks On packs a punch every year with an incredible lineup of some of the best rock ’n’ roll, swing, rockabilly and tribute artists from around the world. In a unique offering, Cooly Rocks On is also only one of two festivals in Australia to host an official preliminary round of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, an Elvis Presley Enterprises sanctioned event, with the winner heading straight to Elvis Week in Memphis. Let’s get all shook up!

LIFESTYLE

Now, to put the cherry on top, Cooly Rocks On wouldn’t be the festival it is without celebrating the lifestyle of yesteryear. The Cooly Rocks On Pin-up Pageant celebrates the classic and rockabilly styles, and the Cooly Rocks On Moonlight Swing Dance, a 1940s style shindig that provides plenty of time for attendees to dance the night away. There’s also the newly added Beachside Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance for those wanting to keep their feet busy on the dance floor. But that’s not all! You’ll have the chance to shop a range of retro goods, vintage finds and memorabilia from the eras gone by with a huge number of markets along the beachfront.

With so much to see and do, there’s something for everyone at Cooly Rocks On. We’ll see you there!