Gypset Lifestyle ~ The Byron Bay Surf Festival

One of the most idyllic gypset hot spots– Byron Bay, Australia, currently has its residence waxing their boards for the upcoming Byron Bay Surf Festival. This hip event is a three-day festival held every October in Bryon Bay. This year’s festival will take place starting next Friday from the 24th-26th. The Byron Bay Surf Festival is self-described as “a 3-day fusion of Surf Culture Now, and it’s the brain child of Mike Jahn, Vanessa Thompson and James McMillan. The goal of the festival is to explore the relationship between surfing and various forms of art including photography, film, literature, and live music.

At the festival you will find film premieres, fitness demonstrations, photography exhibits, shaping workshops, and much more. The festival does not focus on the competitive side of surfing, but rather the elements that bring surfers of all abilities together as a tribe. Last year’s festival also included the Arakwal and Bundjalung aboriginal tribes.

Says founder Mike Jahn: “We are all passing through the land of the aboriginal people, so it is very important to acknowledge the ones who have looked after the lands and the ocean for a very long time. Newer generations have managed to destroy the environment very quickly, so it’s very important to bring people back to that sense of caretaking.”

 When you arrive at the festival Friday night, you will be treated to a film premiere. On the agenda for Saturday is a visit to the surf marketplace, youth events, and much more like one of my favorites, musician Donavon Frankenreiter (on the blog here), funking it out on the new Seaview Stage on Main Beach Sat the 25th. To close out the festival on Sunday, there are surfing events, more music, parties, and panel events.

Another very cool aspect of this festival is that it gives back to charities that help protect the ocean and the environment, in addition to local charities. Some of the causes supported by the Byron Bay Surf Festival are: The Byron Youth Services, Surf Aid International, The Uncle Project, Positive Change for Marine Life, Surfers For Cetaceans, and Disabled Surfers Association.

If you are planning to travel to Byron Bay, there are some fantastic local accommodations that are willing to host you including the Atlantic Byron Bay (check out my post on this fab resort HERE) and the Byron Beach Resort. You can also check out rentals properties through Byron Beach Realty.