EVENTS & FESTIVALS
January
NEW YEARS DAY CONCERT | Fremantle Arts Centre
The annual Fremantle Arts Centre New Year's Day Concert is back for its 16th year, featuring a fruity, soul-warming blend of reggae, soul, funk, afro, and world music exports promising an unforgettable day of music and sunshine under the leafy trees at this beautiful venue.
FRINGE WORLD | Various venues
January – February
Fringe comes to Perth’s port city with an eclectic array of performances. Experience comedy, theatre, kids’ entertainment, music, and musicals, all set to captivate audiences across various Fremantle venues.
February
ROTTNEST CHANNEL SWIM | Rottnest Island
Experience one of WA’s most iconic events. The South32 Rottnest Channel Swim is a 19.7km open water swim from Cottesloe Beach (Mudurup) to Rottnest Island (Wadjemup).
March
PERTH FESTIVAL | Various venues
Be entertained by world-class performances, from music, film, visual arts and literary events, all hosted across various Fremantle venues as part of Perth Festival.
HAND IN HAND - KIDOGO IRISH ABORIGINAL FESTIVAL | Kidogo Arthouse
Explores and celebrates Fremantle’s connection between Irish and Aboriginal cultures, tracing back to the earliest days of the Irish settlement on Australian shores.
PORT TO PUB | Leighton Beach
A swim for all, this marathon swim (19.7km or 25km) from North Fremantle to Rottnest Island can be completed in teams or individually.
FREMANTLE INTERNATIONAL STREET ARTS FESTIVAL | Various venues
Fremantle comes alive as the city sets the stage for this Easter festival, where city streets, laneways, parks and historic venues will be embraced and celebrated by captivating performances from world-renowned street art performers
April
SCULPTURE AT BATHERS | Bathers Beach
Sculpture at Bathers is a biennial exhibition specifically designed to showcase local home-grown talent. You can discover sculptures on the beach, lining the timber boardwalk, along the winding path and in bushland below the limestone cliffs at Arthur Head. (next in April 2025)
ANZAC DAWN SERVICE AND COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS | Various venues
The 25th of April is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand. It is commemorated in Fremantle with a series of events including the dawn service at Monument Hill and a march through the streets of the city.
May
REVEALED EXHIBITION AND ART MARKET | Fremantle Arts Centre
Revealed is an annual program that brings Western Australian Aboriginal art centres and independent artists to Perth for an exhibition, art market, and more. For the first time in its history, Revealed will be in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander hands, as the Aboriginal Arts Centre Hub of Western Australia takes the reins for 2024, supported by Fremantle Arts Centre.
HARBOUR MASTER CLASSIC FUN RUN | Victoria Quay
This is your chance to run fast, flat, and traffic-free, along Fremantle Port’s Victoria Quay and out to the South Mole lighthouse. Whether you are a serious runner or are looking for a post-summer challenge, this event is for you.
FREMANTLE HERITAGE FESTIVAL | Various venues
An exploration into Australian history and culture, the festival brings together communities from all walks of life to recognise and celebrate heritage and culture through ceremony, song, dance, art, stories and guided tours of places and spaces in Fremantle.
June
WA DAY FESTIVAL | Fishing Boat Harbour and Bathers Beach
Fishing Boat Harbour and Bathers Beach bursts with culture, music, colour and fun to celebrate WA on the first Sunday of June annually. The festival is a free, inclusive and family-friendly event.
RTRFM WINTER MUSIC FESTIVAL | North Fremantle
The big multi-venue party where pop, hip‑hop, punk, electronic, hillbilly and rock and roll music all hang out together in venues and streets of North Fremantle.
ROTTNEST RUNNING FESTIVAL | Rottnest Island
There is a distance for everyone; from marathon to fun run, all are encouraged to participate in Rottnest Islands annual running festival.
August
FREMANTLE FESTIVAL : 10 NIGHTS IN PORT | Various venues
Over 10 special nights and days in wintery August, enjoy a feast of culture with something for everyone and where everyone is welcome.
August – November
FREMANTLE DOCKERS AFLW HOME GAMES | Fremantle Oval
Fremantle Oval is the home of the Fremantle Dockers. Bring the whole family down to AFLW games at Fremantle Oval and get behind the purple army!
October
SUNDAY MUSIC | Fremantle Arts Centre
October – March
Spend a lazy Sunday afternoon at the Fremantle Arts Centre with free live tunes. Bring down a picnic and rug or grab some wood-fired pizzas from the bar and enjoy the local and touring acts every Sunday afternoon throughout spring and summer.
BLESSING OF THE FLEET | Basilica of St Patrick through the streets to Fishing Boat Harbour
The Blessing of the Fleet is a tradition that began centuries ago in Mediterranean fishing communities to ensure a safe and bountiful fishing season. First celebrated in WA by an Italian migrant fisherman, the historical port of Fremantle has celebrated this tradition for over 70 years.
FARMER ON YOUR PLATE | Esplanade Reserve
More than a farmers’ market, it's a farming festival, a celebration of all things Western Australia has to offer. Expect farm fresh produce, opportunities to meet and talk with the farming families, cooking demonstrations and sampling, farming animals, entertainment and more.
November
FREMANTLE BIENNALE | Various locations
A biennial festival of site-responsive contemporary art. Fremantle Biennale celebrates the cultural, social, and historical distinctiveness of the Fremantle (Walyalup) region. (next in November 2025)
REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE | Monument Hill
On November 11, at the Monument Hill War Memorial, the Fremantle Remembrance Day service will honour the sacrifices of the armed forces, including thousands of men and women from our local community.
FREMANTLE BEERFEST | Esplanade Reserve
More than just a festival to praise the amber ale, it’s an eclectic mixture of food, music and comedy all delivered with a side serve of beer.
FREMANTLE RUNNING FESTIVAL | Esplanade Reserve
Mark your calendars and lace up your running shoes for the 2024 Brooks Fremantle Running Festival. Whether it’s a half marathon, 10km or 5km distance, runners are signing up for more than just a race; it's a chance to contribute to a brighter tomorrow.
FREMANTLE LONG TABLE DINNER | Walyalup Koort
An extraordinary annual fundraising event that takes place on the streets of Fremantle. The entire town gathers to celebrate the season with a long table dinner under the stars all for a good cause.
WARDARNJI | Esplanade Reserve
Wardarnji is a festival of dance that transfixes its audience with its celebration of Australian indigenous culture.
December
BAZAAR | Fremantle Arts Centre
For Christmas shopping, visit Bazaar. This market presents the highest calibre of WA-designed wares, from crafts and homewares to fashion, jewellery, textiles, ceramics, woodwork, toys, prints, stationery and more.
FREMANTLE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL | Walyalup Koort
The Christmas spirit will be alive in Fremantle throughout December with movie nights, carol singing and Elf on the Shelf Christmas trail.
BOXING DAY BEACH PARTY | Port Beach/Coast Port Beach
Celebrate the festive season seaside with 30+ artists, a silent disco, pop-up bars, food trucks and the iconic Western Australian sunset!
GOG BLOCK PARTY NYE | Fremantle Oval
The biggest party south of the river hits Freo for NYE. End your year with a bang and start your 2025 on a high! There will be activations throughout the venue including multiple stages, the Euro Rave Cave, 3 channel silent disco, dodgeball arena, The Gog Cocktail Bar, food trucks, burlesque dancers, fire breathers and roaming performers.
NYE & NYD PARTY AT COAST | Port Beach/Coast Port Beach
Coast's annual sell-out festival is back featuring: Sunset Beach Stage, additional stages across the festival, NYE countdown sparklers, a beach bar, DJs, food trucks, a silent disco, 6 pop-up bars and more!
FAMILY FRIENDLY NEW YEARS EVE | Princess May Park/Clancy’s Fish Pub
For a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration, look no further than this celebration! With free entry for all, an incredible nature playground for kids and an early 8pm countdown, you can’t go wrong!
Check out WHAT'S ON for more events.
