The festival, which runs from October 25 to November 10 and is now in its 108th year, will satisfy every taste, with a massive choice of performing arts, visual art, music, sport, cultural events and crowd-pulling community events crammed into the 17-day event.
The crowd favourites will be back, with the festival atmosphere kicking off on Sunday with the Blessing of the Fleet and the Fremantle Seafood Festival, capped off with a firework display along the Fishing Boat Harbour.
Also returning is the Wardarnji Aboriginal Culture Festival, Children’s Fiesta, Jazz in the Park, Freo Tweed Run, Coffee Festival, Norfolk Lanes and the Fremantle Street Parade.
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READ NOWTo spice things up a bit there will also be a number of unique must-see events in this year’s program, including Classical Encounters, the Fremantle Craft Beer and Food Festival, The Festival of Lights Delhi Food Festival and Wrap Up Street Dance Party at the Maya Indian Restaurant.
There will also be an installation by young artist Julian Poon on the heritage-listed Cliff Street Facade, Fremantle personality Norm Wrightson’s Salute to Fremantle performance and a floating exhibition at Kidogo Arthouse.
City of Fremantle cultural development co-ordinator Alex Marshall said never before in the festival’s history had it been ‘more comprehensive or inclusive’.
‘The Fremantle Festival is a community celebration which comes from the community for the community. It’s authentic, not manufactured, and it is an extraordinary community in Fremantle,’ he said.
‘People should come because it’s really good and it’s Fremantle ” Fremantle is cool when there is no festival and it is really cool when there is a festival and there is loads of good stuff happening across the whole city.’