Merimbula is a stunning destination on the Sapphire Coast in far south NSW. Known for its long stretches of pristine wild beaches and beautiful surf breaks, great local food, distilleries, brewers and wines, hatted restaurants, great walks and a very busy airport, it needed a festival to reflect its diverse character.

WinterSun Festival was created in 2021 to fill a space on the June long weekend, due to the cancellation of the long running Merimbula Jazz Festival because of COVID.

The name for the festival is tipping the hat to the iconic local surfboard shaping brand Wintersun Designs, of the 60s-80s in Merimbula and Pambula. Those boards were ridden by world champion surfers locally and around Australia and are now collectors items.

WinterSun Festival is about showing off this magical and wonderfully wild part of the coast, and not only did we deliver the first event successfully, it has captured the imagination of locals and visitors and is now a much anticipated and supported annual event attracting cold water swimmers, hikers, trail runners, foodies and those who want cool music festival vibes at Streetfest on Market St.