2024 Beachport Crayfish Festival

What is the Beachport Crayfish Festival about?

The Beachport Crayfish Festival celebrates the town of Beachport and our most important crustacean, the Southern Rock Lobster!

The idyllic town of Beachport has a thriving crayfish industry with 18 cray boats operating out of the port.

Did you know that over 100 people work in the industry directly as crew, or indirectly as suppliers, processors, and exporters?

The Beachport Crayfish Festival is an opportunity for the community to come together, and to introduce the many tourists who visit our lovely town and stunning coastline to everything crayfish.

So, bring the family to Beachport for an amazing day of local food, wine and entertainment.

Will there be crayfish to eat?

You betcha! We ran out of crays for everyone at the last festival so this year we have ordered twice as many from the local fishermen.

We will have Beachport’s very own Lobster Pot as well as the Fat Mullet van and various other food vendors with delicious cray dishes to buy on the day such as crayfish ceviche or Thai-inspired green mango cray salad as well as the timeless favourite, BBQ cray!

What if I don’t like Crayfish?

Don’t worry, there will be plently of other delicacies from local producers.

These include Argentinian Delights SA, Beachport Lions donuts, Begg’s Bean & Bar, Happi Belli, Mike’s Beef Jerky, Nik’s Gourmet Kitchen, Old Style Lolly Shop, Potato on a Stick, Southern Hot Dogs, Spiral Spudz, Strawberries Galore and Waffle-Inn.

Is this a licensed event?

Yes! There will be plenty of local wineries and breweries at the event for you to sample.

These include the Beachport Brewing Co & Beachport Spirit Co, Cape Jaffa Wines, Cheeky Rascal Cider, Loophole Brewing Co, Norfolk Rise Wines, Raidis Estate, Sinkhole Gin, St Mary’s Wine and Spirits, Wild Game Wines, Woodsoak Wines, Woolstore Brewery and Zema Estate.

Will there be music and dancing? 

OMG! Yes! So many great local musicians will be there including Victoria Meyer, The Christy Wallace Trio, JB (Jason Baker), Leah Briggs with Andrew Clermont’s Supper Club and Suburban Henry.

What about other entertainment?

Yes, there will be a deckhand tug of war, a crayfish cooking demonstrations by Adelaide Hills food stylist, Emma Reeves, and much, much more.

But I like shopping. Will there by any market stalls?

Yes. Dozens of stalls for you to buy that perfect something will be set up at the entrance to the festival.

Anything to do for the Kids?

Totally!!! There will be face painting, a giant slide, kids Go Karts, lots of giant games, mini golf and lots more things to keep the kids entertained.

Wow! Who do we have to thank for this wonderful event?

Our generous sponsors of course! The major sponsor of this year’s event is the South Eastern Professional Fishermen’s Association.

Any other contributors?

Yes! The local business community has been super supportive and exceptionally generous.

Check out our full list of sponsors, including our platinum sponsor the Limestone Coast Fishermen’s Co-op, on our sponsorship page

We also received support from the South Australian Tourism Commission and the Wattle Range Council.

And let’s not forget our many, many wonderful volunteers, including our fabulous Beachport Rivoli Bay Lions Club and many Beachport locals. The event couldn’t run without them. Thank you Beachport!

So what does it cost?

Regular ticket pricing is just $33 plus booking fee!

Concession holders and 14-17 year olds tickets are just $27.50 (plus booking fee) – be sure to bring your card along for check at arrival.

Tickets for companion card holders and children 13 & under are free!

A family pass is $93.50 (plus booking fee). That allows entry for two adults and unlimited children, including 14-17 years olds.

Tickets are limited so don’t delay, buy today!

Tickets can be bought online here or call 0482914149 or email us at info@crayfishfestival.com.au

What did visitors have to say about the last festival?

“My family enjoyed the whole day, the kids activities on offer were great, a wide range of market stalls, plenty of food and beverage options and the afternoon/night entertainment was fantastic.”

“The main stage area had a great vibe. Plenty to eat and drink. Lots of free entertainment for the kids.”

“Great range of food and drink vendors. Excellent venue with lots of space. Good range of market stalls. Length of the event was excellent too.”

Is there anything else to do in Beachport?

For sure! Beachport is an idyllic seaside town with a rugged coastline, scenic views playgrounds, golf course, and shopping and dining options.

Check out the BeachportSA website or get in contact with the Beachport Visitor Information Center for more details.

What are the accommodation options in and around Beachport?

Check out our accommodation page for details regarding accomodation options in and around Beachport, and the surrounding towns of Robe, Millicent and Penola.

While there are usually plenty of accomodation options in Beachport, during the weekend of the Crayfish Festival accomodation does tend to sell out fast, so book early!

Will transportation be available?

The private driver service Ride For You will be basing themselves in and operating out of Beachport for the day.

They will be providing both short trips (i.e. Muggleton, South End) and longer rides (i.e. Millicent, Robe, etc.).

We anticipate that they will be busy, particularly during the evening, so book in advance to avoid disappointment. Call 0439 300 100 now!

What can I bring in?

All visitors will receive a reusable cup on arrival as we have refill stations available, however, you are still free to bring in your own water bottle.

Patrons are not allowed to bring in their own alcohol, although not to fear, there’s a good variety of local drops to be tried!

Lastly, with the exception of service dogs, no pets are allowed inside the festival.

Are there any accessibility accommodations at the event?

There will be limited, signed accessible parking near the path and not too far from the entrance (not with regular parking). Access to the venue is on a formed path.

There is a path situated 3/4 of the way from the stage giving access across the site, though you may need to be aware that the site is a grassed area with food and wine vendors placed here.

There is a disabled access toilet. You can find a visual reference to all this on our event map here: Event Map

How can I keep up to date with information regarding the festival?

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

You can also phone us on 0482914149 or email us at info@crayfishfestival.com.au if you have any questions.

We look forward to seeing you there! It’s going to be so much fun.

© Beachport Crayfish Festival, Beachport District Development Association, 2023.

The BDDA would like to thank Damien Arthur, Sarah Joppich and Claire Sherman for their assistance with the website, graphic design, social media and marketing communications.