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Perth Now
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Free festival returns to Perth's port city with stellar acts
Fremantle will be 'buzzing' on Monday as it becomes the official celebration hub in Perth to mark WA Day. The Port City's free WA Day community event will showcase dragon dancers, unicorn stilt walkers and Latin music among the multicultural melting pot of entertainment that will transform Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour and Bathers Beach into a long-weekend holiday hot spot. Fremantle's turn to play host comes after the State's major celebration in Burswood was pushed to November to avoid seasonal poor winter weather again spoiling the party. Your local paper, whenever you want it. 'After two years of weather disruptions, a decision was made to shift the timing of our large-scale Burswood event,' Celebrate WA chairman Scott Jones told PerthNow. 'We expect Fremantle to be buzzing this year as it is the only metro WA Day celebration in 2025. Fremantle's iconic backdrop, combined with the expanded program, makes it the perfect setting for a city-wide celebration of who we are as Western Australians.' The festivities in Fremantle will run from 11am to 6pm on WA Day. Festival goers can expect to see Mews Park and Bathers Beach decorated with flags, lanterns, and lights representative of our favourite holiday destination - Bali. The Bathers Beach boardwalk will play host to a vintage fashion parade and the WA Shipwrecks Museum will be decked out for children, with unicorns and mermaids among the attractions. Pictured is Nathaniel Webb, Mermaid Yau, Mermaid Kat, Bethany Kimm (Back) and Joseph Webb on Bathers Beach. Riley Churchman Credit: Riley Churchman / The West Australian The traditional crowd-drawing derby between WAFL rivals East Fremantle and South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval will also be a highlight of the public holiday. 'It's a full-day experience designed to engage all ages and backgrounds,' Mr Jones said. 'There really is something for everyone. Expect an atmosphere that's colourful, inclusive, and full of surprises — from interactive workshops and cultural story-telling to music and carnival magic. 'It's a joyful celebration of everything that makes WA unique — our people, our stories, and our incredible diversity.' Pictured is Mermaid Kat, Mermaid Yau, Bethany Kimm, Nathaniel and Stanley Webb on Bathers Beach. Riley Churchman Credit: Riley Churchman / The West Australian The large-scale Burswood event has been rescheduled to November 22-23 to avoid weather disruptions which have marred festivities in previous years. 'We're committed to delivering an outstanding celebration later this year,' Mr Jones said. 'When the sun is shining and we can tie in with the buzz of the summer of cricket at Optus Stadium. In the meantime, we invite everyone to enjoy our vibrant festival in Fremantle.' Regional WA Day events are being held in Albany, Geraldton, Carnarvon, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Port Hedland, Newman and Karratha. WA Day was formally established in April 2012 following bipartisan political support in the Western Australian Parliament to make the change from Foundation Day.
Perth Now
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Huge 7m-tall graffiti covered astronaut unveiled in Perth
The long-awaited BOONJI Spaceman was officially unveiled out the front of the Perth council house this morning, where it will remain for the next year. The 'show stopper' Spaceman was unveiled to the tune of Around the world by Daft Punk at it's temporary home at Perth's Stirling gardens. The 7m-tall blue spaceman, titled Lightning, is covered in graffitied words that former Lord mayor Basil Zempilas said reflected the city. 'Words like ambitious, friendly, beautiful, City of light, are represented.' he said. The Boonji Spaceman artwork at Stirling Gardens. Credit: Riley Churchman / The West Australian Mr Zempilas said that the spaceman was 'hugely impressive' and will be a drawing point for people in Perth. 'People are going to come and have their photos, Instagram this, talk about Perth and push Perth on their own channels,' he said. City of Perth Deputy Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds said that the Spaceman pays homage to the Perth City of Light origin story. 'Perth became known as the City of Light following American astronaut John Glenn's historic triple orbit of Earth in 1962, during which Perth residents and businesses left on their lights, shone torches to the sky and lit lanterns to make the city visible in space,' he said. 'BOONJI Spaceman is a tribute to our unique story and will no doubt become another must-see piece in the City of Light,' Cr Reynolds said. Renowned contemporary artist Brendan Murphy, who's based in the United States, donated the sculpture to the city. 'Art is an essential, it's not a luxury its something that brings us together,' he said. 'It's not something that I normally do, I'm not in the business of giving my art away. 'However when Basil and I met I felt his passion for the city and the people of the city. 'It's one of the best things I've done in a long time.' Contemporary Artist Brendan Murphy speaks at the unveiling of Perth's Boonji Spaceman. Credit: Riley Churchman / The West Australian A closer look at the Boonji Spaceman. Credit: Riley Churchman / The West Australian Perth has now joined six other cities across the globe to own a personalised BOONJI sculpture with the others installed in New York, London, Washington D.C., Riyadh, Mallorca and Oslo. Although the artwork was donated, The City of Perth budgeted $250,000 for the transportation and installation of the Spaceman. The transportation process of the 1,365 kg carbon fibre and steel giant took 12 months and involved engineers to ensure a safe trip from Miami. Despite local outrage and on-going petitions, the installation still went ahead. Followers of the social media profile, 'savethekebab' shared their frustration and disappointment online. '$250k that could have supported a local artist to create something more relevant that is unique to us,' one follower said. The sculpture will live where the sculpture Ore Obelisk once stood, but was uninstalled in 2021 due to safety reasons. It is currently in city storage. 'It's standing where Ore Obelisk stood for 50 years - a work that actually meant something to this city.' another follower said. The Ore Obelisk in its heyday. Credit: Museum of Perth Facebook / RegionalHUB Mr Reynolds said that a notice of motion was put forward to the city to reassess what to do with the art pieces currently in storage. Mr Murphy will be displaying his other artworks at his 'blockbuster' Australian solo exhibition at the end of May at Gullotti Galleries in Cottesloe. The BOONJI Spaceman will stay at Stirling Gardens for 12 months and is anticipated to find its forever home in another location in the city, which is yet to be confirmed.
