Museum counts down to festival

The National Maritime Museum is gearing up for the Classic and Wooden Boat Festival at Sydney's Darling Harbour this weekend, October 12-14. This year the  family event has been revamped and has plenty to delight little kids and big kids alike.

And for the first time the festival will kick on into the evening with live music, including headliner Clare Bowditch, and an outdoor festival pop-up bar with unparalleled views of Sydney Harbour.

The colourful festival gives Sydneysiders the chance to get up close and personal with more than 70 classic boats that recall the golden age of sailing including eighteen beautiful Halvorsen cruisers and the stunning 1924 luxury ketch Hurrica V which features in the upcoming Baz Luhrmann film The Great Gatsby starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Children will have loads of fun in a range of activities. Budding rockstars will learn to ‘rock the boat’ in musical workshops and would-be models can dress up and be photographed as characters of the sea. Crafty kids can make and float their own boats and create rope art. Plus there’s a very special Wiggly treat for the littlies with appearance from Henry the Octopus, Dorothy the Dinosaur and Captain Feathersword.

A collection of musical talent, including the latest up-and-coming artists will entertain visitors of all ages throughout the day. And familiar faces Carmen Smith, Danni Da Ros and Mali-Koa Hood will be reunited over the weekend following the success of Channel 9s The Voice.

Maritime themed entertainment includes the ‘Caulk a Seam’, line throwing and best-dressed boat competitions plus vintage marine leisurewear fashion shows all weekend. Crowd favourite, the ‘Quick and Dirty’ boat building competition returns, where makeshift boats are made and sailed in record time -- often with hilarious results!

Entry to the Classic and Wooden Boat Festival is $10 per adult for a day ticket. On Saturday October 13 entry to the festival’s evening program, including Clare Bowditch, is $20 per adult or $25 for a day plus night ticket, children free. For full program information and for Saturday night bookings visit www.anmm.gov.au/cwbf.

Visitors can get a free taste of the festival on Friday October 12. From 5.00pm people can visit the museum’s wharfs to soak up the atmosphere, admire the beautiful boats and enjoy a drink. An impressive spectacle featuring an indigenous smoking ceremony with canoes on the water, a sound and light show and live music will then hail the start of the festival.