Hillarys Water Dragons! Joondalup Festival drops enticing program filled with the unusual

The Joondalup Festival is back for 2025, and yesterday they unleashed another spectacular program filled with over 50 unique and unusual offerings.

From March 15 to April 5, the City of Joondalup will come alive with an eclectic mix of performances, installations, and events, headlined by the Western Australian debut of Water Dragons!

The free, larger-than-life aquatic spectacle will see three 15-metre-long mythical beasts gliding across the waters of Hillarys Boat Harbour after wowing crowds during Melbourne’s Lunar New Year celebrations last year.

Brought to life by jet-ski puppeteers, these glowing, scale-covered dragons will no doubt be a hit with audiences young and old, with an epic sound and light show.

The fun doesn’t stop at the waterfront though – Joondalup Festival 2025 is packed with over 50 unique and accessible experiences for all ages, including some must-see highlights like:

• Feast: Gather around a long table on Joondalup Library’s terrace for a First Nations-led dining experience featuring bush-tucker-inspired dishes, live music by award-winning singer Lily Gogos, and surprise performances.
• Queenie Van De Zandt in Choose Your Own Adventure: This part-comedy, part-quiz, part-Ted Talk event at The After School Club lets the audience decide how the night unfolds.
• Feline Good: Don’t miss Bruno Booth’s whimsical fluorescent cat sculptures at Joondalup Library, guaranteed to brighten your day with their quirky tracksuits and hats.
• Throwback Thursdays at Galaxy Drive-In: Relive the magic of the 90s at Kingsley’s iconic drive-in cinema, featuring classic flicks like Jaws and Jurassic Park across three themed nights: Bite Night, Fright Night, and Fight Night!

“This year’s program celebrates the incredible diversity and creativity of our community,” said Joondalup Mayor Albert Jacob. “The Water Dragons will be a showstopper, but the entire festival showcases what makes Joondalup such a vibrant place to live, work, and visit.”

Supported by Tourism WA, Lotterywest, and other key partners, the Joondalup Festival continues to cement its place as one of Perth’s most anticipated cultural events.

Mark your calendars for this three-week celebration of art, culture, and community – the full program is now live, so head to joondalupfestival.com.au to plan your festival experience.