Nine days of winter fun across Port Stephens

Port Stephens Winter Festival returns this July with nine packed days of family activities, local food, community events, and winter fun across the region.

From Friday, 10 July to Sunday, 19 July, Port Stephens Winter Festival will bring Taster’s Trails, the Car Show, The Human Whale, cruises, high teas, and family activities to town.

The annual Port Stephens Winter Festival is back, giving locals and visitors plenty of reasons to get out and explore the region this winter.

Running across nine days, the festival brings together a packed calendar of events, from food-focused Taster’s Trails through Nelson Bay and Shoal Bay to family-friendly activities, live entertainment, cruises, high teas, and community events.

One of the festival highlights is the Port Stephens Car Show, returning to Nelson Bay CBD on Sunday, 12 July from 10am to 3pm. The free event will feature classic and vintage cars, activities, food stalls, local dining options, and live entertainment in Apex Park.

The festival will close with The Human Whale on Sunday, 19 July at Fingal Bay Beach, where the community will come together to form the outline of a 100-metre humpback whale on the sand, paying tribute to the annual whale migration along the coast.

The Human Whale event will also feature stallholders, face painting, and a sausage sizzle hosted by Fingal Bay Surf Life Saving Club.

Port Stephens Winter Festival

When: Friday, 10 July – Sunday, 19 July 2026
Where: Various locations across Port Stephens
Time: Various times
Cost: Various prices, with some free events
To book, visit Port Stephens Winter Festival