Back bigger and better than before, The Drop Festival dropped in on the Sydney Surf Pro in Manly last month. The proudly local event drew an epic crowd by the thousands for an afternoon by the beach, celebrating music, community culture and a love of the ocean.

Music

Taking place at Manly’s Keirle Park, the single stage event showcased the talents of a range of Aussie artists. Manly Unearthed winner ‘Stumps’ were among the lineup of local talent dishing out indie rock and pop-inspired sounds. Sydney-sider Alex the Astronaut gave the crowd a taste of her universe; while chart-dominating group The Jungle Giants showcased an energetic live performance. Crowd favourites Client Liaison and Hockey Dad took visitors on a unique multisensory experience; before Aria Award-winning duo Angus and Julia stone closed out the event with their unique Australian folk and pop-inspired sounds.

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Food

In addition to the stacked schedule of Aussie talent, the festival also featured a range of local food vendors. Everyone’s festival food favourites from hot dogs to ice cream could be found at the event, including a range of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Food options were in abundance and were prepared fresh on order.

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Sustainability

One interesting thing that stood out at the event was the way they integrated methods to reduce single-use plastics and make the event more sustainable overall. Adopting similar methods that have become a regular practice and many festivals throughout Germany, drinks purchased at the bar were served in reusable ‘globelet’ cups, which were rented for a small, partially refundable fee. Reducing single-use plastics not only created a more sustainable event but also created a cleaner festival environment; and an overall healthier atmosphere, which was noticeably different from most events.

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Overall, the second annual edition of The Drop Festival has definitely found its place in the heart of Manly. Dropping in during the Sydney Surf Pro, the festival was a perfect place to unwind from the competition, enjoy Aussie talent and support local businesses.

Heading to Sydney? Read more about rad things to do on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. 

Photo credit: The Drop Festival