Cooly Rocks On 2019

Calling all groovers, greasers and cool cats. Grab a handful of hair cream and your better half – and hightail it to the Southern Gold Coast for Australia’s best-loved nostalgia festival: Cooly Rocks On.

It’s a non-stop five-day party at Coolangatta from the 5th to 9th of June 2019, celebrating the best of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s.

A big drawcard of the festival is the Show’n’Shine – a parade of vintage convertibles, caddies and hot rods. You’ll need some cool shades to cope with the miles of sparkling chrome on display in the Gold Coast sunshine.

Other popular events include the pageants – like the Miss Cooly Rocks On contest, won last year by the lovely Ruby Alabaster. Ruby will help crown this year’s glamorous winner from 10 finalists who’ll dazzle the stage at Twin Towns, Tweed Heads.

For James Dean wannabes, the Indian Motorcycle Riders Group will hold its national gathering to coincide with the festival for the first time.

And what would a ’50s-inspired celebration be without music and dancing? There’ll be rock-n-roll, rockabilly and hokey-pokey dance-offs – plus all the glitz and glamour of the Harvest Moon Swing Ball. The Swing On In Dance School will join a host of jiving performers in various events throughout the festival.

Add to that retro markets, a Poodles & Pug Parade, vintage bake-offs, retro art workshops and the ever-popular Sunday Street Parade – and you’ve got 120 hours of rockin’ good fun.

If you’d like to hang out on the Southern Gold Coast for Cooly Rocks On 2019, there are some very cool retro options.

Try the Pink Hotel at Coolangatta – formerly the Ocean View – with its mid-century styling and the coast’s best live music dive bar and burger joint.

Or for more of a beach shack vibe, check out La Costa Motel at Bilinga. You’ll love the deck chairs and pink flamingos on the front lawn.

Behind the classic white picket fence, there’s a range of cool and comfortable guest rooms.

And it’s all just 50 metres to the sands of Bilinga Beach. Grab one of the motel’s vintage bicycles to explore the area – including nearby cafes, restaurants and shops.

Cooly Rocks On is just one highlight of the Gold Coast’s calendar of fantastic events throughout the year.

Head to the Destination Gold Coast website to check out what’s happening in coming months – and plan your visit!

By Carole Horne