Coogee Live festival draws crowds to Perth beach for weekend of music, bubbles and family fun

Hundreds of families flocked to the coast over the weekend as Coogee Beach transformed into a sprawling playground of music, art and seaside fun for the return of the popular Coogee Live festival.

Stretching along 1.5km of pristine coastline, the free two-day community festival brought together more than 130 performances, activities and experiences across multiple hubs at Coogee Beach Reserve and nearby parklands.

Among those soaking up the lively atmosphere was Tony McCaffrey and his daughter Ellie, who stumbled upon the event while enjoying a family day at the beach.

“I didn’t hear about it. We only found out about it by accident,” he said.

But that didn’t stop Mr McCaffrey and Ellie from diving straight into the festivities.

“It’s great that it’s free and it’s always good just to get out and do something that’s a little bit different,” he said.

“I think we’d probably go back next year now that we know about it.”

The family-friendly festival — organised by the City of Cockburn — has become one of Perth’s most anticipated community events, drawing thousands of visitors each year for a weekend celebrating local arts, culture and coastal living.

Some festival highlights included aerial hoop performances, beach sports, cooking demonstrations in the Ocean Kitchen Garden and hands-on workshops for kids.

For many families, it was the perfect excuse to spend a full day by the water while trying something new.

Despite experiencing the event by chance, the McCaffreys quickly found themselves immersed in the action — although choosing a favourite activity proved difficult.

“We liked the bubbles and the rave disco,” Mr McCaffrey said.

“But I don’t know if you could pick any particular part of it that was our favourite.

“Ellie loved the whole lot together.”

The free event runs across a packed program of music, food, arts and wellness experiences designed to appeal to everyone from families with young children to visitors looking for a relaxed day by the ocean.