Currumbin Buskers by The Creek Festival to turn barge into Queensland-first floating bar

A BAR will be launched in the middle of a Gold Coast waterway in a first for Queensland. And you’ll never guess where

BUSKERS By The Creek will float a Queensland first when it launches a Brazilian-themed licensed bar in the middle of Currumbin Creek.

Bar Copacabana will extend the award-winning event’s footprint from the waterfront Winders Park out on to the Currumbin waterway for this year’s fifth annual busking festival on October 13-14.

GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS FOR $3 A WEEK

The barge used for sports demos at the 2017 Buskers by the Creek Festival (pictured) will be transformed into a floating licensed bar for this year’s event. Picture: ARPimaging.

STUNTMAN JOEL SHARPENS HIS ACT UP FOR BUSKERS FESTIVAL

The family-friendly festival will host two days of free performances by more than 300 singers, musicians, comedians and street entertainers on 16 stages on the banks of Currumbin Creek.

Tipped to be the hottest spot north of the border, the festival’s new Bar Copacabana will feature Brazilian acts including DJ CVIO, DJ MAXX R, Brazo Duo, Flavio Correa, Rodrigo Ferraz, and Zambabem Trio.

Crowds brave rain to enjoy one of the more than 300 performers on the program at the 2017 Buskers By The Creek Festival. Picture: Supplied.

HOODOO GURUS TOP BILL FOR OUTDOOR FESTIVAL IN SOUTHPORT

The bar will serve Chandon S, chilled on ice with twisted orange peel, and beers from Byron Bay’s Stone and Wood.

A team of local companies have been enlisted to help the festival float its brand-new bar idea.

Maclift Cranes use a 20-tonne Franna all-terrain crane to load panels and gangways custom-built for the bar by Gold Coast Barges on to a Morrow Equipment semi-trailer so the bar can be driven to Currumbin and assembled for launch.

Natasha Stone gets a preview of Stuntman Joel’s Buskers By The Creek act at Winders Park, Currumbin. Picture: Richard Gosling

BUSKERS FESTIVAL AND COMMONWEALTH FACE OFF AT EVENT AWARDS

Buskers By The Creek event director Cindy Jensen said the floating bar, a Queensland first,

would cater for up to 100 people.

“The bar is 9m by 12m and there is an 8m gangway from land for guests to get on and off,” she said.

This year’s Buskers By The Creek Festival will include a licensed, floating Brazilian-themed bar in the middle of Currumbin Creek. Picture: Supplied.

FOREIGNER, LIVE, SHEPPARD TO ROCK GOLD COAST 600 RACE FANS

RACE WEEKEND CONCERT

Ms Jensen said crowds were encouraged to bring their swimmers and flotation devices this year to enjoy the festival fun from the water.

“We want everyone to be up dancing and having a great time on the water with an exciting line up of DJs and acoustic musicians confirmed,” she said.

“Although we are not envisioning any incidents, lifeguards and security have been appointed to ensure all safety measures are met.”

Crowds at the 2017 Buskers By The Creek Festival on the banks of Currumbin Creek. Picture: Supplied.

Morrow Equipment rigging supervisor Joel Jensen said the bar was being developed by a skilled team of barge experts and rigging technicians.

Construction of the module platform will begin on the Thursday before the event, with seven workers expected to spend more than 180 hours assembling, transporting, unloading and positioning the bar.

Bar Copacabana will open from 10am to 6pm each day of the festival.