The Sans Souci Seafood Festival will return to the Botany Bay foreshore on the June long weekend, marking 15 years of celebrating the region’s maritime heritage and local fishing industry.

The three-day event, running from Saturday June 7 to Monday June 9, is expected to draw over 25,000 visitors to Sans Souci’s waterfront parklands.

“This festival started as a small community gathering and has grown into one of the biggest events on the St George calendar,” said festival director Angela Papadopoulos. “But it’s still fundamentally about celebrating our local fishers and the bay that defines our community.”

What to Expect

This year’s festival features an expanded program:

Fresh Seafood Market Local fishing families will sell their catch direct to the public, including species landed that morning from Botany Bay and beyond:

• Sydney rock oysters from local growers
• Blue swimmer crabs from Kamay Botany Bay
• Flathead, bream, and whiting from local trawlers
• Sydney prawns (subject to availability)

Cooking Demonstrations Chefs from prominent Sydney restaurants will host cooking demonstrations throughout the weekend:

• Saturday: Matt Moran on preparing whole fish
• Sunday: Kylie Kwong on sustainable seafood
• Monday: Local chef Maria Stavros on Greek-Australian classics

Entertainment

• Main stage music from 11am daily
• Roving maritime performers and buskers
• Boat building demonstrations
• Fishing demonstrations for kids
• Historical displays on Botany Bay’s fishing history

Family Activities

• Free face painting and balloon artists
• Pirate treasure hunt around the festival grounds
• Touch tanks with local marine life
• Junior fishing workshops (registration required)

Environmental Focus

This year’s festival incorporates a strong environmental theme, reflecting growing community concern about the health of Botany Bay.

“The fishers who work these waters are often the first to notice changes,” noted Papadopoulos. “They’re natural conservationists because their livelihoods depend on healthy fish stocks.”

The festival will feature displays from Georges River Council’s environmental team, NSW Fisheries, and local marine conservation groups. Single-use plastics are banned across the festival site, with all vendors required to use compostable packaging.

Transport and Access

The festival site is located on Rocky Point Road near the Sans Souci baths. Given limited parking, organisers encourage public transport:

• Bus: Routes 477 and 478 stop at Sans Souci
• Bicycle: Secure parking at the festival entrance
• Water: Free boat tie-up at Sans Souci Marina (first come, first served)

The festival site is wheelchair accessible, with accessible parking and viewing areas available.

Tickets and Information

Entry to the festival is free, though some activities require booking. Premium seafood dining experiences (including a Saturday night long-table dinner) are available for $95 per person.

Gates open at 10am daily and close at 9pm Saturday and Sunday, and 5pm Monday.

For the full program and booking information, visit the festival website or follow Sans Souci Seafood Festival on social media.