On Saturday 23 February, Mornington locals and visitors were treated to a one-of-a-kind seaside experience in the form of Day by the Bay – a new festival hosted by Remember The Wild under the Connected to Port Phillip initiative and sponsored by Triple R.

A music and community festival in one, Day by the Bay presents an opportunity for locals and visitors of different bayside areas to enjoy diverse musical lineups, indulge in delicious food, and meet and speak with members from Melbourne and Victoria’s most important community and non-profit groups currently working to engage people with Port Phillip Bay.

From the get-go, curious festivalgoers found themselves chatting with experts on the Bay and its wildlife, participating in a variety of fun, family-friendly activities, and browsing the unique selection of crafts and merchandise on offer from vendors. Products included the all-natural coconut soy wax candles of Peninsula Dreaming, the ethically made underwear of Bushy Underwear, the awesome range of reusable accessories from B-Alternative (also the festival’s amazingly passionate waste management team), the handmade sea glass creations of Mornington Sea Glass, and more.

Food vendors included the fabulous Naughty Frenchy, the vegan tastes of Smoothie Operator, and the delicious NZ Street Food, and community stalls ranged from Wing Threads and the Marine Mammal Foundation to the Victorian National Parks Association and the Dolphin Research Institute.

Young families especially were seen interacting with many of the community and non-profit stalls on offer, with plenty of kids meeting members of The Connies who captivated them with stories of endangered Australian birds and ecosystems, providing eager listeners with collectable trading cards of different species and habitats.

In front of the stage, people gathered with friends, family and their picnics to enjoy the unique variety of music on show throughout the day. Prior to the first band taking the stage, Uncle Shane from the Bunurong Land Council performed a smoking ceremony as part of his Welcome to Country, encouraging those present to step up to the smoking eucalypt leaves and walk through the aromatic smoke. This ceremony acknowledges ancestors and pays respect to Country, the smoke itself cleansing the area and those present of bad spirits. The Bunurong Land Council also hosted a stall at the festival, speaking to festivalgoers about Country, in particular the significance of Port Phillip Bay to their people and culture.

Relaxing in the shade of Mornington Park’s historical cypresses with the shimmering Port Phillip Bay as a stunning backdrop, festivalgoers then listened in to the indie pop sounds of FERLA, the deep lyricism of Cosima Jaala’s indie-rock and Jess Ribeiro’s beautiful, soulful set during the first half of the line-up.

The later musical talent ranged from the fun beat-garage vibes of Empat Lima, Baptism of Uzi’s rocky psychedelic sounds, and, finally, the outstanding cosmic funk vibes of headliner Mildlife. All in all, the Mornington lineup was the perfect combination of evocative melodies for those hoping to sit back and enjoy the atmosphere, and catchy dance tunes for young and old alike who wanted to move to the music.

Later in the evening, a variety of experts on Port Phillip Bay presented fun and engaging talks at The Publican on Mornington’s Main Street, making for an insightful end to the day’s events and providing attendees with tangible ways that they can make a difference to the health of our Bay.

If you missed out on the first Day by the Bay festival, don’t despair – take a look at our highlights video below and make sure you attend Day by the Bay Point Cook, which is right around the corner and promises to be a memorable day of more fantastic music, engaging community and non-profit groups, unique craft and merchandise vendors, fantastic food trucks and much more. Like the Mornington event, Day by the Bay Point Cook is FREE, family-friendly, and an opportunity to discover why we’re so lucky to live by Port Phillip Bay.

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Day by the Bay Point Cook takes place on Saturday 23 March 2019, starting at 12pm, and features the following lineup:

Mojo Juju

The Orbweavers

Jess Ribeiro

HEXDEBT

Leah Senior

Way Dynamic

The following community, non-profit, craft and merchandise stalls will also be in attendance:

Dolphin Research Institute
Victorian National Park Association
Beany Bags
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority
Port Phillip EcoCentre
Werribee River Association
Koala Clancy Foundation
Marine Mammal Foundation
Wing Threads
B-Alternative
Alpaka Gear
Jacq of all trades
The Herb Store
Papershoot
Bluegum Artisan
Mademoiselle Organic

And don’t forget the food trucks!

Smoothie Operator
Naughty Frenchy
Cerminara ice cream
NZ Street Food
Quintessence
Fork Mama
Honey Dee
Miss Love a Donut
DG Food

There will also be some fantastic activities on the day for both children and adults to enjoy:

Face painting (from 12pm to 4pm)

Photography exhibition curated by Pink Tank Scuba and featuring 20 Victorian underwater photographers

The Connies (street performers) handing out wildlife swap cards

DIY beauty products

Sea creature-themed ice carving demonstration by artist Mark Trinham

Learn ‘How to Nature’ with Nature Connections, including learning how to observe nature, connecting with nature through meditation and poetry, beach exploration, and more. Attendance is free but bookings are essential for this activity – click here to book into the 11am session, and here for the 1pm session. Please note that this activity is for adults only with 10 people per session – register now so you don’t miss out!

For more information on Day by the Bay Point Cook, please see here.

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Banner image courtesy of Tim Brown.