Three-day ACTION-sport festival returns to Scarborough Beach

This is every kid’s dream, right? Music, surfing, skating and BMX packed into a beachside festival.

WA’s biggest free youth multi-sports, lifestyle and wellness event Groundswell Festival will return to Scarborough for its ninth year next month.

The Scarborough Beach Association and City of Stirling event will be held over October 6, 7 and 8, just in time to close out the school holidays.

The festival is expected to draw in more than 15,000 people who will inject about $1.8m into the local economy.

City of Stirling CEO Stuart Jardine said there were other benefits for the community.

“The festival creates a safe, exciting and vibrant place for young people and families to come together,” he said.

The event will see Scarborough Foreshore home to a weekend of surf, skate, three-on-three street basketball competitions, BMX bowl comps and stunt demos. Eventgoers can also take part in beach volleyball and a free dodgeball arena.

Two of the standout sporting events are the Surf Boardrooms Surf League and Groundswell Grind.

The Surf League first hit the water in 1986 and has been a breeding ground for excitement amongst WA board riders.

This year’s prize is $5000 and will be held on either Saturday, October 7, or Sunday, October 8, depending on conditions.

The Groundswell Grind skateboard bowl competition will see skateboarders across various ages and skill levels compete to be the 2023 Grind champions in their respective age brackets. The open-age men’s and women’s class will share in a prize purse of $4000.

The event is not only focused on action sports, with DJs, live music, street art, food trucks, markets and free workshops also featuring.

The live music will be headlined by Death By Denim, Abbe May, Queency and Banjo Lucia.

For festival details or to register to take part in the surf, skateboard, BMX, streetball and volleyball events, visit the Groundswell Festival website.