Food, flowers and fun: Flamboyant flowers, gardening greats and show-stopping chefs are at The Ginger Factory for three days from Friday January 27 to Sunday January 29 with the annual Ginger Flower and Food Festival, a tribute to Queensland’s sub-tropical lifestyle. More than 120 varieties of ginger plants, exotics and flowers are on display and there will be floral art design, live entertainment, children’s activities, free cooking and gardening presentations, guided garden walks, expert gardening tips – and one visitor will win a barbecue and outdoor setting package. Guests include Dominique Rizzo, Colin Campbell, Julie Ray, Phil Dudman and Ross McKinnon. Chefs will prepare beautiful dishes on a main stage, themed around barbecues, picnics, cocktails and canapés. Admission to the festival is free and the event is under cover. The Ginger Factory is at 50 Pioneer Road, Yandina. For a full program, see www.gingerfactory.com.au. Yandina Ginger Factory is only a 25 minute drive from Pelican Beach Resort Noosa

Time to celebrate: From free fireworks to festive feasts, Noosa serves up a wonderful choice of ways to bring in the New Year this Saturday night. For a full guide, see the Festive Season Guide at www.visitnoosa.com.au. Noosa Marina, Tewantin has free fireworks at 9pm and midnight, with live music from Matt Harris Trio. Hyatt Regency Coolum 5449 3430) has free fireworks in the Village Square at 9.30pm and plenty of dining options. Sunshine Beach Surf Club (5447 5491) has free fireworks on the beach at 9pm, dining at the restaurant and a DJ till late. Free buses: Don’t forget to hop on a free Sunbus public bus right around the Noosa region and the Sunshine Coast from Boxing Day till January 8 – leave the car behind and save the traffic hassles. Timetables available from Visitor Information Centres or see www.translink.com.au

Christmas in Cooroy: Join the free family event this Friday and Saturday, December 2 and 3, in Apex Park and Mill Place, Maple Street, Cooroy. On Friday it’s the turning on of the Christmas lights at 7pm, then Live on the Beans, a free, all-ages event on the Cooroy Library rooftop from 7-10pm, with Flight of the Concords on the outdoor cinema screen and live music from Those Clever Foxes and Spuhtnik. On Saturday, there’s a Poets’ Breakfast from 8am, then fun in Apex Park from 4-10pm with rides, live music and food stalls. Join up to 100 Santas in the Cooroy Great Santa Race at 4.30pm (entry $10 for the Leukaemia Foundation), then see the Bendigo Bank Street Parade from 5pm, a visit from Santa at 6pm and fireworks at 7.30pm. See www.christmasincooroy.com.au Slam festival: The Slam volleyball festival comes to Noosa’s Main Beach on Saturday December 3, with fun, fashion and music from noon till midnight. Amateur and elite beach volleyball teams will compete on the beach. The DJ line-up at the club is Radio Ink, Goodwill (Ministry Of Sound), Mitzi and local DJs. See www.slamfestival.com.au Santa comes to Coolum Town: Join in the festive fun at Coolum this Friday December 2, 4.30-6.30pm. Kids will enjoy Santa’s workshop at 4.30pm, there’s live music from Cool Harmonies, the Ulysses Bike Club charity toy and tucker run at 5.30pm, a Christmas sing-along, and a visit from Santa on the Esplanade at 6pm. Carols by Candlelight: Join the Community carols at Eumundi Amphitheatre (wet-weather venue is Eumundi State School Hall) this Sunday December 4, 5.30-9pm, with entertainment by Melissa Isles, Chad Shuttleworth, Tracy Combes, Noosa Christian Choir, Simone Bell and Eumundi State School Choir. Santa will make a guest appearance

Race time: The five-day Noosa Triathlon Multi Sport Festival gets under way on Wednesday October 26 with the Endura Noosa Run Swim Run, with children and adults taking to Noosa’s Main Beach and Laguna Bay. The junior race starts at 4.45pm and adults take off from 5pm. The Noosa Tri Celebrity Golf Day is at Tewantin-Noosa Golf Club, Tewantin on Thursday October 27 from 11am, and there’s plenty more Tri fun, entertainment and action to follow, so check out the festival program at www.noosatri.com.au

For some amazing animal experiences, head to UnderWater World, Mooloolaba, for the Baby Hammerhead Sharks and other live shows, or be among the first to see the new African Safari at Australia Zoo which opens on September 17. Pre-book your bus transfer to Australia Zoo at Pelican Beach Resort Noosa Reception

Find out for yourself why some of Australia's best chefs love Noosa, Noosaville and our restaurants, returning year after year to the Noosa Food and Wine Festival and naming some of our best as among their favourites in a recent feature in Australian Traveller magazine. Thomas Corner Eatery in Noosaville, Spirit House at Yandina and Berardo's bistro on the beach, Noosa Heads were singled out, while the Sunshine Coast was named as Queensland's top gourmet region. Noosa Spanner Crabs recently received top recognition at the delicious magazine national produce awards, being inducted into the awards Hall of Fame. This year's awards were judged by chefs and Noosa Food and Wine favourites including Matt Moran, Phillip Johnson, Cheong Liew and Maggie Beer. Also at the end of our street two new Restaurants are just about to open, Zachary's and Laze by the River. Guests at Pelican Beach Resort Noosa can park the car at the resort and walk to over 30 places to wine and dine

Join the jazz party at the Noosa Jazz Festival (September 1-4), as more than 150 musos come together for a four-day celebration, with open-air concerts, exclusive performances, jazz feature shows and daily free gigs. Some of Australia's best jazz musicians and young, emerging talent will treat audiences to traditional jazz, swing, modern, funk and blues in intimate surroundings. don't miss the free jazz in the Park this Sunday. The best way for Pelican Beach Resort Noosa guests is to walk to the end of our street to Pelican Beach at Noosaville and Catch the Noosa Ferry ********************************************************************************************************************

10 days or Art Literature, Food and Fun A perfect time for a winter escape and choose your accommodation at Pelican Beach Resort Noosa The Festival’s tenth anniversary program includes over 70 free and ticketed events staged in Noosa from Friday 17 June to Sunday 26 June, 2011 including world class cabaret, theatre, literary events, dance, food, forums, workshops, late night supper clubs, film, music and magic. It's the Festival’s tenth birthday, and our patron David Williamson’s fortieth anniversary as a playwright. Our 2011 program includes three exclusive world preview performances of David’s and Mohamed Khadra’s new play At Any Costas well as a Gala Tribute Dinner attended by VIP guests who have worked with David over the last forty years. Join us as we celebrate all the Festival has to offer in one of the most iconic locations on the planet. Buy your tickets now before events sell out.

The Noosa Riverfest Regatta and Boat Show June 3,4,and 5 2011 promises to be the biggest yet, with great family fun. The festival will open with the return of the Noosa Parade on the Saturday morning, at 10am, with dozens of fun and colourful floats, cars, motorbikes, marching bands and street performers. The festival continues all weekend along the Noosa riverfront, at Noosa Yacht & Rowing Club and the Noosaville Lions Park. Join in: * Opening parade * Food stalls with local restaurants and food vendors showcasing their tasty masterpieces from $5 * Sailing regatta * Rowing regatta * Fishing clinics and competitions * Boating and marina show * Live music in the park and at the yacht club * Children's activities including jumping castles, toy giveaways, face painting, arts and craft workshops, fairies and children's performers * Seafood extravaganza * Street performers * The return of the Noosa Bird Man show on the river So come along to Noosaville for Fiesta celebrations right throughout the weekend.