Beau Miles will share his adventure and conservation experiences

Sunny weather, a new ‘Wild Ideas’ stage and headline talks from Beau Miles and Lisa Blair OAM are expected to attract thousands of visitors to Speers Point Park this Saturday for Living Smart Festival.

The free community event will transform the park into a hub of sustainability, gardening, food, wellbeing and environmental action, with a packed program of speakers, workshops, demonstrations and family-friendly activities.

Festival headliner and YouTube sensation Beau Miles will take to the main stage for a one-hour ‘wild adventures, real change’ talk and Q&A, sharing his experiences aimed at protecting and enhancing the environment.

A major addition this year is the Wild Ideas stage, featuring a full day of inspiring conversations and practical ideas from adventurers, environmentalists, community leaders and changemakers.

The Wild Ideas program starts at 9am with a Lake Mac Youth Council panel discussion, It starts with us, before renowned adventurer and environmentalist Lisa Blair OAM takes to the zone stage at 10am.

Having survived hurricane-force winds and a dismasting in the Southern Ocean before becoming the fastest person to sail solo around Antarctica, Ms Blair will share her remarkable story of resilience, exploration and climate action.

At 11am, Blue Minds co-founders Kal Glanznig and Cooper Chapman will lead an interactive workshop helping young people build confidence, identify their strengths and take positive action for the environment.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz, who will officially open the event at 9.45am, said the festival combined big ideas with practical solutions people could take home and put into action.

“Living Smart Festival is one of our biggest and most popular community events because it shows how sustainability can be practical, accessible and enjoyable,” Mayor Adam said.

“Whether you’re keen to grow your own food, reduce waste, improve your wellbeing or hear from some incredible speakers, there will be something to inspire you.”

The festival will also feature a community Crop Swap in the Harvest Zone from 9-10am, giving gardeners the chance to exchange surplus herbs, fruit, vegetables, seedlings and seeds.

Other highlights include morning yoga on the main stage, Purple Pear Farm’s presentation on backyard permaculture, animals and food forests, and an OzHarvest session exploring the hidden cost of food waste and how households can reduce it.

Living Smart Festival runs from 9am-3pm on Saturday 19 September at Speers Point Park.

For more information, transport options and the full program, visit livingsmartfestival.com.au.

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