The Words on the Waves Writers’ Festival celebrated its fifth birthday with a record number of attendees from May 28-June 1.
The festival recorded 6084 attendances, up 20% from 2024 which was also a record-breaking year.
The attendance represents a 10% increase in ticket sales overall, and included a sold out main program.
In addition, hundreds of Central Coast primary school children attended Ripples, the festival’s schools program.
Festival Director Angela Bennetts said Words on the Waves launched five years ago, fuelled by big dreams and lots of enthusiasm.
“Since then we’ve grown from four locations to 14 across the Central Coast; from 47 authors to over 100,” she said.
“And our audience numbers this year speak for themselves.
“It was a deeply-felt pleasure to celebrate our fifth birthday with our biggest and most successful festival to date.”
Festival highlights included: an Opening Address at The Art House Wyong with Stan Grant, Hugh Mackay and Jan Fran; the inaugural Poetry Slam featuring veteran poet Maxine Beneba Clarke and locals Will Small and live artist Grant Molony; and a bustling free Family Fun Day at Umina’s Peninsula Recreation Precinct with live illustrator battles, story time and roving performers.
Along with the crowds and outstanding program came impressive book sales.
The festival’s top 10 book sales, according to festival bookseller the Umina Beach Book
Nook were; Unsettled by Kate Grenville; Lyrebird by Jane Caro; Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend; The Correspondent by Peter Greste; An Unlikely Prisoner by Sean Turnell; Broken Brains by Rosie Waterland and Jamila Rizvi; Bright Shining by Julia Baird; Terraglossia by Debra Dank; The Name of the Sister by Gail Jones; Killing for Country by David Marr; and The Kindness Revolution by Hugh Mackay, with the last two books coming equal 10th.
And it wasn’t only the audiences who enjoyed the festival, with praise from authors flooding in.
“Words on the Waves 2025 was brilliant,” Hugh Mackay said.
“I really enjoyed my panels, loved the sessions I attended, and saw how fully engaged your community was with the whole event; brilliant,” said Steve Vizard.
Clare Wright said Words on the Waves was “the most beautiful festival”.
“All your staff and volunteers were marvellous, as were your warm, generous crowds,” she said.
Summing up the 2025 festival, Angela Bennetts said since the beginning, Words on the Waves has been nurtured and propelled by a community that loves to read, and a community that believes in the power of community to create change.
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