Hillarys Marina Western Australia 14th March 2026
Saturday night down at Hillarys Boat Harbour looked less like a marina and more like the front row of a very damp theatre production — and honestly, it was bloody brilliant.
The French production Acqua Forte Parade rolled into town as part of the Joondalup Festival and kicked off right on 7:30pm, just as the sun dipped out and the marina lights flickered on creating a dazzling back drop.
By that stage the place was packed tighter than a Bunnings car park on a Saturday morning sausage sizzle. Families lined every inch of the harbour wall, kids perched on shoulders, and plenty of phones ready to capture whatever madness was about to float around the corner.
And madness it was — the good kind.
What followed was a visual smorgasbord that had everyone from toddlers to grandparents standing there with their mouths slightly open wondering what on earth they’d just seen… and then immediately wanting more.
There were fireworks cracking across the sky, reflections bouncing off the water like nature’s own disco ball. A glowing princess appeared gliding across the marina with what can only be described as a water fountain crown, spraying high above her like she’d just been promoted to Queen of the Ocean.
Then, just when you thought the show had peaked, along came a floating car cruising across the harbour like it had missed the memo about roads.
But the true show-stealer? A fire-breathing dragon that lit up the night sky and had the crowd cheering like they’d just watched the winning goal at Optus Stadium. Flames burst across the water while smoke drifted over the marina — dramatic, theatrical, and just the right amount of ridiculous.
Then came one of those “did I actually just see that?” moments.
Workers mowing the ocean waves.
Yep… you read that right. Performers pushing lawn mowers across floating platforms, trimming the sea like it was someone’s overgrown front yard. Completely bonkers, yet somehow it worked perfectly in the whimsical chaos of the parade.
That’s the beauty of Acqua Forte — it doesn’t try to explain itself. It simply delivers spectacle after spectacle and invites the crowd to sit back, laugh, and enjoy the ride.
The atmosphere around the harbour was something special too. There’s a certain magic when thousands of people gather around the water on a warm Perth evening, all sharing the same “what the hell is happening next?” moment together. Kids were wide-eyed, adults were grinning, and even the seagulls looked mildly impressed.
Massive credit goes to City of Joondalup, the team behind the Joondalup Festival, and Tourism Western Australia for bringing something this unique to our coastline. Events like this remind you how lucky we are to live in a place that embraces art, creativity, and a little bit of delightful weirdness.
Safe to say we absolutely loved it — a spectacular mix of theatre, imagination and pure visual fun.
Acqua Forte floats back into town again tonight (Sunday), do yourself a favour: grab the family, head down early, find a good spot along the harbour wall… and prepare to watch lawn mowers tackle the ocean.
Because honestly, where else are you going to see that?
Special thanks to Rossco and Seth for capturing the show and freezing a few of those wild moments in time.
