Former chief executive of the Wattle Range Council and the Millicent District Council, Frank Brennan, has been appointed as the coordinator for the upcoming 2026 Beachport Crayfish Festival. With over a decade of experience running Frank Brennan Consulting Services in Beachport, Brennan brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the festival’s organization.
Brennan’s background includes significant roles such as secretary of the Millicent Football Club and chairman of the Mid South Eastern Football League Junior Committee. He has also served as the State Government-appointed presiding member of both the South East Water Conservation and Drainage Board and the now-defunct South East Natural Resources Management Board. Currently, he holds positions as a Justice of the Peace and an independent director of the Limestone Coast Fishermen’s Cooperative.
Festival Preparations Underway
The Beachport Crayfish Festival is set for February 28, 2026, and a dedicated organizing committee of over 30 members is already hard at work under Brennan’s leadership. Meetings are conducted via Skype, focusing on various aspects of the festival, including sponsorship, programs, catering, logistics, markets, funding, and media outreach.
This year’s festival is expected to build on the success of previous events, which have highlighted the best of the lobster industry in the Limestone Coast region. Attendees can look forward to a diverse program featuring locally made food and wines, alongside art, music, and activities for children. The inaugural festival, held in 2022, attracted a large crowd of both locals and visitors who embraced the event enthusiastically.
The financial success of the 2024 festival allowed for the distribution of $23,000 to local groups and charities, as well as funding for the Beachport New Year’s Eve fireworks. The festival has quickly become a staple in the community, with its roots stretching back to the popular Beachport Festival By The Sea, which concluded in 2000 with a free outdoor concert featuring 60 members of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
As the festival approaches, anticipation is building within the community, with the organizing committee committed to delivering an exceptional experience that showcases the region’s culinary delights and vibrant culture. The Beachport Crayfish Festival promises to be a significant event, reinforcing the area’s reputation for hospitality and local craftsmanship.
