Each year, the Kiama International Seaside (KISS) Arts Festival sees the town filled with street performers, musicians, circus acts and more.
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The celebration of street performance and interactive community fun, held each autumn, typically draws thousands to the town's waterfront.
However, in the wake of COVID-19 and cancellation of public gatherings, festival organisers Dave Evans and Tamara Campbell were forced to improvise.
Therefore, Kiama will be opening its stage doors to the world as the festival, now in its ninth year, goes virtual.
Organisers are taking the festival online with performers from Australia, Europe, the UK and US set to participate.
The result is the KISS Virtual Festival, which will be beaming into homes from April 24-26, hosted by internationally renowned circus performers Evans and Campbell.
Evans and Campbell said they were thrilled to be able to offer a "good news story" for this weekend.
"Our mission is actually the same as any other year - to heighten spirits with helpings of laughter, joy and connection," they said.
"KISS has always been about bringing people young and old together in hilarious and thought-provoking ways to be part of something bigger.
"And that goal seems more relevant now than ever before."
Evans said they had enjoyed rising to the challenge of moving the festival online.
"I think we've found a way to make it interactive, and something the community can still latch onto," he said.
"The festival is always a celebration of Kiama and its residents."
The festival will feature a mix of hilarious antics, kicking off on Friday night with the acclaimed adults-only 'KISS Kabaret', hosted by the organisers' alter-egos, Kiki and Pascal.
Kabaret is the only priced event, with the rest of the weekend free and family-friendly.
This includes the main stage performances, interactive Compashion Gallery, annual Lantern Parade (including lantern-making workshop), Kids Stand Up Comedy and the festival finale KISS Game Show.
Kiama, like many towns throughout Australia, has been hit hard by 2020's double-whammy of the bushfires and coronavirus.
"It's a wonderful way of us doing something for our community, as well as those around Australia, bringing a bit of laughter and keeping people connected through this time," councillor and Destination Kiama chair Matt Brown said.
To take part live and interact in all events, festival-goers will need to 'book a seat' to receive their Zoom code.
Virtual bookings are available at www.kissartsfest.com.au or via the festival Facebook page.
Visit www.facebook.com/KISSArtsFestival for the full schedule and latest updates.
Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
