Following the great success of the 2011 and 2012 festivals, COOLY ROCKS ON is on again from May 31st to June 10th, 2013, featuring in excess of 1,200 hot rods, custom and classic cars on display with an estimated value in excess of $30 million, plus over 50 rock’n'roll and rockabilly bands and a line-up of International special guests, complemented by an anticipated attendance over 80,000 people, set in one of the most colourful, vibrant and beautiful beachside destinations.

COOLY ROCKS ON promises a jumping, jiving rollercoaster of music, dance and nostalgia in the streets of Coolangatta and Tweed Heads.

Bob Newman, Chief Executive Officer of COOLY ROCKS ON, said attendance at the 2012 festival was amazing, and everyone was looking forward to 2013 being even bigger and better.

“We hope to give them more cars, and a bigger and more up-market marquee on the Coolangatta foreshore with entertainment starting on the first weekend and running right through until the closing day of the festival,” he noted.

“This year we have introduced a new precinct to the festival - the Kirra Surf Precinct, the Mecca of Surfing in Australia,” said Bob.

“We thought the time was right to have an area devoted to ‘50s and ‘60s surfing culture, with their own style of music, and represented by bands playing music from the Beach Boys and the Shadows.

“Cars will include Woodies, Panel Vans, Kombis and anything that could carry a surfboard of the ten foot kind!"

Over 11 action-packed days, the border towns of New South Wales and Queensland dish up a feast of non- stop rock’n’roll, rockabilly, swing, dancing, competitions, music and live performances. Devotees of ‘50s and ‘60s music and memorabilia travel from all over the world to attend this annual event.

Throughout the festival, the streets are crammed with rare and extraordinary pre-1970, much loved classic cars. Nightly car cruises are a festival highlight, so take a table at one of the many street-side restaurants or cafes and watch the very entertaining, and sometimes ‘audibly competitive’, passing parade.

During the Grand Finale weekend – 8 and 9 June – the two main streets are closed to traffic for one massive street party.Outdoor stages, music and dancing are the order of the day and when you can dance no more, take a wander through retro markets and stalls and check out the hundreds of cars.

Six outdoor stages will be erected for the Grand Finale weekend (8 and 9 June), along with a massive beachside marquee. Almost every pub and club in the border towns will be bustling with live music and dancing.

For the first time this year at COOLY ROCKS ON, Marine Parade in Coolangatta will be closed on the first weekend of the festival (Saturday 1 June) for a Shannon’s Show ‘n’ Shine car show.

Category winners will gain free entry into the grand finale weekend major Show n’ Shine car show and be included in the judging to find the overall category winners and the ‘Car of the Show’.

Bob Newman added: "We have three international guests this year - one coming back for a second appearance, a new band fresh out of the UK, and the third, a big name in the world of classic cars.”

“For the first time COOLY ROCKS ON will be presenting a huge show in the Twin Towns Showroom on Sunday 9 June so keep an eye out for this one as tickets are sure to go fast," said Bob.

Bob Newman anticipates crowd numbers could reach 80-90,000 over the grand finale weekend in 2013.

It should be noted that Commissioned Research carried out at COOLY ROCKS ON in 2012 revealed the estimated total economic impact of overnight and day visitor expenditure was $29,309,062, more than $11 million dollars up on last year.

Brisbane, Toowoomba and the Gold Coast provided the main geographic markets for COOLY ROCKS ON, providing 46% of visitors.

The report also indicated that many attended in groups this year, some as large as 50 people, from as far away as New Zealand and Western Australia. It was further reported that event tourists spent an average of $680 per person and day trippers $114 per person so it all adds up to a huge influx of dollars into the economy to benefit shops, businesses and accommodation providers on both sides of the border.

Visitor numbers were also up last year on the previous year with Queensland Police estimating the 2012 crowd at around 78,000.

Most visitors came from Queensland (63.5%) and New South Wales (21.8%). International visitors increased from .08% last year to 2.4% in 2012. More than 65% of visitors travelled more than 50km to attend COOLY ROCKS ON.

90% of visitors came to Coolangatta and Tweed Heads specifically for COOLY ROCKS ON including most interstate and international visitors. Other visitors lived or worked in the area (8.5%), were on holidays (0.6%) or just passing through (0.6%).