Tamara Campbell says that, given the disruptions to live entertainment over the last couple of years, the KISS Arts Fest is celebrating its 10th-ish anniversary this year on 22-24 April.

“We are so excited to be able to bring back the full KISS experience this year,” says Tamara who founded the festival with her husband Dave Evans. They have been its directors ever since.

“We’ve come a long way, and it will continue to grow. We definitely wanted to give Kiama ownership of it before we took it to another level.

“We are so pleased Kiamaites have taken it to their hearts.”

With this in mind, they are introducing Friends of KISS as a way for supporters to give some financial support to the free festival.

“We are asking people to become pashers, rather than kissers,” says Tamara.

“Those who become Friends as individuals, couples or families will get some freebies, a little Pasher badge, first dibs on booking kabaret tickets and even access to a little roped off area next to the main stage.

“It will definitely be the place to be, with like-minded, very cool people.”

This year’s Festival will follow the same successful format, with a few embellishments and treats.

Dave and Tamara

“Same, same but different,” says Tamara with a smile.

“As usual, KISS will start with an adults only Kabaret, featuring all the stars of the festival.

“We’ve secured a great group of acts, including a couple of internationals, and they will be performing their family-friendly acts on the same big main stages the next day.

“We are also bringing back the tree top circus in the fig trees to the east of the site.

“However this year we are expanding out to the site between Penny Whistler and the palm trees, and that will be the base for our big Lighthouse project.

“We are also introducing a busking stage where local acts can perform, and it will also double as a speakers’ corner for those who want to have a rant.”

The Kazador mini-speigeltent will again host acts, as part of a broader season of events (details to come).

The Kazador

With the help of significant funding from Festival Australia, the People’s Lighthouse will really ramp up the lantern workshops and parades of previous years, and move the lantern finale to the Sunday night (public holiday on the Monday).

“We’re going to build it from nothing and decorate it as it gets built, so people will be able to reflect upon the last two years and how great it is to have the lighthouse and celebration and community and events back together again,” says Tamara.

“To get to the replica lighthouse site to help with the build – we hope it’s going to be 10 metres tall – you’ll have to make your way through a cardboard maze full of really exciting characters.

“On Sunday evening, we will parade lanterns to the lighthouse and symbolically light it up from all directions.

“After reflecting on what it has meant to people, we will have a dance party and knock it down!”

On the Saturday evening, Tamara and Dave have planned a fire show and a performance by the Electric Ginger Band.

“People are going to have to bring a jumper so they can stay late,” she warns.

To find out more, or become a Friend, go to www.kissartsfest.com.au