Coffs Harbour is set to lean into its most famous icon in a big way next month, with locals invited to head to Jetty Beach and help create what could become the world’s largest human banana formation.
In a celebration of community pride, local identity and good old-fashioned fun, hundreds of residents are expected to dress in yellow and take their place on the sand on Saturday, 11 April, forming a giant banana in a record attempt that is about as Coffs as it gets.
Hosted by Channel Nine’s Jane DeGraaff alongside Coffs Harbour Mayor Nikki Williams, the event is designed to do more than turn heads. It is also part of a broader push to encourage locals to back Coffs Harbour in the NSW Top Tourism Town Awards and showcase the city as a place with plenty of heart, history and holiday appeal.
Mayor Williams said the idea came from a desire to bring people together in a way that was both memorable and unmistakably local.
“We were brainstorming ideas on how to stoke connection and pride in Coffs residents, and this seemed like a fun idea,” she said.
“We also wanted something that would bring people together and encourage them to express their pride by voting for Coffs in the Top Tourism Town Awards.”
With its rich banana-growing history and long-standing place in Australia’s holiday imagination, Coffs Harbour was always going to be the natural home for a stunt like this.
The banana is more than just a symbol here – it is part of the city’s DNA.
“Our City was built in-part on the back of the banana industry,” Mayor Williams said.
“Many people today have connections to the growers, and the history lives on right across the city.”
And while the record attempt might sound cheeky, the motivation behind it is serious. Organisers want the event to capture the energy, affection and local pride that people feel for the region.
“Coffs is a beautiful, diverse place to live, work and play, and we would like to see the community come together to show how much they love this area,” Mayor Williams said.
“This event at the Jetty is a fun, free and easy way to do it.”
Council is hoping for a big turnout, with the Mayor saying organisers are expecting “hundreds” to join in and help bring the giant banana to life.
If the crowd shows up in force, it will also provide a perfect opportunity to rally votes for Coffs in the statewide tourism awards.
“If we have a large crowd gathered for the attempt, it’s a banana-ripe moment to ask them to vote No.1 for Coffs at the same time,” Mayor Williams said.
“Public voting is an important component of the awards, and success in the competition would help to showcase all that we have to offer.”
Behind the scenes, there is plenty of planning going into making sure the giant banana takes shape on the beach.
“We have had help from our GIS (Geographic Information System) map experts to pinpoint the dimensional shape on the beach for different sized groups,” Mayor Williams said.
The record attempt will also be formally documented, with organisers following submission guidelines including registrations, photos, videos and independent witnesses.
But for all the logistics, the day promises to be a community celebration first and foremost.
Mayor Williams said there would be “lots of fun” with games and giveaways from around 8 am before the banana formation begins to take shape at about 9 am.
The event also links with the revitalised MyCoffs campaign, which is aimed at helping locals become ambassadors for the region by connecting them with local stories, events, free activities and ways to support homegrown businesses.
For anyone wondering whether they should come along, the Mayor’s message is simple.
“Come and join the bunch (pun intended)! It’s free, fun and you can be part of history,” she said.
“Tell your friends and family and help put Coffs on the map as a wonderful place to live and visit.”
On 11 April, Jetty Beach won’t just be a beach, it will be a sea of yellow, laughter, and community pride, as Coffs Harbour comes together to celebrate its past, its people, and a playful moment that could make history.
North Coast Times is new! Connect with us by sending press releases to newsdesk@nctimes.com.au or enquire about advertising with us by emailing ads@nctimes.com.au.