Get the scoop at HOTA’s dreamy ice-cream and entertainment fest
One might think the pairing of ice-cream and circus make for strange bedfellows, but when you think about it, they make the perfect combo. Gourmet ice-cream and world-class circus acts are both things worth seeking out, while our jaws drop at the sight of inventive displays of performance theatre and inspired culinary creations alike. SCOOP! is a new three-day summertime celebration that is bringing a jam-packed program of cool circus, cabaret and acrobatic performances to HOTA this weekend, serving them up with a sprinkling of decadent desserts, pop-up bars, live music and more.
For three days and two nights (Friday January 15 to Sunday January 17), HOTA will not only be Home of the Arts, but also home to some of the state’s best performance-theatre artists and ice-cream makers. SCOOP! is a multi-sensory celebration of cabaret and sundaes that will feature sessions of live performances from some top-notch Queensland troupes, as well as icy treats from phenomenal local dessert makers. The live entertainment component will feature a range of works – many of which have been commissioned by HOTA – from groups such as Circa (who will be bringing a new performance piece choreographed by Elise May), Company 2 (whose new work The Wired Moon and the Ice Cream Floor will see courageous performers tightrope across Lake Evandale), Hoopla Clique, Flipside Circus and the Gold Coast Mermaids Synchronised Swimming Club. During the day guests will be able to mingle in pop-up beer gardens, enjoy sideshow rides and even take a dip in the lake. When the sun sets on Friday and Saturday, the site will transform into CLUB SCOOP! – a lively party precinct featuring a new set of evening performances and boozy ice-cream concoctions. After-dark performances will include SCOOP! Saloon (hosted by drag glam squad the Thicc Shake Crew), Collider by Circa (taking place inside an inflatable installation on HOTA lake), and Voodoo Revue – a daredevil sideshow hosted by The Space Cowboy and featuring The Pain-Proof Pin-Up Zoe L’amore, Phoebe Blue the Sizzling Siren of Sideshow and Lolly Pop the Acrobatic Archer.
In addition to the entertainment, SCOOP!’s Ice Cream Alley will play host to 30 vendors, each dispensing indulgent treats to take the edge off the summer heat. Making an appearance at the festival will be the likes of Ipswich dessert destination Ungermann Brothers, traditional gelato makers La Macelleria Gelateria, plant-based powerhouse Coco Whip and 2020 success story Doughluxe, which will be slinging a new ice-cream-filled doughnut for the event. If your sweet tooth still seeks satisfaction, SCOOP!’s adults-only Ultimate Ice Cream Experience is something that’ll be right up your alley. Tickets for the experience include a five-course degustation feast, featuring a chef’s selection of sweet and savoury ice-cream-inspired morsels paired with some boozy sips. Sounds sweet, right? Tickets to this ultra-luxe component are available here, while general-admission tickets to SCOOP! can be, well, scooped up here.
To find out more about what’s on in the Gold Coast, head to our Event Guide.
