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“If the energy across WA’s pubs during Friday night’s Preliminary Final with Fremantle was anything to go by, your local is set to be the best seat in the house for this weekend.”
So said Australian Hotels Association (WA) CEO Brad Woods this week on the eve of probably Fremantle’s biggest weekend since the America’s Cup. Woods also pointed to the Wallabies Test going down on Sunday at Optus, along with the fact it’s a long weekend, as a nice little booster for our hospo scene as we emerge from our winter hibernation.
He’s not wrong either — with cozzie livs at the front of everyone’s mind and one too many cafe raves for our liking in 2026, it’s been nice to see some packed pubs pulling a few extra pints for the punters over the past few weeks. And wherever this rollicking Freo Dockers rollercoaster takes us on Saturday, we hope we can keep saying “pubs are so back” around the office for the rest of the year and beyond.
Troy Mutton, Editor-In-Chief, Perth is OK!
EVENTS
Farewell Wave Rock, Part Two: Famous faces, wild nights and festival folklore
Over 20 editions, Wave Rock Weekender has built up the kind of mythology most festivals could only dream of.
Future superstars playing before they were famous. International visitors forming deep connections with the landscape. Actual laws being amended hours before doors open. Dancefloors going long after closing time.
At the centre of it all has been festival founder Paul Sloan (Sloanie, to…well, everyone) who has watched the Weekender grow from a 128-person experiment into one of Western Australia’s most beloved music gatherings (read that story here).
With the festival preparing for its 21st and final edition this weekend, Sloan looks back on the people, performances and moments that made it what it became.
THE LATEST FROM PERTH IS OK!
NEWS
Public transport will be free for all this Saturday
Announced on Tuesday, the State Government revealed it will be making public transport free this Saturday as the Dockers get ready to take on the Brisbane Lions in their first Grand Final appearance in 13 years.
SPONSORED
A magical introduction to ballet is coming to Perth this October
Storytime Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty is coming to the Heath Ledger Theatre for a run of special performances created with young audiences in mind.
NEWS
Fremantle Hospital opens doors to WA’s first 24/7 mental health crisis centre
The new mental health facility opened within Fremantle Hospital offering an alternative emergency department for people experiencing mental health distress.
WIN
Win a $2000 Crown Voucher and four one-year Revo Fitness memberships!
In case you missed it, we’ve teamed up with Revo to give away a massive $2,000 Crown Perth voucher, plus four 12-month Revo Fitness Level Two memberships.
TODAY/TONIGHT
Negroni Week at the State Buildings
Negroni Week descends on State Buildings with five interpretations across five venues — Beer Corner, Long Chim, Petition Kitchen, Wildflower, and Post, plus there’s DJ sets, pizza specials, and more to discover.
WHAT'S ON
What’s on around Perth this long weekend — including a HEAP of places showing the footy
Well, one of the sweetest long weekends of the year has arrived, and we’re sure there are plenty of you only interested in one thing.
Read on for a heap of different places to watch the big game, along with plenty of other things to do over the King’s Birthday long weekend.
CCAPTUREDC
‘Gram of the Week
Once more with feeling!
In the lead-up to last week’s Prelim win against Sydney, we spoke to a few Freo folks to find out what it means for the community.