Jewelz is the founder of Hoopy Happenings, an annual hula hooping weekend that began in 2010

The last Hoopy Happenings was held in 2023 and currently we’re taking a hiatus.

Follow the Hoopy Happenings Facebook page for updates.

Australia’s first all inclusive hoop retreat with delicious vegan/vegetarian food, dorm accommodation, all workshops have international and national instructors, a Cabaret night, a Fire/LED evening and Renegade.

The retreats are intimate affairs with numbers limited to 26 participants – just like a big pyjama party – just add hoops! 

Hoopy Happenings are a welcoming space to share, to learn and to connect with community.

Hoopy Happenings: A Legacy of Hoopy Loopy Happiness

From 2010 to 2023, Hoopy Happenings was Australia’s first all-inclusive hula hoop retreat, bringing together hoopers from all over to learn, play, share, create, and perform. Founded by Jewelz A Hoopz, the event began as a simple idea sparked at the Tasmanian Circus Festival in 2009—why, Jewelz asked, wasn’t there an Australian hoop festival?

Determined to make it happen, Jewelz launched the first Hoopy Happenings Down Under in 2010 at Govinda Valley, an idyllic bushland retreat near the Royal National Park. The retreat later found its long-term home at Heathcote Scout Camp, where hoopers enjoyed the beauty of nature, rustic accommodations, and world-class hooping instruction.

Hoopy Happenings ‘happened’ 11 times over 14 years (there was a  hiatus in 2013 due to personal circumstances and two cancellations during the COVID-19 pandemic), Each year there was an incredible lineup of both Australian and international instructors, fostering deep connections within the hooping community. The retreat was “intimate, inclusive, and immersive”, featuring hoop workshops, fire and LED jams, a legendary Cabaret Night, and of course, breathtaking sunsets over Heathcote National Park.

In 2012, Jewelz received a grant from the Ian Potter Cultural Trust, embarking on a research tour to learn from global hooping events, UK Hoop Gathering, Hoop Camp (USA),  European Hoop Convention, German Hoop Convention, and Hoopurbia (Berlin),This international experience inspired her to bring world-class hoopers to Australia, enriching the retreat’s offerings.

After more than a decade of unforgettable experiences, 2023 marked the final Hoopy Happenings. While the retreat ended, its spirit lives on in the vibrant hooping community it nurtured. Jewelz made the difficult decision to step away, focusing on new creative projects like her preschool touring shows and navigating life’s ever-evolving journey.

Though Hoopy Happenings as an annual retreat has come to a close, the story isn’t over. New Hoopy Happenings gatherings creating “Hoopy Loopy Happiness” may appear in the future, so stay tuned!

For a deeper dive into the full history, read the blog post here: