What was the Snake Pit at Scarborough Beach?

The Snake Pit was an open-air beachfront dance floor at Scarborough, famous for rock 'n' roll dances in the 1950s and 1960s.

When was the Snake Pit revival concert?

A free Snake Pit revival rock 'n' roll concert was held on 25 January 2003, attended by about 3,000 people and funded by the City of Stirling.

Are there concerts at Scarborough Beach?

Yes. The foreshore amphitheatre and beachfront host concerts, festivals and events, especially in summer.

Where can I find events at Scarborough Beach?

Check the City of Stirling events calendar and the amphitheatre page on Scarboro.info for upcoming events.

What is Scarborough's beach culture like?

Relaxed and outdoorsy, centred on surfing, swimming, sunsets, food, live music and surf life saving.

Is Scarborough known for nightlife?

Yes. Scarborough has been one of Perth's best-known party beaches since the Snake Pit days and still has lively bars and pubs.

Scarborough Beach Culture Perth | Rock 'n' Roll, the Snake Pit & Beach Concerts

Beach culture at a glance

The Snake Pit: Scarborough's famous open-air beachfront dance floor, where young Perth danced to rock 'n' roll in the 1950s and 1960s.
Revival: about 3,000 people attended a free Snake Pit revival concert on 25 January 2003, funded by the City of Stirling.
Today: concerts, festivals and events at the foreshore amphitheatre and along The Esplanade.

Crowd at the Snake Pit rock and roll revival concert, Scarborough Beach — Around 3,000 people at the 2003 Snake Pit revival concert.

The Snake Pit and Scarborough's rock 'n' roll years

In the 1950s and 1960s, Scarborough was where young Perth went to dance. The Snake Pit, an open-air dance floor beside the beach, became legendary for rock 'n' roll nights, and the era shaped Scarborough's reputation as Perth's party beach. Australian pop stars such as Little Pattie were part of the era's sound.

The Snake Pit revival

On 25 January 2003, around 3,000 people came to a free retro rock 'n' roll concert reviving the Snake Pit, funded by the City of Stirling. Another City of Stirling-sponsored rock 'n' roll concert followed on 17 January 2004, with dancers in 1950s outfits bringing the beachfront back to life.

Rock and roll dancers at a Scarborough Beach concert — Rock 'n' roll dancers at Scarborough, January 2004.

Festivals, parades and concerts

Scarborough's multicultural community celebrates on the beachfront too — a Hindu street parade wound through Scarborough in January 2002. Beachfront concerts, such as Grinspoon's performance in March 2001 with fans crowd-surfing, showed the area's love of live music. Today the redeveloped foreshore and amphitheatre host regular concerts, festivals, markets and sporting events — see arts and performing arts and nightlife.

Beach culture today

Scarborough culture is relaxed and outdoors: dawn surfs, sunset swims, barbecues, street food and music. It is also home to Australian surf life saving traditions, celebrated at the Scarboro Surf Life Saving Club.