Very Territory Events
There are a lot of random events through out the year, that don't always get advertised that well. They mostly fall in the Dry Season - here are my recommendations so you can plan your holiday around them. Make the most of the Northern Territory
Beer Can Regatta
Usually the second weekend in July. Mindil Beach is packed with boats made out of beer cans. There is a variety of different races and games organised on the beach. It's also an excuse for everyone to bring their dingy's or make shift boats to Mindil and 'raft up'. All the boats get tied together in the low tide, lots of swimming, over sized inflatables, music, and of course beers. Some of the beer can boats are very impressive, with people using an entire years supply of beer cans to craft the boat.
Territory Day aka Cracker Night
1st July. How this night has not been banned already baffles me, but don't try and take this day away from a Territorian. It is the one day a year that it is legal to buy fireworks and set them off. It is not entirely safe, and there are many, many people rushed to the hospital each year. I must say though, it is a really exciting night! From 6pm, when you can legally set them off, the city really goes off, it sounds like you are in a war zone, and it doesn't stop til dawn.
It can be a bit sketchy in some areas, most people don't really know how to safely set them off, and its just mayhem - fireworks shooting off into crowds, flying horizontal along the ground. There are some exclusions zones, there is a section at Mindil Beach where the official fireworks are. These are really impressive if the tied is low, the water acts as a mirror as they are set off on a barge. It is a really fun night, a little nerve racking at times.
Darwin Festival
The month when Darwin's population swells. The festival runs for a two/three weeks in August, and there is something, usually a few things, on every night. Comedy, dance, theatre, talks, circus, plays, readings, music, plus a lot of miscellaneous things that I can't categorise. Heavily community and indigenous focused, but not solely - lots of acts also come from interstate or overseas. Festival park is the central hub, there are food stalls and free entertainment every night, and has a great selection of different cuisines plus a bar, its a great vibe. The whole city feels alive.
https://www.darwinfestival.org.au/
Glenti (Greek Festival) and The Italian Festival
There is a huge Greek population in Darwin - Glenti is a weekend celebration of their culture and food. Usually in June on the Esplanade. There's dancing, singing, amazing fresh seafood, plenty of Yiros, Greek beers and wine, all of their traditional sweets. It runs into the night and can get very busy.
The Italian Festival is a similar weekend, also in May/June but is biannual and held in the Botanical Gardens - amazing fresh pastas and wine, live music and dancing. Really nice atmosphere under the fairy lights through out the tress.. Held 11th May this year ( 2019 ).
Rodeo
Dry Season Only - it runs once a month on Saturdays out at Noonamah, about 30 mins south of Darwin. Great NT experience - there is a band that plays after and it turns into a bit of a bush-doof. Take your swag - lots of people travel from all over the NT and stay the night in the back of their utes.
https://www.tourismtopend.com.au/things-to-do/events/event/83727-noonamah-tavern-rodeo
Adelaide River Races
The Adelaide River Show Society, or ARSS as its affectionately called, has two annual events in June. 'The Races' are usually held on the first weekend, and then there is the 'Show' which is on the Queens Birthday Long Weekend. At the Show there are rodeos, polo cross, camp drafts (what is this? I don't actually know), rides etc.
Adelaide River is about an hour south of Darwin. Stay the night if you can, there are cabins or motel options available. Most people just brings their swags and sleep anywhere. There is a recovery breakfast the next morning. This is a proper rural experience, great for people watching.
https://www.arss.org.au/
Mud Races
Once a month from October to April. I've been a few times and I still don't actually understand what is happening, but lots of loud trucks and cars going around the track in the mud. It's great! Also great that it is BYO drinks and seats, there is food available. Gets very muddy, amazing for mullet watching.
http://www.temra.com.au/index.php/sample-blog/2016-17-Season-dates-announced
Mega Annual Viking Funeral
Held at the Dinah Beach Club in July is exactly what it sounds like, a funeral for a viking. Only the viking is stuffed and made out of straw. The event is to pay tribute to retired vessels and sailers passed away. There is a procession led by the bagpipes that carries the body through the crowd and then out through the water and onto a viking ship, the archers then launch flaming arrows at the ship until it catches fire. Theres lots of cheering and people dress up, its a very local event.
http://www.dbcya.com.au/events/the-mega-annual-viking-funeral/
Darwin Races
Very hot sweaty day to be wearing a suit or formal dress, there are still a lot of locals wearing thongs - so I don't think there is an actually dress code. Usually goes for the whole month of July, and is a pretty big event for the Darwin Turf Club. The main day is Darwin Cup, but there is also Ladies Day, Derby Day, Corporate Day, and a Gala Ball. A good excuse to dress up in Darwin, as there's not too many occasions to do so.
http://darwinturfclub.org.au/
Beer Can Regatta
Usually the second weekend in July. Mindil Beach is packed with boats made out of beer cans. There is a variety of different races and games organised on the beach. It's also an excuse for everyone to bring their dingy's or make shift boats to Mindil and 'raft up'. All the boats get tied together in the low tide, lots of swimming, over sized inflatables, music, and of course beers. Some of the beer can boats are very impressive, with people using an entire years supply of beer cans to craft the boat.
Territory Day aka Cracker Night
1st July. How this night has not been banned already baffles me, but don't try and take this day away from a Territorian. It is the one day a year that it is legal to buy fireworks and set them off. It is not entirely safe, and there are many, many people rushed to the hospital each year. I must say though, it is a really exciting night! From 6pm, when you can legally set them off, the city really goes off, it sounds like you are in a war zone, and it doesn't stop til dawn.
It can be a bit sketchy in some areas, most people don't really know how to safely set them off, and its just mayhem - fireworks shooting off into crowds, flying horizontal along the ground. There are some exclusions zones, there is a section at Mindil Beach where the official fireworks are. These are really impressive if the tied is low, the water acts as a mirror as they are set off on a barge. It is a really fun night, a little nerve racking at times.
Darwin Festival
The month when Darwin's population swells. The festival runs for a two/three weeks in August, and there is something, usually a few things, on every night. Comedy, dance, theatre, talks, circus, plays, readings, music, plus a lot of miscellaneous things that I can't categorise. Heavily community and indigenous focused, but not solely - lots of acts also come from interstate or overseas. Festival park is the central hub, there are food stalls and free entertainment every night, and has a great selection of different cuisines plus a bar, its a great vibe. The whole city feels alive.
https://www.darwinfestival.org.au/
Glenti (Greek Festival) and The Italian Festival
There is a huge Greek population in Darwin - Glenti is a weekend celebration of their culture and food. Usually in June on the Esplanade. There's dancing, singing, amazing fresh seafood, plenty of Yiros, Greek beers and wine, all of their traditional sweets. It runs into the night and can get very busy.
The Italian Festival is a similar weekend, also in May/June but is biannual and held in the Botanical Gardens - amazing fresh pastas and wine, live music and dancing. Really nice atmosphere under the fairy lights through out the tress.. Held 11th May this year ( 2019 ).
Rodeo
Dry Season Only - it runs once a month on Saturdays out at Noonamah, about 30 mins south of Darwin. Great NT experience - there is a band that plays after and it turns into a bit of a bush-doof. Take your swag - lots of people travel from all over the NT and stay the night in the back of their utes.
https://www.tourismtopend.com.au/things-to-do/events/event/83727-noonamah-tavern-rodeo
Adelaide River Races
The Adelaide River Show Society, or ARSS as its affectionately called, has two annual events in June. 'The Races' are usually held on the first weekend, and then there is the 'Show' which is on the Queens Birthday Long Weekend. At the Show there are rodeos, polo cross, camp drafts (what is this? I don't actually know), rides etc.
Adelaide River is about an hour south of Darwin. Stay the night if you can, there are cabins or motel options available. Most people just brings their swags and sleep anywhere. There is a recovery breakfast the next morning. This is a proper rural experience, great for people watching.
https://www.arss.org.au/
Mud Races
Once a month from October to April. I've been a few times and I still don't actually understand what is happening, but lots of loud trucks and cars going around the track in the mud. It's great! Also great that it is BYO drinks and seats, there is food available. Gets very muddy, amazing for mullet watching.
http://www.temra.com.au/index.php/sample-blog/2016-17-Season-dates-announced
Mega Annual Viking Funeral
Held at the Dinah Beach Club in July is exactly what it sounds like, a funeral for a viking. Only the viking is stuffed and made out of straw. The event is to pay tribute to retired vessels and sailers passed away. There is a procession led by the bagpipes that carries the body through the crowd and then out through the water and onto a viking ship, the archers then launch flaming arrows at the ship until it catches fire. Theres lots of cheering and people dress up, its a very local event.
http://www.dbcya.com.au/events/the-mega-annual-viking-funeral/
Darwin Races
Very hot sweaty day to be wearing a suit or formal dress, there are still a lot of locals wearing thongs - so I don't think there is an actually dress code. Usually goes for the whole month of July, and is a pretty big event for the Darwin Turf Club. The main day is Darwin Cup, but there is also Ladies Day, Derby Day, Corporate Day, and a Gala Ball. A good excuse to dress up in Darwin, as there's not too many occasions to do so.
http://darwinturfclub.org.au/
 |
| Territory Day aka Cracker Night |
 |
| Burning Viking Ship at the Viking Funeral |
 |
| Ute full of our fireworks |
 |
| Raft up at Beer Can Regatta |
 |
| Viking Funeral |
 |
| Darwin Cup Races |
 |
| Festival Park at Darwin Festival |
 |
| Boat made out of beer cans - Beer Can Regatta |
 |
| Beer Can Regatta |
 |
| Noonamah Rodeo |
 |
| Noonamah Rodeo |
 |
| Cracker Night |
Comments
Post a Comment