Northern Territory Festival and Cultural Events
Festivals and Cultural Events in Northern Territory
For more information about festivals and events, call the Northern Territory Holiday Centre on 1800 621 336 or visit the website at www.ntholidays.com.au or www.darwinarts.com.au.
January 2007
- Australia Day Celebrations – Batchelor
The Coomalie region celebrates Australia Day at the Batchelor Area School's multipurpose hall with a family fun day. The Council provides an Aussie-style breakfast, and entertaining events are organised for children and adults alike.
- Australia Day Celebrations – Alice Springs
Local celebrations commencing with a formal flag-raising and citizenship ceremony conducted in the surroundings of the Old Telegraph Station.
- Australia Day – Tennant Creek
Activities at the Mary Ann Dam north of town – a day for the family, from the official flag-raising to the very unofficial tug-of-war competition.
February 2007
- Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin
Annual commemoration of the World War II Japanese attacks on 19 February 1942 that destroyed much of the city and killed 252 defence personnel and civilians.
- Queens Baton Day – 6 February
Alice Springs will host the 13th day of the Commonwealth Games Baton Relay with a Community Celebration in Todd Mall.
- NRL pre-season match
The Penrith Panthers and Newcastle Knights meet under lights at Anzac Oval in Alice Springs.
- Imparja Cup
A five-day indigenous cricket carnival held at Traeger Park in Alice Springs.
March 2007
- Central Australia Expo
An opportunity for businesses to showcase their expertise at this two-day event in Alice Springs.
- Tiwi Islands Art Festival and AFL Grand Final
A weekend of art and footie at Bathurst Island. Works available will be paintings, prints, carvings, pandanus baskets, pottery and screenprinted fabric.
- Larrimah Irish Ashes Cricket Weekend
A very Irish weekend event, bush cricket at Larrimah Sports and Recreational Oval.
- Alice IS Wonderland Festival
Gay and lesbian fun festival and Spin F-X dance party held in Alice Springs.
- Kakadu Klash
Barramundi 'photograph and release' fishing competition at the South Alligator River. Tides determine the weekend of this competition.
April 2007
- Reel Women Barra Classic – Shady Camp
Held at the saltwater section of the Mary River, the Reel Women Classic attracts local, interstate and now international teams of female fishing enthusiasts.
- Alice Springs Heritage Festival
A week of activities celebrating the history of Central Australia – re-enactments of historic events, displays, demonstrations of old-time skills, guided tours and much more.
- Boorooloola Barra Classic
Annual Easter fishing event hosted by King Ash Bay Fishing Club, attracting anglers from all over Australia.
- Lest We Forget Run
An 8km event in recognition of the distance our ANZAC heroes were required to conquer upon landing at Gallipoli. The event is designed to capture the ANZAC spirit while raising funds for RSL-nominated charities.
- Alice Springs Cup Carnival
A month of horseracing activities with the stunning backdrop of the MacDonnell Ranges at Pioneer Park Racecourse.
May 2007
- Pine Creek Goldrush Festival
Family fun afternoon in the main street of Pine Creek. A celebration of the pioneering heritage, with historic buildings open to the public and much more.
- Country Music Muster
A weekend for country music lovers at Katherine.
- Bangtail Muster
Annual parade in Alice Springs’ Todd Street Mall, celebrating the cattle industry and stockmen.
- XXXX Gold Barra Nationals – Daly River
The Barra Nationals is an annual fishing competition held at Banyan Farm on the famous Daly River. It is hosted by the Palmerston Game Fishing Club and has been running since 1996.
- Molly’s Bash Bush Concert
Annual fundraising event with all proceeds going to the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame. Held on Mother’s Day weekend at Old Andado Homestead at the edge of the Simpson Desert.
- Tennant Creek Cup
Annual horserace meeting attracting starters from all over the Northern Territory, with on-course entertainment. Three full days of go-kart racing on the streets of Tennant Creek.
- Central Australian Bike Challenge
Seven-stage event traversing various areas of the majestic MacDonnell Ranges. Six days of racing will follow each stage and finish close to Alice Springs or nearby tourist accommodation.
- The Fred's Pass Rural Show
An old-fashioned country show just south of Darwin, celebrating the arts, crafts and rural life of people from Darwin's rural areas.
- Mindil Beach Markets
Held from May to October, Thursdays 5pm–10pm. Over 200 local artisans and craftspeople display a variety of goods as well as arts and crafts from around the world. Food stalls feature cuisine from 20 countries. Be entertained by a variety of buskers, tarot readers, local and travelling musicians. Enjoy uninterrupted views of the sunset from the beach and grassed areas.
June 2007
- Palmerston Troppo Festival
A fun day of free family entertainment, delicious food and activities. Also featuring the annual photography competition and Grace Sivell quilt acquisition.
- Northern Territory Country Music Talent Quest - Adelaide River
A feast of country music, bringing together the best country music artists the Territory has to offer.
- Merrepean Arts Festival
A one-day festival for the display and sale of arts and crafts from Nauiyu Nambiyu and some regional communities.
- Myrniong International Wine and Food Festival
Held in Darwin.
- Round the Islands Yacht Race
Yacht race on the June long weekend, sailed around both Melville and Bathurst Islands before returning to the Darwin Sailing Club.
- ABC Brunette Downs Races
Bush race meeting, rodeo, campdraft, race ball and entertainment.
- Tattersall’s Finke Desert Race
Australia's fastest desert race for bikes, cars and buggies, attracting thousands of spectators camping along the 230km track from Alice Springs to Finke.
- Red Cross Canoe Marathon – Katherine Gorge
The major annual fundraising event for the Katherine Red Cross including gymkhana, racing, rodeo, campdraft, bronco branding and presentation ball and a three-day canoe race.
- Pine Creek Races
Bush race meeting at the historic mining town of Pine Creek, 230km south of Darwin.
- Northern Territory Orchid Spectacular
Hosted by the Rotary Club of Darwin, Sunrise and the Litchfield Orchid Club and held at Marrara Indoor Stadium, Darwin.
July 2007
- Northern Territory Self-government Day
A sausage sizzle and spectacular fireworks display.
- NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Observance Committee) Week
A week in which the achievements of Indigenous people are recognised and celebrated.
- V8 Supercars Championship Series, Round 7
A premier event in the national sports calendar, the Darwin race provides perfect weather, excellent organisation, enthusiastic crowds and a great track for the event.
- Royal Darwin Show
Premier Northern Territory family event – agricultural show displaying the best of the Northern Territory – arts, crafts, cooking, cattle, horses, poultry, small livestock, commerce and industry. Other major shows in the circuit are at Katherine, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.
- Voyages Alice Springs Lions Camel Cup Carnival
Annual camel races held in Alice Springs. Following the races is Pocamelo – polo on camels.
- 2007 Darwin Multihull Regatta
A week of racing hosted by the Darwin Sailing Club.
- Tennant Creek Show
Annual agricultural show held at Jubilee Park with sideshow alley, arts and crafts, equestrian events and more.
- Darwin Beer Can Regatta
Annual beach event featuring craft made entirely of beer cans.
August 2007
- Beach to Bridge Swim and Run
A 1.5km safe, supervised open water swim out from Casuarina Beach and a 6km run towards Rapid Creek Bridge, organised by the Darwin Surf Lifesaving Club.
- Darwin Festival
An annual celebration refecting Darwin’s multicultural mix and its association with the region, with over 50,000 attending 200 events and performances including music, dance, theatre and visual arts.
- Garma Festival – Arnhem Land
Australia's leading indigenous cultural event, the Garma Festival incorporates music, art, craft and dance and other cultural experiences.
- Darwin Cup Carnival
The Melbourne Cup of the Top End attracting thousands of visitors to a week of racing, parties and fashion events.
- Harts Range Amateur Race Club Bush Sports Weekend
Held over the Picnic Day long weekend, the Bush Sports feature gymkhana, bull ride, ute competition, stockhorse races, family sports day, lizard races and plenty more. The highlight is the Harts Range Ball on the Saturday night.
- Old Timers Fete
The largest annual fete in Alice Springs raising funds for the Old Timers Village. A fun-filled family day with entertainment, craft stalls, preserves, cakes, food and bric-a-brac.
- Alice Springs Rodeo
Part of the Australian Professional Rough-riders Association official circuit, the country's top professional cowboys and cowgirls battle for top honours in bronco and bull riding, roping and barrel racing events.
September 2007
- DESERTsong – Australia’s Festival of the Desert
A wonderful tapestry of local talent and interstate productions, from scrap yard sculptors to Puccini opera.
- Henley-on-Todd
A madcap waterless wonder, the Henley-on-Todd is a dry riverbed regatta where teams compete in homemade canoes propelled by foot. The day starts with a street parade and culminates with the traditional 'Battle of the Boats'.
- Pine Creek Mango Madness Festival
Celebrating the start of the mango harvest in the Northern Territory.
- Daly Waters Campdraft Show and Rodeo
This annual event attracts hordes of dusty utes, cowboys and tourists alike and is a fun and entertaining weekend for all. There is camp drafting, bull and bronco riding, a gymkhana and much more.
October 2007
- Mataranka Barra Classic
Annual barramundi fishing competition held on the Roper River.
- Alice Springs Masters Games
Also known as the 'Friendly Games' when over 900 'masters' compete in 21 different sports, now in its 11th year.
- Australian Desert Golf Classic – Alice Springs
A 54-hole stableford event for male and female club members holding a valid AGU handicap.
- Alice Springs Food and Wine Festival
A showcase of local produce hosted by local wineries and restaurants, with entertainment for all ages.
- Gove Bush Golf Classic
Held at Nhulunbuy on the Gove Peninsula and attracting golfers to Australia’s most northerly course.
- Walkabout Lodge XXXX Gold John Jones Memorial Billfish Challenge – Nhulunbuy.
Organised by the Nhulunbuy Regional Sportfishing Club, this team gamefishing event is dedicated to the memory of past president John Jones. It is a great practice run for the club’s major event, the XXXX Gove Game Classic, also in October, which attracts anglers from interstate and overseas.
November 2007
- Corkwood Festival – Alice Springs
An annual celebration of locally produced art and craft, music, entertainment and food. A chance for Christmas shopping with an appearance by Corkwood's own Bush Santa, complete with thongs and blowies!
- Christmas Craft Fair – Darwin
Held every year in the museum grounds, this is an opportunity to buy unique handmade gifts.
- Alice Prize
A national art competition now in its 35 th year, attracting established and emerging artists from all over Australia.
December 2007
- Tennant Creek Christmas Tree
Annual children's Christmas party, with gifts from Santa and fun for all the kids.
- Darwin Toy and Tucker Run
Annual event by the Ulysses Bikers Club Top End branch, with decorated bikes and ending with a sausage sizzle at Stokes Hill Wharf.
- Alice Springs Town Council Christmas Carnival
An annual pre-Christmas event with twilight market stalls, late night trading, live entertainment on the Flynn Church lawns, the Christmas train for kids, face painting and other activities and a Christmas tree.
- Carols by Candlelight – Darwin city
The pinnacle event of the festive season held at the George Brown Botanic Gardens amphitheatre, with representation from local choirs, bands and soloists and concluding with a fireworks display.