Major annual and ongoing events in Darwin
Darwin has its share of international
events and, perhaps more stimulating for visitors, some quirky locally-inspired
ones such as the Beer Can Regatta and the Mud Crab Tying Competition.
The events usually take place during the Dry, with August being the
favoured month for the big festivals. Some of the main events
in Darwin include:
- The Festival of Darwin – held in August, The Darwin Festival makes a huge contribution to
art, culture and entertainment in the Northern Territory. Drawing performers
from all over Australia and south-east Asia, the Festival is said to
be the fastest-growing in the southern hemisphere.
- The Beer Can Regatta – also in August, the Regatta requires contestants to construct sailing
craft entirely out of aluminium cans, and race with others. Held
at one of the suburban beaches, the event is a huge success with locals
and visitors. It's run by the combined Lions Clubs of Darwin and
all proceeds are donated to charities.
- The Barra National - an annual competition held at Banyan Farm on the Daly River
about 200km from Darwin. This is serious fishing for one of the
world's most beautiful and delicious fish.
- Bird Week - an ornithologists' and twitchers' dream. Guided walks
and river cruises with world-renowned bird specialists over 3, 4 or
7 days. Expect to see magpie geese, brolgas, large-tailed
nightjars, great-billed herons, white-bellied sea eagles, red-tailed
black cockatoos, rufous owls, black bitterns and many more.
- Mud Crab Tying Competition – mud crabs are said to have the sweetest meat in the world, and this
competition is an effort by their catchers to avoid being pinced, nipped
or stabbed by the crabs' fearsome defence weapons, while tying them
up. The record is three crabs in under 22 seconds.
- National Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Art Awards – attracting hundreds of entries
from established and upcoming artists and showcasing traditional, contemporary
and dynamic styles, both individual and regionally-influenced, the NATSIAA
is renowned for the high quality of its art. The exhibition takes
place at the MAGNT at Conacher Street, Darwin, and becomes a nationally-touring
exhibition. Check details at www.magnt.nt.gov.au.
| event |
contact/description |
time |
| Beer Can Regatta |
beercanregatta@hotmail.com – a family fun day organised by the Lions
clubs of Darwin |
August |
| Bird Week |
PO Box 37420 Winnellie Northern
Territory 0886 – a week of birdwatching in and around Darwin, Mary
River and Kakadu national parks |
August |
| Christmas Craft Fair |
Christmas shopping at its best in
the Museum grounds at Fannie Bay |
End November |
| Daly River Barra
National and NT Barra Classic |
www.happymicks.com.au/fishing.html |
April and May |
| Darwin Cup Carnival |
www.darwinturfclub.org.au – annual horse racing |
August |
| Dragonfly Craft Fair |
Annual craft fair in the Museum grounds
at Fannie Bay |
July |
| Freds Pass Rural
Show |
www.fredspass.org - 28 years of agriculture, horticulture, mining,
manufacture, pastoralism and community fundraising |
May |
| Hi to the Dry Craft
Fair |
Open air craft fair celebrating the
beginning of the Dry season |
April |
| May Day beach party |
Another celebration for the Dry and
the beginning of the swimming season |
May |
| Mud Crab Tying Competition |
Part of the outdoor activities characterising
the Dry |
August |
| National Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards and Exhibition |
The best of indigenous art from all
over Australia and Torres Strait islands. The show becomes a nationally-touring
exhibition. |
August to October |
| Royal Darwin Show |
www.darwinshow.com.au – along the lines of agricultural shows
of other Australian cities: animal showing; showjumping; art and craft;
sideshow alley and plenty of stuff for kids |
End of July |
| The Festival of Darwin |
www.darwinfestival.org.au
Phone: 08 8981 0083
Fax: 08 8941 5457
Email: contact@darwinfestival.org.au |
August |
|
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