Looking for an excuse to visit the Northern Territory this year? From the Top End down to the Red Centre, the Territory is home to a rich program of events and festivals. Take in the lights at Parrtjima – A Festival in Light, celebrating the oldest continuous living culture on Earth, or feast on delicious traditional food at A Taste of Kakadu. If you're a music fan, be sure to check out BLACKEN Festival in Alice Springs, and head to Darwin for BASSINTHEGRASS to see some of the biggest names in Australian music. Experience the Territory's quirky side at the Alice Springs Beanie Festival or get your heart rate pumping as part of the Australian Outback Marathon. From cultural experiences to historical events, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
FABalice Festival
Alice Springs, 8-10 March 2019
Charisma Belle, Minnie Cooper, DJ Kitty Glitter and more invite you to the latest festival heating up the Red Centre! The inaugural FABalice Festival is a three-day event inspired by the original cult movie The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The festival will showcase the iconic destination of Alice Springs layered with comedy, cabaret and social activities which pay homage to the film and stage musical. To be held annually on the weekend following Mardi Gras in Sydney, FABalice extends the rainbow celebrations across the country to the beating heart of Australia.
Tiwi Islands Grand Final and Art Sale
Tiwi Islands, 17 March 2019
Bringing together the region's love of AFL and traditional Tiwi art in an immersive experience, the Grand Final and Art Sale is a must-see if you're in the area. Located on Bathurst Island, you'll have the unique chance to view and buy Tiwi artwork directly from the artist, and then kick back later in the day to watch the footy grand final.
Territory Tribute: International Military Writers' Festival
Darwin, 5-7 April 2019
If you're a history buff, the International Military Writers' Festival is not to be missed. This three-day festival features author talks, panel discussions and literary sessions bringing together writers, historians and researchers from around Australia to entertain, inform and inspire those with a passion for wartime history. There are over 20 sessions to choose from, including an evening address from festival ambassador Peter FitzSimons and a welcome address by His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC.
Parrtjima – A Festival in Light
Alice Springs, 5-14 April 2019
The annual Parrtjima – A Festival in Light returns to Alice Springs Desert Park in 2019, moving from its original dates in September to 5-14 April. Hailed as the first authentic Aboriginal light festival of its kind, Parrtjima is a 10-day event which uses cutting-edge technology to showcase the oldest continuous living culture on Earth on a 300-million-year-old natural canvas – the MacDonnell Ranges. Aboriginal artists are invited to participate in the event which involves music, live painting, workshops, talks and stories. This year's theme is Language Expression, coinciding with the United Nations' Year of Indigenous Languages. Local Arrernte elders selected the festival name which comes from a group of languages and means 'shedding both light and understanding on a subject'. We're confident you'll leave with a glow.
Parrtjima - A Festival In Light
Outback Cycling Easter in the Alice
Alice Springs, 19 – 22 April 2019
Explore Alice on two wheels as part of the Outback Cycling Easter in the Alice, a three-day stage mountain bike race designed to let you take in all the wonder of the Red Centre while satisfying your sporting needs. Ride the amazing flowing single-track under a blanket of deep blue sky while taking in the magnificent views of the MacDonnell Ranges. The route covers 130km of awe-inspiring landscapes with a shorter 70km route available for those keen on a gentler ride.
Explore Alice on two wheels as part of the Outback Cycling Easter in the Alice, a three-day stage mountain bike race designed to let you take in all the wonder of the Red Centre while satisfying your sporting needs. Ride the amazing flowing single-track under a blanket of deep blue sky while taking in the magnificent views of the MacDonnell Ranges. The route covers 130km of awe-inspiring landscapes with a shorter 70km route available for those keen on a gentler ride.
Alice Springs, 20-21 April 2019
A wacky weekend where women toss their boots and the locals race donkeys over Easter? Count us in! Perched 130 kilometres north of Alice Springs and a lifetime away from convention, witness cowboys and cowgirls battle it out in one of the country's most extreme rodeo events. Snatch pole position ringside at the Junior and Open Gymkhana on the Saturday morning, experience the notorious Mexican donkey race, and kick your heels up during the Ladies Boot Throwing Competition (sharp stilettos are discouraged). There's also tug-of-war, the Easter Bunny, bush dancing, DJ, plus plenty of camping. Staged in Aileron, home to the Big Aboriginal Statue - a steel, wire and cement sculpture of the Anmatjere Man with woman and child – this is your ultimate bush-bashing adventure.
Territory Tribute: Overture to Peace
Darwin, 24 April 2019
On the eve of ANZAC Day, acclaimed artists, musicians, Aboriginal performers and Defence Service Members will converge on Darwin for a spectacular free live concert. Directed by Australian musician and creative director John Foreman OAM and featuring performances from Human Nature, Dami Im, Marina Prior and the Darwin Symphony Orchestra, this concert promises to be a unique and emotive ceremonial event taking audiences on a journey to learn and appreciate Australian military history.
Territory Tribute: ANZAC Day Dawn Service and ANZAC Day Parade
Darwin, 25 April 2019
Hear the bugle sound in the dawn light and pay respect to serving Defence Personnel past and present at Darwin's annual ANZAC Day Dawn Service – a big event on the Top End social calendar. After the service, join the crowd of thousands to line the street and see Service Personnel and Veterans march or visit one of the region's military museums or historical sites.
Territory Tribute: World's Greatest Two-Up School
Darwin, 25 April 2019
The World's Greatest Two-Up School is sure to be an event to remember, with the community coming together to partake in this unique Australian tradition on the only day of the year it's legal. Join the crowds for rousing calls of “come in spinner!” and try your luck at the 'dance' of two pennies.
BLACKEN Festival
Alice Springs, 4-5 May 2019
Alice Cooper, eat your heart out. The Northern Territory is poised to deliver heavy metal, Alice Springs-style. One of the most sought-after events on the national heavy metal music scene, BLACKEN is moving to a new location this year at the mouth of the ancient N'Dhala Gorge. This colourful camping festival attracts more than 30 bands performing across two stages. The fierce line-up includes Southeast Desert Metal, Hell Machine and BADMATHS. Want more nocturnal activities with a little less head banging? Head to Alice Springs Desert Park, where 10 minutes from the city centre you'll encounter one of the world's largest nocturnal desert houses. The wildlife here, such as the bilby and mala, may be as hairy as your average rocker but slightly more coy, and we guarantee it's your heart strings, not guitar strings, which they'll tug at.
A Taste of Kakadu
Kakadu, 10-19 May 2019
A food festival 65,000 years in the making? Sounds good enough to eat. The World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park is bursting with abundance of fresh food including the Kakadu plum, which has been identified as the single natural food source with the highest levels of vitamin C on the planet. But don't just take our word for it. Embrace this 10-day program of locally-inspired food exploration and events. Indulge all your senses with pop-up dining experiences, traditional ground oven feasts, handcrafted menus from celebrity chefs, forage walks with traditional owners, brunch, canape cruises on bird-lined billabongs, and ancestral stories and cultural workshops. Feast on everything from barramundi
to ground oven buffalo, learn modern cooking twists on ancient traditions, and simply come back down to Earth, Territory style. We've saved you a seat around the fire.
to ground oven buffalo, learn modern cooking twists on ancient traditions, and simply come back down to Earth, Territory style. We've saved you a seat around the fire.
BASSINTHEGRASS Music Festival
Darwin, 19 May 2019
With a new seaside location and twelve of the hottest hours in Australian music, this year's BASSINTHEGRASS is set to be the biggest and best Darwin has ever seen. Think back-to-back beats, laid-back vibes and a killer line-up of more than 18 artists, including ARIA winners and some of the biggest names in Aussie music. Australia, you're going to hear Darwin roar! If you want more grunt as part of your Darwin visit, be sure to visit Crocosaurus Cove, the largest exhibition of Australian reptiles in the world with some of the largest Northern Territory saltwater crocodiles on display. From rock to croc, Darwin's got the lot.
Garrmalang Festival
Darwin, 23-26 May 2019
Join indigenous Artistic Director Gary Lang in Darwin on a jaunty journey which showcases Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, dancers, musicians and performers from remote communities. Garrmalang Festival is the only festival in the Northern Territory exclusively showcasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent. Gather at the Darwin Entertainment centre on the Garrmalang land of the local Larrakia people to share stages, stories, forums and songs.
Uluru Camel Cup
Uluru, 24-25 May 2019
All class and no grass – it's like the Melbourne Cup, with some extra humps thrown in. Visitors can enjoy all the racing action and fashion you'd expect from a trackside event, but against a stunning desert backdrop in Australia's Red Centre. While camels may have a reputation as dedicated 'ships of the desert', these ornery creatures are not short on personality, making for fantastic spectator viewing. On and off the track there's lots to see with entertainment including stock whip demonstrations, wheel barrow races, kids' sack race and even a camel dung throwing competition.
Darwin, 25-26 May 2019
Join Manu Feildel and some of the country's most notable gourmands to sample the best food and wine in the Top End at the Territory Taste Festival. For one weekend, Northern Territory producers, farmers, growers, suppliers and bush harvest experts showcase the culinary delights of the NT. Guests are set to enjoy more than 40 food and wine stalls, masterclasses, demonstrations, a producers' pavilion and live music throughout the weekend. The event promises to be bigger and better in 2019, moving to a brand-new location at the Darwin Cruise Shop Terminal and adjoining Fort Hill Wharf.
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