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Markets
Mindil Beach Markets – Thursday and Sunday from 5pm, April to October every year
Experience the atmosphere and flavours of the famous sunset markets.
Enjoy the tropical night air at Darwin’s Mindil Beach Sunset Markets every Thursday and Sunday evening between May and October. The markets have a multitude of stalls offering international cuisine, arts, crafts and entertainment. Their unique combination of great food and an electric atmosphere make a visit a must do.
Nightcliff Markets – every Sunday 8am to 2pm all year round
Unwind and feel the ambience of the Nightcliff Markets. Set in the attractive Nightcliff Shopping Centre the markets are an ideal place for a lazy Sunday coffee or a cool and refreshing tropical fruit salad.
A casual wander around Nightcliff Markets will likely unearth an unusual bargain or a unique gift for a friend. Stalls display a wide variety of original crafts such as copper sculptures, fairy dresses, hemp designer clothing and traditional Asian crafts. Browse through the many stalls specialising in recycled products like hardware, furniture, clothing, gardening, compact discs, books and collectables.
Parap Village Market, every Saturday until 2pm morning all year round
The Parap Village Market is a great place to shop and a favourite among locals and visitors alike. Browse the markets, winding through stalls of local produce, local arts and crafts, entertainment and delicious cuisine from around the world. This Saturday morning market has become an institution and ritual among locals who just couldn’t survive a weekend without their Saturday morning laksa, satay prawns or fresh tropical smoothie. The markets are open from 8am to 2pm evey Saturday.
Rapid Creek Markets, every Sunday 6.30am to 1.30pm
Darwin's oldest market is situated only 20 minutes from Darwin city, in the Rapid Creek Business Village. Come on down for a massage, followed with a relaxing Sunday brunch, before browsing the stalls for fresh organic produce, Asian fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, exotic plants, flowers and seafood. You’ll also find a range of local handmade crafts for that special gift.
Darwin Festival
11 AUG 2011 - 28 AUG 2011
Various venues around Darwin
The Darwin Festival program provides a feast of local, national and international performances to excite, inspire and entertain.
There are few festivals around the world that can boast the weather that Darwin has and this is what makes it a perfect festival town. Held in August, the festival includes everything from free outdoor events to theatre, dance, music, cabaret, films, workshops and comedy, not to mention the sensational cuisine. Running for 18 nights, with over 70 productions, 112 events and performances and over 1,000 international, national and Territory artists and cultural groups, the Darwin Festival reflects the indigenous, Asian and Pacific cultures of the region.
Event types
Darwin Turf Club Gala Ball
30 JUL 2011 - 30 JUL 2011
The Lawns
SKYCITY Darwin Gilruth Avenue
The Gardens, Darwin
Northern Territory, 0820
Darwin's social event of the dry - entertainment, fabulous food and atmosphere.
If you are yet to attend the Darwin Turf Club Gala Ball don’t hesitate any longer. Words, friends or photographs can not describe the experience of attending one of Australia's largest outdoor seated dinner events, beside the ocean, amidst tropical gardens and under the stars. The celebration is the perfect tribute to the cup carnival and typifies the 'dry' with a clear starry sky, flowing sparkling wine and a social season at fever pitch.
Rotary Club of Darwin North Championship Rodeo
19 AUG 2011 - 20 AUG 2011
Robbie Robins Reserve
Stuart Highway
Berrimah, Darwin
Northern Territory, 0828
The Rotary Club of Darwin North Championship Rodeo offers two nights of action packed entertainment.
Held annually, some of Australia’s leading riders are drawn to Darwin to match their skills against these beasts. Eight seconds of raw courage is the required time needed for these bareback bull riders to ‘master’ the bull in the open bull ride section.
Other events included Roping Saddle Bronc, calf roping, team roping, breakaway roping, barrel races and the Junior Champion titles. There’ll be food and drink stalls available on both nights as well as plenty of entertainment for the kids. And of course, the ever-reliable and brave rodeo clown(s) will be there.
At the conclusion of the events each night, there’s time to kick up your heels and dance the night away.
The Rotary is proud to be affiliated with the Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA) and the rodeo is fully endorsed by them.
Royal Darwin Show
21 JUL 2011 - 23 JUL 2011
Darwin Showgrounds and Exhibition Centre
Tate Place
Winnellie, Darwin
Northern Territory, 0820
Share in the delights of one of Darwin’s premier events celebrates 60 years.
The Royal Darwin Show is the premier event on the Top End community calendar, where city and country come together for three days of competition, entertainment and displays of primary industry, horticulture, art, craft, cooking and photography. The official opening is on the Friday, followed by a grand parade of livestock and machinery. Visitors can enjoy equestrian events, sideshow rides, varied live entertainment and a wide assortment of food and drink stalls that reflect the multicultural nature of Darwin.
Over 240 stalls display a wide variety of products and information and the animal nursery is extremely popular. Horses feature throughout from dressage and show jumping to working stock horses and polocrosse matches. The show closes with a spectacular fireworks finale.
Santos Opening Concert
11 AUG 2011 - 11 AUG 2011
The Amphitheatre
George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens Gardens Road
The Gardens, Darwin
Northern Territory, 0820
Sit back and be immerse yourself in a cultural mixture of indigenous and non-indigenous music.
The annual free Santos Opening Concert is part of the Darwin Festival and is one of the most awaited events of the festival. This is a huge night of music, featuring some of the Territory’s best talent, and some of Australia’s finest indigenous musicians.
This is an event for locals and visitors, young and old. Watch the sun set over the ocean and then sit back and enjoy the live music and entertainment under the stars.
Territory Day
01 JUL 2011 - 01 JUL 2011
Various venues
Telephone +61 (8) 8999 7981
Around Darwin
Darwin
Northern Territory, 0800
Territory Day is one of the most spectacular events on the festival calendar. For one day only the Territory lights up in a rainbow of rockets, bangers and Roman candles.
Celebrating the anniversary that self governance was handed down to the Territory by the Commonwealth Government, Territorians and visitors alike gather for public fireworks shows. They also compete with one another to produce the most brilliant pyrotechnics display on the only day of the year where people are allowed to light fireworks.
Mindil Beach in Darwin is a popular vantage point to watch the spectacular. With delicious food from the markets, people can picnic on the sand as they watch the fireworks burst and sparkle over the Timor Sea.
For an update events list, visit the Travel NT website
