Events

Friday, June 10, 2011

Katherine - Barunga Festival (Outback Festivals)

Forget about waiting every 4 years for the Olympics to shape up, just head to Burunga around June for a real sporting experience.  Around 20 indigenous community groups from across the Top End gather to compete, celebrate and catch up.

The groups test compete in traditional sports including spear throwing, fire lighting, playing the didgeridoo. After the traditional competitions are decided, the groups take part in more contemporary competitions. They play Australian Rules football and basketball and race against each other for athletic glory.

And you can experience it too. The festival's organisers have opened this celebration up to visitors, so you get to sample a diverse range of food, watch the sporting competitions and the traditional dances, and learn more about one of the world's oldest cultures.

Barunga Festival is one of Australia's longest running Aboriginal festivals, located four hours away from Darwin.

Held every year over the June long weekend with community people welcoming visitors from Friday until Monday afternoon for the alcohol and drug free event. 

The festival weekend is a unique opportunity to come and be part of a remote Aboriginal community, and share in the Jawoyn culture.

Over the weekend, visitors are invited to camp in the community, be part of dancing ceremonies, share traditional bush tucker, make their own didgeridu to take home, and enjoy the many cultural activities on offer.