Darwin Festival returns as Australia’s hottest winter arts festival with DF20 Homegrown, running from Thursday 6 to Sunday 16 August.
DF20 is a reimagined event showcasing the Top End’s very best, this year’s Festival program is brimming with exciting live and online events sure to help you re-enter the world in style!
The festivities kick off in Festival Park on Thursday 6 August with an opening night concert, Housewarming supported by Santos, launching attendees into a fabulous weekend of digital and physical offerings.
“Our 2020 Festival program features a line-up of Top End superstars, spanning 48 eclectic events across over 10 Darwin venues. Get pumped for fresh musical collaborations, intriguing theatre and dance performances, roaringly funny comedy and cabaret, stunning backyard concerts, and experimental music from dusk till dawn.”
Felix Preval, Darwin Festival Artistic Director.
Capacity is limited, so make sure you go along early to secure a spot and enjoy the range of food and drink available onsite.
To give you a little taster of what to expect, we’ve put together 6 awesome experiences you 100% do not want to miss at this years’ Darwin Festival:
6. Welcome to Country opening ceremony
Festival Park officially opens on Thursday 6 August with a traditional Welcome to Country ceremony. For the duration of the Festival, a feed of cartoon heroes in danger will be beamed to an audience of bystanders in Festival Park for Avoidable Perils — a social experiment exploring activism and the need for social cooperation towards a greater good.
5. Teddy Bears Picnic
On Sunday 9 August, the much-loved City of Darwin Teddy Bears’ Picnic finds a new home at Festival Park for a morning full of food, entertainment, games, and of course, Big Ted.
4. North of Centre dance performances
North of Centre is an immersive, three-part performance celebrating the diversity of the Northern Territory and the rich cultural artistry of South East Asia, in collaboration with Darwin’s own Tracks Dance Company, Central Australia’s renowned GUTS Dance company, and founder of Darwin’s eminent Balinese dance group Tunas Mekar Cultural Collective, Putu Wati with Jocelyn Tribe.
In three short works, performed as a solo, duet, and trio, dancers explore their connection to the Northern Territory and their understanding of its people. Don’t miss this dynamic dance triptych on The Playhouse stage at the Darwin Entertainment Centre from Tuesday 11 August — Thursday 13 August.
3. The Final Front Ear
From the team behind Hillbilly Horror and Fah King Ridiculous, The Final Front Ear is a new physical theatre performance coming to Brown’s Mart Theatre on Tuesday 4 August — Saturday 8 August and Tuesday 11 August — Saturday 15 August.
With the Earth in crisis, the only thing that can save it from destruction is an almost-extinct alien race, affectionately named ‘Front Ears’. The crew of Starship Probably Possible begin a perilous mission to track down the Final Front Ear.
2. Settle Down Sisters
Get hyped for a girl’s night out full of sass and songs from the Top End’s favourite ladies: Caiti Baker, Serina Pech, Stevie Jean, and newcomer Phoebe Wear in Settle Down Sisters on Saturday 8 August. This electric blend of talent will perform solo sets and collaborate alongside phenomenal Darwin artists, Rachel Rachel and DJ Emily Rose at the Sunset Stage.
“We at Darwin Festival pride ourselves on showcasing the best talent the NT has to offer, and this year is no exception.”
Felix Preval, Darwin Festival Artistic Director.
1. Sex, Death (and the Internet)
From Tuesday 11 August — Sunday 16 August at Happy Yess, don’t miss Sex Death (and the Internet), which gives audiences the opportunity to ask an elderly artist the big questions of life, death, and everything in between.
These are just 6 of many incredible unmissable experiences that’ll be showcased at this years festival, so why not make a trip of it and immerse yourself in comedy, culture, art and make fun-filled memories with loved ones, in the beautiful NT.
“With the announcement of our borders safely opening on 17 July, we also encourage interstate visitors to head to Darwin to experience a world class showcase of local talent.”
Lauren Moss MLA, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Culture.
“We strongly encourage all patrons to exercise COVID-safe principles at the Festival – wash your hands, practice physical distancing and download the COVID-safe app. There will be a limited capacity to Festival Park however, entry is guaranteed for those who buy a ticket to a Sunset Stage show for that night. So, book early to secure your night of fun!” said Acting CEO James Gough.
Tickets to Festival shows can be purchased online at darwinfestival.org.au.
Feature image: wake up each morning to the sublime sound of violin and voice from renowned artist, Eric Avery, with Morning Music — recorded live and available online every morning at 7am for free.