Beers cans, boxing and ballet: Darwin’s dry season festival line-up

One of the most anticipated events in the Darwin calendar is the annual Beer Can Regatta. It sees weird and wonderful boats created out of empty beer cans being tested for their seaworthiness in front of raucous crowds at Mindil Beach. The tradition dates back to 1974 when the event was created by local businessmen, Lutz Frankenfeld and Paul Rice-Chapman, with the inaugural event attracting what was around half the population of the Northern Territory capital at the time!

While the regatta is the main spectacle of the day, there are a whole host of other quirky events that take place, including a thong-throwing contest and the Henley-on-Mindil competition that sees the can-created boats being run around on land like “Flintstones” cars. There’s also live music and a great selection of food vans and stalls, creating a vibrant festival atmosphere that’s not to be missed.



This year the Beer Can Regatta will take place on July 22 from 10 am to 5 pm and in addition to events for beer can-made boats and the Henley-on-Mindil, the festival is also trialing an event for kayaks made out of plastic milk bottles. The creative potential is only limited by the imagination, with the only requirement being that the vessels actually float!

The Darwin Festival (9-26 August, 2018)

Heading to Darwin in August? While you’ll miss all the antics of July’s Beer Can Regatta, you’ll be just in time for the 18-day Darwin Festival, which celebrates the multiculturalism of the Northern Territory and its unique lifestyle. There’s everything from outdoor concerts to theatrical, dance and comedy performances, as well as film screenings and visual art exhibitions.

In 2018, the Darwin Festival will be taking place from 9-26 August at venues around the city while taking advantage of the favourable dry season weather. See Arnhem Land sensation Baker Boy in action with his infectious brand of hip-hop or experience the Australian Ballet’s stunning performance of “Coppelia.” Other highlights of the 2018 festival line-up include the live boxing theatrical experience of “Prize Fighter” and the opening night free concert of “Buried Country,” which celebrates the greats of Australia’s Indigenous country musicians.

Thinking about heading to the Northern Territory for the Beer Can Regatta or Darwin Festival? Find unique accommodation to rest your weary Flintstones feet at EzyStayz.

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