The Darwin Festival

Where: Star Shell at Darwin Botanical Gardens and other locations around Darwin

When: 13 - 30 August 2009

The Darwin Festival is the premier performing arts event for the Northern Territory as well as the Asia Pacific region. It is filled over 70 productions, 112 events and performances and over 1,000 international, national and territory artists and cultural groups.

Indigenous, Asian and Pacific cultures as well as other world cultures are celebrated over the 18-day festival in Darwin.

The aim of the event is to display Northern Territory as a prime destination to experience through artistic and cultural expression, as well as showcase the cultural diversity of the region.

The Darwin Festival history

Northern Territory's Darwin Festival began after Cyclone Tracy brought devastation to the city. In an effort to revive Darwin, the Darwin Festival began as the Bougainvillea Festival with a focus as a floral festival. By the 1990s the focus of the festival changed to the arts and began celebrating multiculturalism.

The Darwin Festival events

Events are held all around the city of Darwin so no matter where you are you can find entertainment close by.

The main location for performance at the Darwin Festival is the Star Shell held at the Botanic Gardens. Other locations include the Darwin Entertainment Centre and Brown's Mart Theatre.

Along with the myriad of theatre, film and music events, there is also a focus on Indigenous art and especially that of the Larrakia tribe that is native to the Northern Territory region.

You can join a Gallery Bus Tour, to visit the many indigenous art exhibitions such as the outdoor Galuku Gallery and the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens.