The country renowned for its vibrant and rich wildlife has a strong culture and folk scene. Australians love to party, so you’ll notice plenty of festivals in Australia to hang out and events to relax. If you want to experience good food, exciting music, a vibrant atmosphere, and an unforgettable time. Then Australia offers you eternal moments of fun and some interesting festivals throughout the region.
| Here we will cover National Festivals in Australia. | |
| 1. Woodford Folk Festival | 6. Parrtjima |
| 2. Adelaide Festival | 7. Mona Foma |
| 3. Byron Bay Bluesfest | 8. Perth Festival |
| 4.Ultra Australia | 9. Handpicked Festival |
| 5. Vivid Sydney | 10. Sydney Mardi Gras |
1. Woodford Folk Festival [View map]
The Woodford Folk Festival is held annually over six days and six nights, from Dec 27th through to January 1st. More than 2,000 local, national and international, artists, musicians and presenters. Put on over 500 acts to an audience of an estimated 132,000 people. The festival begins each year with the iconic Opening Ceremony and closes with the spectacular showcase, the Fire Event on New Year’s Day. This year will be the 36th Woodford Folk Festival and the 28th held at Woodfordia. It is the largest gathering of artists and musicians in Australia.
The Woodford festival experience is deep, rich and colorful. It is based on a vision of inclusive and creative community, culture and tradition passed through generations, expressed through story and ceremony. The site, a former barren dairy farm, has been lovingly regenerated with over 120,000 subtropical rain forest trees, orchids, ferns and sedges, planted to create a habitat for butterflies and wildlife.
2. Adelaide Festival [View map]
The Adelaide Festival brings internationally acclaimed theatre, music, dance, visual art and writers to Adelaide. The 17-day festival is recognised as one of the world’s major celebrations of creative excellence. That both nourishes the mind and establishes an overwhelming sense of community. An outstanding mix of local, national and internationally acclaimed theatre productions, an eclectic array of world-class musicians, breathtaking dance pieces, renowned writers and striking visual arts displays all descend on Adelaide for the annual event.
Writers Week is a longstanding part of the Adelaide Festival Program, Australia’s largest free literary festival and considered one of the world’s leading literary events. Writers Week celebrates established and emerging writers holding talks and panels sessions in the Adelaide’s Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden.
3. Bay Bluesfest [View map]
Byron Bay Bluesfest is Australia’s Premier Contemporary Blues & Roots Music Festival. It showcases music from around the world annually on the Easter long weekend on 120 hectares at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, just north of Byron Bay, NSW. Bluesfest presents over 200 performances with various stages over 5, 12 hour days, as well as camping for up to 6,000 people, 5 licensed bars, over 100 food and market stalls, undercover food courts, beer gardens, and children’s entertainment.
Bluesfest presents the biggest names in music to Australian audiences each year including Bob Dylan, Hozier, Paul Simon, Gary Clark Jr., Angus & Julia Stone, Robert Plant, Alabama Shakes, John Mayer, Jurassic 5, James Brown, Zac Brown Band, Joss Stone, David Gray, Trombone Shorty, Angelique Kidjo, John Legend & BB King, to name but a few. From a modest crowd of 6,000 when it began in 1990, Bluesfest now attracts an audience of over 100,000.
4. Ultra Australia [View map]
Returning to Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl for one day next spring, Ultra Australia 2023 is set to welcome a group of high-profile electronic artists to its four stages. The fest will feature Ultra legend Hardwell, who will be taking the stage in Australia for his first performance there since 2014. Also on tap are sets from Sub Zero Project, Darren Styles, Deborah De Luca and Timmy Trumpet.
The event will also boast dance performances from the Ultra Angels. The Ultra Australia festival is an incredible electronic music festival that takes place in various cities across Australia. It features world class DJs, mind blowing stage productions, and an electrifying atmosphere. People come from all over to dance and party to their favorite beats. It is definitely a must attend event for music lovers!.
5. Vivid Sydney [View map]
Now in its 13th year, Vivid Sydney brings boundary-pushing artists, thinkers, musicians and chefs to New South Wales’s buzzing capital, with more than three weeks of exhibitions and live events honouring creativity, innovation and technology. At the centre of the celebrations, which last year attracted 2.5 million festivalgoers, hundreds of art installations and 3D light projections will illuminate city landmarks including Circular Quay, The Rocks and Darling Harbour and, for the first time this year,
The Royal Botanic Garden. This year’s festival runs from 26 May to 17 June. It also takes in a new programme of culinary events and 23 nights of free live music, with First Nations voices at the forefront. Venues including Sydney Opera House will host performances from artists such as Yothu Yindi, Ziggy Ramo, Emma Donovan and Budjerah.
6. Parrtjima [View map]
Parrtjima pronounced par-Chee-ma is the meeting place where old meets new shedding light and understanding and perfectly encapsulates the intention and atmosphere of this unique event which stays true to Country and culture by celebrating its unique selection of artists through the theme . It is the meeting place where old meets new.
Parrtjima is a free 10-night festival of light held annually in Alice Springs. The event is an annual celebration of the work of Aboriginal artists, the evolution of their styles and methods and their ability to experiment while staying true to Country and culture.
As Parrtjima’s lights dance across the Alice Springs Desert Park, they communicate through story, art and landscape. The diverse program of light installations featuring artworks of Aboriginal artists embraces audiences in a rich, sensory experience. The featured artists are predominately from across the red heart of Australia, and include representatives of the Arrernte, Luritja, Anmatyerre, Warlpiri and Pitjantjatjara nations. Artworks are curated from submissions from more than 40 Aboriginal art centres.
7. Mona Foma [View map]
Each night after MONA FOMA wrapped its sessions on the grass, the after party began. The museum’s Summer festival kept it local as each night got into the midnight hours, with after parties held in Hobart at The Old Mercury Print Hall, all employing the pillars of a good time: good lighting, good energy and an unorthodox venue. Imbi, artist and activist, invited strangers into their gauzed cave to read fortunes. House Mum played a fucked remix of Lily Allen’s “Not Fair”, their partner handing them vapes and drinks across the decks like love letters.
Strangers flirted to Aquenta, as she smiled down on them, godlike, mixing Ice Spice from her podium. There was a karaoke room but I steered clear. I’m in the business of pleasure, not torture. Held in January throughout Hobart and its surrounds, MONA FOMA draws some big headline acts in the past including John Cale, Elvis Costello, Nick Cave Philip Glass, Grandmaster Flash and PJ Harvey. The program covers all kinds of musical performance from classical and opera to hip-hop and avant-garde along with dance theatre and visual art.
8. Perth Festival [View map]
Perth Festival brings world class performance, music, film, visual arts and literary events to Perth every summer. It will be held from 09 February to 03 March 2024. The Festival has been celebrating the people & culture of Perth on the shores of the Derbarl Yerrigan (the Swan River) for nearly 70 years. Grounded on Noongar Boodjar, it is uniquely placed to celebrate the oldest living cultures in the world by championing rich Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions and contemporary arts practice.
Popular Northbridge venue, The Rechabite, is the home of contemporary music. The main stage is always jumping with the best in indie, punk rock, dance music, RnB and more sounds from around the globe.The Art Gallery of Western Australia celebrates the arts, culture & community, with exhibitions featuring historical & contemporary works by Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander artists from around Australia.
9. Handpicked Festival [View map]
Hidden amongst the vineyards and gum trees of Lake Breeze Wines, Handpicked Festival is a sensory overload full of barefoot dancing, slow living vibes and authentic experiences. Spend your day stretched out on a picnic blanket over lush lawns, sip on local, family produced Lake Breeze Wines, meander through the lane of lights for handmade goods by a myriad of local artisans and enjoy delicious, regional produced filled dishes from an array of local food trucks.
All this while enjoying the excitement that comes from hearing the familiar tunes from Australia’s top musicians just meters away…that’s Handpicked. Handpicked Festival in Australia is such a gem! It’s a fantastic event that combines great music, delicious food and amazing wine. The festival takes place in beautiful wine regions like McLaren Vale and Lake Breeze Wines in South Australia. You can enjoy live performances from talented musicians, indulge in gourmet food from local vendors, and of course, taste some of the finest wines the region has to offer.
10. Sydney Mardi Gras [View map]
In 2024 the Mardi Gras Parade returns to Oxford Street Flinders Street and Anzac Parade on 2 March centred around the theme ‘Our Future’. As always the parade will be led by the beloved Dykes on Bikes, First Nations and 78er floats. The parade is the biggest event of the festival featuring 12,500 marchers and over 200 floats in 2023 over 250,000 spectators were captivated as more than 12,000 participants took to the streets in a spectacular display of colour, creativity and pride.
There are free viewing areas all along Oxford Street as well as premium viewing spaces and accessible viewing ticketed areas to view the spectacle from Hyde Park to Moore Park. Some other highlights of the Sydney Mardi Gras festival include live performances by renowned artists, drag shows, dazzling fireworks and vibrant street parties. There are also various community events, workshops, and exhibitions that celebrate LGBTQ+ culture and promote inclusivity. It is a truly joyous and empowering celebration.