Shake off those wet season barnacles and come celebrate the Dry with a massive, family fun fiesta from 2pm-10pm on Saturday 2nd May, at the eleventh Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival.
The foreshore will be overflowing with multiple entertainment stages, creative endeavours to explore and opportunities to make a noise, bust a move and try something new, as you bathe in the carnival atmosphere.
You’ll be amazed at the melting pot of local music and movement spanning the globe, genres and decades and this year, a sprinkling of international acts have collaborated with our artists to present unique highlights.
From Nepal to Nightcliff, Circus Kathmandu joins Corrugated Iron Youth Theatre’s Circus Maximus & The Flying Gypsies, for the Territory debut of Big Top. This combined troupe of young acrobats, contortionists, trapeze artists, jugglers and unicyclists will leave you breathless in performance and share their skills in workshops, for those of all ages who dare to try!
There’s a dazzling diversity of dance troupes across the day bringing the world to our doorstep and inviting you to cut the rug and shake a tail feather. Go Bollywood, Break or Brazilian, Irish or Islander, Tarantella or Tango, jump into the Zumba zone and be inspired by the sneak preview of upcoming Tracks Dance productions.
Immerse yourself in the cool sounds emanating from the Music, Blues, CDU and Happy Yess Stages and choose your colours across the spectrum of swampy blues, jungle jives, funky folk, indigenous reggae and jazz from Ward Hancock, Yaturlu Yaturlu, Dave Garnham, Bernie Bremond, Darwin City Brass Band, The Fettlers (with Songs of Aviation), Brother Phoenix, Pulse Bollywood Band, Miz Bully Band, Jigsaw Collective and others, including school and community groups.
Visiting acts are 8 Ball Aitken, Ghana’s multi-awarded Afro Moses with local Rebecca B and global troubadores Perfect Blue Sky with Jane’ Kitto, who will join familiar faces for sensational searing sets.
Listen to emerging multicultural youth and established literary talents Paul Bayetto, Levin Ditschenko, Sachi Hirayama and Paul Stewart and let your words flow in waves at the Spoken Word Open Mic.
Cast your eyes to the night sky as Geoff Carr guides you through the universe with his telescope and swoon under the moon for the Seabreeze Hotel Social Dance at the Flight Dance Stage. This old-time Territory tradition was held on the same site more than six decades ago, so think ukuleles and hula.
Seabreeze Storytime, Sand Sculpture and The Jetty Art Competition - win a treasure chest of prizes!
Ahoy there! Break out the sequins, glitter, swords and fins and start the party early at Nightcliff Library for Seabreeze Storytime from 10am on Saturday 2 (and 7 May). There’s books to be read and bounty for the best sea themed costume.
MLA Natasha Fyles has pieces of eight to be won so put the Sand Sculpture competition on your family’s bucket list and bliss out on the beach barefoot, creating monsters, mermaids and pirates, while searching for buried treasure from Noon to 4pm. Bring your own construction gear, hat, sunscreen etc and dig in!
Whether you’re a jelly fish, sting ray, blue whale, octopus or hermit crab, there’s a category for you in The Jetty Art Competition, so register now at the Nightcliff Community Bank (Bendigo Bank) or at the Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival website. All entries will be displayed at The Jetty Artspace and the major loot of $1,000 could be yours.
The Urban Art Wall provides a canvas for Banksy buddies of all ages to unleash their artistic expression inspired by the No Culture Masters who will be on-site, above ground and in a safe environment. Entry is free and there’s a haul to take home.
The City of Darwin Community Village is awash with talent and activities. This is your hub to meet the artists and participate in workshops across all forms of art, crafts, environmental activities and performance. Join the swirl of Bollywood, Belly and Lion Dancers, beat an African drum and relive Brassed Off with the bands.
Food stalls will be offering a wide variety of food and drinks for sale and children under 18 will not be permitted into the bar area.
A record number of participants are showcasing over fifteen activity areas, with one hundred performances from more than one thousand artists (including thirty nine dance groups and ten schools) and forty stalls and workshops.
When the stages come down at 10pm, the festivities continue at the Nightcliff Sports & Social Club for the After Party with DJ Enrico Rico, the Hot ‘n Cold Big Band and Swing Dance NT.
Transport and parking:
Plenty of parking along Casuarina Drive and streets nearby or take the # 4 bus which stops close to the Music Stage and Nightcliff Pool. Final foreshore departure is 10.30pm.
The Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival site runs the length of the foreshore from the pool to the jetty – that’s almost two kilometres of family fun! To make your day more enjoyable for little and not so little legs, Larrakia Nation is running a pick up/drop off mini-bus service from 3pm – 9pm at dedicated points along the festival route. Please take advantage of a free ride and save your energy for dancing!
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NIGHTCLIFF SEABREEZE FESTIVAL WEEK (2-10 May) – All Free Events
The festivities continue throughout the week so don’t miss a minute of meditation, yoga, Chi Kung, Pilates, gym for Seniors and other interactive workshops,
as the acts featured on the foreshore, filter through the markets and broader ‘burb’ in intimate mode.
Highlights include the only chance to see Sticks & Stones Broken Bones, the awesome shadow puppets at 6pm on Sunday 3rd May at Nightcliff Community Centre Come (as a prelude, try your hand at making puppets from recycled materials at Mr Bunk’s 2.30pm workshop), Roy MacKonkey at Nightcliff Markets, Afro Moses Drumming for Adults at Darwin Community Arts (Malak Shops) and Percussion and Dance for Under 5’s at the Nightcliff Community Centre, City of Darwin Youth Pool Party at Nightcliff Pool, and so much more.
