Goodbye winter, hello summer! Australia is bursting with things to do and social events during this time of year. There are plenty of music, arts, food and cultural festivals to keep you entertained all summer long.
Here are a few of our favourites to check out this year. See you there?
Queensland
CMC Rocks
Australia's biggest international country music festivals lands in Brisbane March 20-22. Headliners in 202 include Miranda Lambert, Kip Moore, and Morgan Evans. So sling on those cowboy boots and gather the gang for a night of country!
Surfer's Paradise Live
Fly over to Australia's Gold Coast to jam out to free tunes on the beach! From April 30 to May 3, 2020 the surf coast will be transformed into music heaven. While you're there, learn how to surf or parasail over the teal blue ocean.
Sand Safari Arts Festival
Don't limit art to just museum works the Sand Safari Arts Festival is a larger than life sand sculpting competition on Surfer's Paradise beach! On February 20, you can watch talented artists develop sculptures purely out of sand. You gotta see it to believe it!
Victoria
Meredith Music Festival
One Supernatural Ampitheater lights up Meredith, Victoria from December 7-9. It brings together music, nature, nonsense, and humanity. It's a pretty loose setting with free-range camping and BYOB policy. In addition to the music, there are cinemas, masterclasses, cultural one-off events, and market stalls.
Midsumma
When you're in Melbourne, stop by the LGBTQ Midsumma festival! It expands over 22-days of summer with an explosion of events that centre around hidden and mainstream queer culture, including visual arts, live music, theatre, spoken word, cabaret, film, parties, sport, social events, and public forum. Check it out from January 19 to February 9! A great way to get around the city is by doing a cruise along the Yarra River.
African Music and Cultural Festival
Celebrate Africa in this one-day event in Federation Square, Melbourne. It puts on an amazing array of vibrant music, dancing, diverse arts, cultural performances and authentic African food that transports visitors to Africa. Break it down with Africa on December 14!
South Australia
Laneway Festival
After doing a wine tour of Barossa Valley, check out Laneway Festival (February) in Adelaide. It's a music festival that features a great selection of the contemporary icons and emerging game-changers of independent music, indie pop, and rock music.
Adelaide Fringe
From February 15 to March 15, Australia's largest Arts Festival comes to life in Adelaide! Fringe is an all-around celebration of art, music, comedy, and culture by including free events, ticketed events, and big stages. In one word, it's Fabulous (with a capital F).
Western Australia
Afrobeatz Perth Festival
In March, Afrobeatz comes to the shores of Perth's beaches. It's a cultural event ath celebrates the unity of Africa with music, dance, workshops, clothing and jewellery stalls. Stop by after kayaking down the Swan River to swing your hips to African beats.
Falls Festival
A quick train ride south of Perth is Fremantle, which is hosting the annual Falls Festival from January 4-5. It incorporates music and art through a massive outdoor summer festival.
New South Wales
Field Day
Welcome to summer in Sydney! Field Day incorporates a super friendly atmosphere with hip-hop, electronic, and indie music. The iconic New Year festival has been around since 2002 and continues to be a bumpin' event for Australia's youth. Swing by to start your new year off right on January first.
Tropfest
Australia is expensive, but Tropfest is a free film festival happening in February. After jetboating through Sydney Harbour, stop by Tropfest in the open-air setting of Parramatta Park! This not for profit event has helped launch some of Australias most notable film and TV careers.
So Frenchy So Chic
Bonjour! So Frenchy So Chic brings a little slice of France to Sydney in January. It's a big celebration featuring French music, cuisine, fashion and culture.
Tasmania
Mona Foma
Art and live music come together at Mona Foma in Launceston. From January 11-20, international sounds from Polish punk, Ethiopian jazz, Swedish pop, and plenty more fill the stages in pop-up parties. Don't miss this festival when you're in Tazzy on a multi-day tour!
Festable
Festable graces the shores of Tasmania as a grassroots music and arts event over New Years. It's a great platform that boosts Tasmanian music and musicians. Oh, and it's BYOB food to make it a cheap thing to do in Tasmania.
Northern Territory
Parrtjima - A Festival In Lights
Fly over to Alice Springs for an Uluru tour, then stay for the Festival of Lights from April 3-20. It's only authentic First Nations festival of its kind that showcases the oldest continuous cultures on earth through the newest technology.
