Barunga Festival

Description

Organiser: Barunga Festival

Barunga Festival is a must for anyone seeking an authentic Aboriginal cultural experience. An iconic family friendly event on the national festival calendar, Barunga boasts a long and proud tradition of celebrating Indigenous live music, art, culture and sport. This much-loved Territory festival attracts more than 5000 fans – Indigenous and non-Indigenous people – who celebrate together in a small community with a population of about 360. Barunga is 80 kilometres southeast of Katherine. 

The traditional cultural program presents many ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunities for audiences to engage in traditional dance, spear throwing, didgeridoo playing and making, bush medicine and cooking, weaving and dreamtime storytelling.

Barunga Junior Guides – a Barunga School initiative – hold walking tours of the local land and community and there are three sporting carnivals happening over the weekend so you cheer on some of the most competitive and naturally talented players of AFL, Baseball and softball games in Northern Australia.

One of Barunga’s main features is the Bunggul traditional dance, with dancers coming from across the top end putting on a spectacular showcase supported by world class song men. 

Barunga is home to the Barunga Statement and the event has been handed back to the Bagala Aboriginal Corporation. The Traditional Owners welcome you to camp and take part in a program of activities over the three-day long weekend in June each year.