Mahbilil Festival

The annual Mahbilil Festival returns to celebrate Kakadu culture, both traditional and contemporary. Running from midday to midnight, Mahbilil is a family friendly event crammed with activities, workshops for kids, displays, Indigenous art exhibitions & demonstrations of weaving, painting and other crafts. Local showcasing includes the art from across Arnhem Land, and performances from local traditional dance groups.  Bushfood features prominently with large earth ovens cooking Buffalo, Barramundi and the speciality of the region, Magpie Goose. Join in the fun with competitions that include spear throwing and magpie goose cooking. With lots of activities and entertainment aimed at young kids, youth and the older folks, there really is something for everyone. At sunset the festival transforms with an evening program of projections, lightshows, music and dance till late. The music is diverse and includes funky bands from across the Top End & Darwin as well as national profile acts, a spectacular circus and fire show, which involves local youth that have trained for the spectacle. The festival also encompasses the Gurrung Sports Carnival run by West Arnhem Regional Council, which sees teams from all across the Top End compete.