Events

Traditional, First Peoples & Quirky Events Across Australia

Australia is home to some of the world’s quirkiest, funniest, and most meaningful community events — from camel and pig races in the outback, lawn-mower spectacles, and mullet competitions to cultural celebrations by First Nations peoples. Below is a state-by-state list of unusual, traditional & iconic events, ordered roughly by when they occur each year.

Note: Dates can change each year. Always check the official event website before planning.

Australia-Wide / National Observances

Australia Day — 26 Jan; celebrate Australian-made and local pride.
Australian Made Festival — Jan (varies); celebrates local makers & producers.
Australian Sustainable Living Festival — Feb (Melbourne); eco-friendly Aussie products & ideas.
International Women’s Day — 8 Mar; spotlight women-owned Australian businesses.
Harmony Day — 21 Mar; celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity.
Australian Manufacturing Week — Apr (varies); showcases Australian-made innovation.
National Reconciliation Week — late May–early Jun; unity & understanding, Australia-wide.
NAIDOC Week — first full week of Jul; honours First Nations culture and achievements.
Indigenous Business Month — Oct; support First Nations entrepreneurs.
Small Business Month — Oct; highlight Australian-owned small business vendors.
Buy Australian / Buy Queensland Week — dates vary by state; promote buying Australian-made.
National Children’s Week — Oct; family events and Aussie-made kids’ products.
Pirtek Fishing Challenge — Autumn; national fishing competition.
Shitbox Rally — various dates; fundraising car rally across states.
Gumboot Throwing / Dunny Races / Pig Racing / Mower Racing / Toad Races — all year; classic Aussie humour at regional shows.
Regional Agricultural Shows — year-round, nationwide; rural games, produce & community spirit.

Northern Territory (NT)

Alice Springs Camel Cup — May–Jun; camel racing carnival.
Bangtail Muster — May, Alice Springs; cattle parade celebrating mustering season.
Parrtjima – A Festival in Light — Jul, Alice Springs; Indigenous light installations & performances.
Garma Festival of Traditional Cultures — early Aug, Arnhem Land; Yolŋu song, dance, art, storytelling.
Henley-on-Todd Regatta — Aug, Alice Springs; “boat” races in a dry riverbed.
Darwin Beer Can Regatta — Aug; boats built from beer cans & cartons.
Toad Races — various dates; novelty races at pubs & festivals.

Queensland (QLD)

Chinchilla Melon Festival — Mar; melon skiing, melon ironman & fruit-filled fun.
Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic — Mar, Mount Isa; major fishing tournament.
Nindigully Pig Races — Easter/autumn; charity piglet races at the Nindigully Pub.
Toowoomba Pig Racing — late summer/early autumn; part of show season.
Boulia Camel Races — Jul; iconic outback camel festival.
Big Red Bash — Jul, Simpson Desert; remote music festival.
Tara Festival of Culture & Camel Races — Aug (biennial); camels + multicultural performances.
Bedourie Camel & Pig Races — Aug–Sep; classic outback event.
Riverfire (Brisbane) — early Sep; fireworks as part of Brisbane Festival.
Oz Comic-Con Brisbane — mid-Sep; pop culture convention.
Brisbane Home Show — Sep; home & lifestyle expo.
Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers — late Sep; garden & floral citywide celebration.
Cardwell UFO Festival — Oct; aliens, costumes & parades on the Cassowary Coast.
Freshwater Fishing Championships — late year; series of comps statewide.

New South Wales (NSW)

Parkes Elvis Festival — Jan; Elvis costumes, music & parades.
Speed on Tweed (Murwillumbah) — Mar; historic motorsport sprints & street parades.
Dubbo Stampede — early Sep (Father’s Day); community running festival.
Sydney Fringe Festival — Sep; independent arts festival.
Mulletfest — Jul (touring); mullet hair competition.
Deni Ute Muster (Deniliquin) — late Sep; ute culture, comps & concerts.
Wife Carrying Competition (Singleton) — mid-year; novelty obstacle race.
Corowa Races (Corowa Cup) — Oct–Nov; traditional thoroughbred meeting.
Lawn Mower Racing — year-round; NSW Mower Racing Association fixtures.
Agricultural Shows — all year; pig races, gumboot throwing, dunny races & more.

Victoria (VIC)

Australian Sand Sculpting Championships (Frankston) — Mar–Apr.
VicMow Lawn Mower Racing — summer & autumn; statewide fixtures.
Cars & Coffee Meets — monthly; local car community gatherings.
Agricultural Shows — year-round; rural games & quirky races.
National Reconciliation Week & NAIDOC Week — May–Jul.

South Australia (SA)

Bay to Birdwood — Mar; vintage & classic car rally, Adelaide to Birdwood.
Adelaide Motorsport Festival — Jul; heritage & demo runs.
All-Australian Ride-On Lawn Mower Racing Championships — mid-year.
Kernewek Lowender (Yorke Peninsula) — Oct; Cornish heritage festival.
Agricultural Shows — year-round; novelty competitions & piglet races.

Western Australia (WA)

York Motor Show – V8 Tractor Pulls & Ride-On Mowers — Apr–May, York.
Mowanjum Community Arts & Cultural Festival (Derby) — Jul; Aboriginal art, dance & storytelling.
Perth Royal Show — late Sep–early Oct; major agricultural show.
Biosphere Boodja Arts & Wild Things Festival (Goomalling) — late Sep; arts, Country & environment.
Arthur’s Day Irish Festival (Wanneroo) — late Sep; music, dance & culture.
WAMRA Lawn Mower Racing — summer/show weekends; statewide.
Regional Shows — year-round; novelty races & rural competitions.

Tasmania (TAS)

Hobart Cup — Feb; traditional thoroughbred race day.
Targa Tasmania — Apr–May; iconic road rally across the state.
Tasmanian Whisky Week — Aug–Sep; distillery events & tastings statewide.
Blooming Tasmania Flower & Garden Festival (Launceston) — late Sep.
Spring Agricultural Shows (statewide) — Sep–Nov.
Lawnmower Racing Tasmania — summer fixtures.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Summernats (Canberra) — Jan; huge car & motor festival.
Floriade (Canberra) — Sep–Oct; spring flower festival.

Vendors & Event Organisers: If your event celebrates Australian-made, Australian-owned, First Nations culture, or classic Aussie community spirit, we’d love to feature you. Contact Linda at hello@ausmosis.shop