The Darwin Waterfront’s biggest Australia Day Celebrations will be held on Friday 26 January 2018.

For the first time, a 12 hour line up of activities and entertainment will take place on the lawns from 7am to 7pm.

The day will kick-off with the traditional Australia Day Fun Run in the morning, followed by children’s activities and live music on the lawns.

After the fun run, Ali Mills, a Darwin-based Larrakia woman, renown for her Kriol version of Waltzing Matilda will perform her Gurindji-Kungarakan language (written by her grandfather / great uncle Val McGuinness). Ali will also perform some of her other iconic songs to celebrate Australian and Darwin’s culture including The Arafura Pearls.

There will be plenty of free family fun in the morning until 12noon with waterslides, face glitters, sand art, flag painting, free floating inflatables in the Recreation Lagoon and beach volleyball.  

Lions Club of Darwin Nightcliff will also hold a sausage sizzle fundraiser 10am.

Aussie rock legend Angry Anderson, supported by The Coffin Fitz, will perform a free live concert commencing from 12noon. The three-hour show will feature Australian classics such as Bad Boy For Love, We Can't Be Beaten and Rock n Roll Outlaw. Gary ‘Angry’ Anderson is a well-loved Australian music icon, public speaker, charity worker, motorcycle enthusiast and proud Australian. He holds a Member of the Order of Australia and has been inducted to the star-studded 'Elvis Wall of Fame'.  Angry was the lead vocalist with the hard rock band Rose Tattoo an inductee of the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame.

Live music will be played throughout the day featuring local Territory artists including Scott Murphy, Serina Pech and Stevie Jean.

The Wave Lagoon will open early at 8am, and normal admission fees apply. $18 provides a family of five (two adults and three children) all day entry until 6pm. Big Buoy inflatable water park will also be open from 10am to 6pm and is $15 per hourly session.

Stay for lunch or pack a picnic and enjoy the scenic views of the beach and Recreation Lagoon. The Recreation Lagoon will be fully patrolled by lifeguards from 7am until 7pm on Australia Day.

For more information on the program of events visit www.waterfront.nt.gov.au or like the ‘Darwin Waterfront’ on Facebook.

To register for the Australia Day Fun Run race visit http://nt.australiaday.org.au/events-nt/fun-run/

Media contact: Paola McCarthy, Events & Marketing Manager 0437 621 433