Tag: festivals

Darwin turns the heat up: The festival season has started

  By

You may not think it, but the best time to visit or be in Darwin is during winter (May-October) as this is dry season, with fine days and pleasant temperatures. As such, this is also the time of year when the Northern Territory starts buzzing with events and festivals. It is now a great time to book Darwin accommodation and enjoy these upcoming events and festivals.

Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/en/sunset-nature-sky-darwin-2919957/

The Australian Bee Gees Show

14 April

Head down memory lane and enjoy a night with the Bee Gees on their 2018 ‘Direct from Vegas’ World Tour. This successful Bee Gees tribute band are celebrating seven years with more than 2000 shows headlining on the Las Vegas strip and now they are bringing it to Darwin for one night only. The Bee Gees tribute have performed on the world stage for over 21 years in more than 60 countries. They will perform all their hits in this multimedia concert event.

Green Day’s American Idiot

3-6 May

Winner of two Tony Awards and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album, Green Day are bringing their Broadway hit, American Idiot, to the Northern Territory! The story of three boyhood friends and their search for hope, this show touches on subjects such as love, drugs, sex and rock and roll. All of Greenday’s hits will be performed, as well as more recent songs. The show boasts an all-Australian cast, starring Phil Jamieson from Grinspoon and Sarah McLeod from The Superjesus.

Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival

5-20 May

The Seabreeze Festival is held along 1.6 kilometres of the Nightcliff Foreshore over two weeks. The festival encompasses local arts, culture, food and nature. It is a great festival for up-coming local artists to showcase their talents. The ‘lead-up activities’ start on the 5th May onwards, leading to the extravaganza along the foreshore on the 12th. After that, ‘Festival Week’ commences which is all about celebrating local groups, clubs and businesses.

Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/NightcliffSeabreezeFestival/

Fred’s Pass Rural Show

12 May

Get your cowboy boots on and come and check out this very ‘Darwin-style’ event. The Freds Pass Rural Show is on the outskirts of Darwin and has country music, an equestrian contest, livestock displays, polocrosse, arts and craft, the traditional Grand Parade and more. In the evening, watch the sky come alive with a spectacular display of fireworks.

People’s Choice BASSINTHEGRASS Music Festival

19 May

Enjoy 12 hours of music from some of Australia’s best-known bands, as well as new artists emerging from the Northern Territory. This year, the chilled music festival boasts a fantastic line-up, including artists like; Illy, Paul Kelly, Confidence Man, Vera Blue and many more. People’s Choice BASSINTHEGRASS Music Festival is an event for all ages and is proudly supported by the Northern Territory Government.

Photo credit: @officialbassinthegrass

Why Not Dance

2 June

Join the crowd and head to George Brown Botanical Gardens for Why Not Dance, a boutique house and disco music festival. Dance to some sweet tunes while sipping on a summer cocktail and take in the warm vibes of the garden. The line-up will be announced soon!

Darwin Triple Crown V8 Supercars

15-17 June

Rev heads and all car lovers – get ready! This year, the V8 Supercars are flocking to Hidden Valley Raceway for the race of their lives. As a spectator, you can expect to be entertained on and off the track thanks to Virgin Australia Supercars Championship.

Territory Day

1 July

One of the most spectacular events coming up this year to mark the Northern Territory’s anniversary of self-governance is Territory Day. This is the one day of the year that fireworks are allowed, so the NT puts on an amazing show! You can watch the fireworks light up over Timor Sea from Mindil Beach and enjoy the markets and delicious food.

Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta

22 July

 

The Darwin Lions Beer Regatta is an annual favourite event with locals, as the town gathers on Mindil beach and cheer on home-made boats of cans, plastic soft drink bottles and cartons, as they sink into the water. You may think this sounds bad for the environment, but the first Beer Can Regatta was actually born from an attempt to clean up the beer cans in and around Darwin. The first beer can race was held in 1974 and since then, it has become a big event, with people getting creative and entering in boats of up to 12 metres long – some even with some secret tricks!

Photo credit: @darwinbeercanregatta

Darwin Cup Carnival

6 August

It is officially horse racing season! The Darwin Cup Carnival is spread out over a month and is one of the busiest months in Darwin. The actual cup is held on the 6th August at Fannie Bay Racecourse. The crowd of 20,000 are enthusiastic and the day itself is broadcast to more than 40 nations.

Darwin Festival

9-26 August

The Darwin Festival is an 18-day festival to celebrate everything wonderful about… Darwin! There are free outdoor events, dance, comedy, amazing food and weather. There are Australian and international performances and exhibitions, concerts, art, theatre and the impressive Festival Lounge has mouth-watering food stalls and pop-up bars. Darwin Festival has been running for nearly 50 years and festival-goers can be seen at the long communal tables, having a beer, a laugh and celebrating the beauty of Darwin.

Photo credit: @darwinfestival

Swap your winter around this year for summer in Darwin. Lots to do and see, the Northern Territory is an absolute gem, filled with rich culture, delicious fresh produce and decadent scenery.

How To Prepare For An Amazing Coachella 2018

  By ,

Though its first weekend may be in April, Coachella marks the unofficial start to summer. Acting as the starter’s pistol to the festival season, it’s one of many concert events scheduled for the upcoming months. But as the first, it’s always one of the biggest. This year, Beyoncé returns to headline with The Weeknd and Eminem to make good on her promise after her cancellation in 2017. Other notable performers on the lineup include SZA, Post Malone, and Grammy-nominated Cardi B.

You don’t need any reminders of the bill if you were lucky enough to snag tickets and a camping site to this year’s festival. What you may need help with is how to prepare for the biggest music event of the year. While the festival’s website has their official advice, you’ll want to keep reading to see these helpful tips.

Wear something fashionable yet sensible

 

Fashion is a top priority for most concert goers. That’s totally justifiable when you could be pushing up against some of the music industry’s and Hollywood’s biggest stars, all of whom are rocking the latest trends provided by the hottest designers. It’s better to face the facts now: you’re never going to go as hard as Rihanna when she wore her crystal Gucci bodysuit in 2017.

Remember these are the same people who have unlimited access to VIP kept frosty by air conditioning. Many of them have handlers who keep them hydrated with ice-cold bottled water. They can get away with clothing choices that are a less than sensible for a weekend concert under the hot desert sun.

As for you and the regular attendees, you’re going to have temper your fun and stylish outfit with practical additions. Here are some tips:

  • Think about headgear.You’re going to be under the sun all day, so you’ll want to wear a hat. Baseball cap, sun hat, or student cap. It doesn’t matter as long as you stay away from tribal headdresses. Even Teen Vogue knows it’s culturally offensive.
  • Think layers.Coachella’s known for its bohemian festival looks. A bikini top covered by a flowy kimono, paired with short shorts, would tick all the fashion boxes and help to keep you cool.
  • Think footwear.Coachella is a festival where you’ll be dancing with thousands of other people. The grounds are going to get muddy, and people are going to step on your feet. Protect your them by wearing something comfortable and closed-toed, like boots or sneakers.

Protect your phone

 

Your phone plays an important part to your festival. It navigates your way to the site with step-by-step GPS instructions. It finds the friends you lost along the way with a quick text. It makes memories with its digital camera. (And after all the partying, you’ll be happy to have some kind of record for all the crazy things that happen).

If you expect your phone to be your Coachella multi-tool, it has to survive the weekend. Many of the festival’s biggest features — the mud, the heat, and the jostling — aren’t kind to your handset. One wrong move and your phone could find its way to the mud, where it’s trampled underfoot. That’s why you should kit it out with an Android or iPhone skin. It’s a grip-enhancing accessory that’s both grime- and scratch-free, so you’ll find it easier to keep in your hand — even if you find yourself in a mosh pit.

Not all skins are made with Coachella in mind. If you’re looking for an iPhone skin that will match your festival outfit, stop by dbrand and search through their selection. They have a huge following on Twitter and Instagram because of the premium styles they offer on a wide range of handsets. Whether you opt for a monochromatic color or a hardwood skin, you’ll find a design that matches your street style perfectly.

Bring sunscreen

Underneath the strong Californian sun, you won’t have to wait long to see a burn develop. Don’t make the mistake of getting sunburnt on the first day. Not only will it increase your chances of getting skin cancer, but it will also make the rest of the weekend incredibly painful. Pack a big bottle of sunscreen along with your toiletries. Make sure it’s at least 30 SPF — though the higher the SPF the better — and remember to apply it regularly.

Stay hydrated

 

If you didn’t know any better, it would be reasonable to think Coachella was designed to dehydrate its attendees. Indio, California in April is hot. And it doesn’t help that festival rests at the basin of the Coachella Valley, leaving little to obstruct the sun’s rays. If you do the festival’s 3Ds (dancing, drinking, and drugs) you’ll dehydrate even faster.

It’s important that you drink as much as possible as often as possible. You can buy bottled water, but it’s cheaper and more environmentally friendly to take advantage of the festival’s free water. A water bottle won’t cut it, unless you’re willing to refill every hour and risk missing an important set when you’re stuck in line.

Invest in something like a Camelbak. Fitting over your shoulders like a backpack, a Camelbak is easy to keep on you — even when you in the middle of a huge crowd. The average Camelbak has a 1.5-liter capacity, so you won’t have to leave often to fill it up.

Let’s be honest — it’s impossible to prepare yourself for the kind of fun you’ll have at the festival. Those experiences are just something you’ll have to live through to believe. But you can do your part to make sure you’re ready for the realities of Coachella, so you can make the most of your time at the festival. Take heed of the advice here and you’ll be well-equipped for your weekend of music.

The best events and activities for expat families in Singapore

  By ,

Moving to Singapore with your family is a chance to truly immerse yourself in a culture that is vibrant, ever-changing and brilliantly unique. There is so much to see, do and learn, making the city a popular choice for expats. And for good reason: Singapore ranks second in the Safe Cities Index 2017 (beaten only by Tokyo). In 2014, Bloomberg highlighted its healthcare system as the most efficient in the world, citing it as the place that healthcare costs go furthest (most expats choose to take out global health insurance). Here are a few of the incredible events and activities that expat families can visit and take part. We hope this inspires you to make the most of your new home.

Delicious events for food lovers

The annual Singapore Food Festival is a must for expat families. Since 1994, the Singapore Tourism Board has held the festival to show off the city’s diverse culinary culture. Entry is free, which is ideal for large families with lots of hungry mouths to feed! It is a great chance to sample local delights and multicultural cuisines – from abacus seed (yam gnocchi) and kimchi popiah (spring rolls) to rojak (a local salad with fruits and vegetables). If your kids are finding it hard to settle into their new home, or you just want to keep them engaged with the local culture, then exploring the different stalls and dishes of the Singapore Food Festival might bring back their appetite for the city.

Festivities that show off Singapore’s multicultural character

Chinese New Year is an annual celebration that you absolutely must experience in Singapore. From bright red lanterns and gold money cats lining the streets, to spectacular dragon processions and delectable smells of oriental spices wafting from the city’s restaurants, Chinese New Year is a treat for the senses. It’s also an important part of Singapore’s culture, as the Chinese community makes up more than half of the city’s population. Singapore does not do the celebration by halves: the annual River Hongboa takes place on board a floating platform with colourful fireworks and Chinese zodiac lanterns. The Chingay Parade involves sparkling dancers, wondrous dragons, magnificent stilt walkers and vibrantly decorated parade floats.

The Hindu festival Thaipusam is also an important date in Singapore’s cultural calendar, and is a spectacle for people of all ages. It’s a two-day festival that begins at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple and finishes at the Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple. The colourful procession travels just under three miles and is an amazing glimpse into the traditions of the Hindus, who prepare spiritually for one month on a strict vegetarian diet. The most committed devotees put skewers through their tongues (which can only be done once the mind is free from material longing and the body is exempt from physical pleasures) and carry spiked kavadis (altars). Others balance wooden kavadis on their shoulders with flowers and peacock feathers, and some simply carry a jug of milk.

Colour, sound and sensation!

Whether you’re living in Singapore with your baby, toddler or teenager (or family members of all ages), you might also enjoy a trip to Sentosa to see the Wings Of Time performance. This is an outdoor night show set against the backdrop of the sea that features lasers, water displays and music. While little ones will no doubt be mesmerised by the bright colours and dancing lights, older children may enjoy the magical story. It is popular with tourists and expats alike who want to escape to a fantasy world for the night.

Staying healthy

There are many ways to have fun and stay healthy in Singapore. From yoga and meditation classes to jogging and going to the gym, there are a lot of widely available fitness options. For kids, there are plenty of swimming pools to splash around in and parks where they can let off steam. As a treat, attractions like the water park Wild Wild Wet are popular for families that want a fun day out that involves lots of exercise and fresh air. Combined with a healthy diet – high-protein, low-fat foods with lots of fibre are widely available in Singapore – it’s possible for all the family to stay fit and healthy while living in the so-called ‘garden city’.

Fun family learning

While you’re getting settled into your new lives in Singapore, consider educational trips to boost your children’s confidence about going to school in a new country. The Science Centre is a popular trip for expats as there are lots of interactive exhibits to inspire budding young scientists.

For parents who want to teach their children about the local culture, the Singapore Discovery Centre could also be worth a visit. It has information about the birth and development of the city, galleries that highlight unique Singaporean quirks and an exhibition that explains the vision for the city’s future. All this makes the Discovery Centre a truly educational experience that could help expat families to feel more in tune with their new home.

These are just some of the exciting events and activities in Singapore that you and your family can explore. From food and culture to science, history and entertainment, you should be able to find activities to inspire family members of all ages and help everyone settle into their new life abroad.