The ‘land of Oz’ conjures images of sun drenched beaches, captivating jungles, postcard perfect beauty, and perfect cuisines. Yes, the country has it all and a lot more. Almost every month sees the celebration of some or the other gala event. Be it Australia specific travel or exploring the destination on one’s round the world flights, every visitor is highly likely to experience the electrifying ambience of some high voltage celebration. Here are some of the hottest of such events.
Date : Monday, January 03, 2011
Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras
Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras is an annual parade that celebrates the choice of people with a different sexual orientation and embraces the entire Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community. The parade sees inter state and local community group member gatherings, representation of political messages or topical themes, and colourful costume shows by individuals. Homosexuals as well as supporters of same sex love from the world over buy flight tickets to Australia to celebrate the festival. The wild parties and entertainment galore draws visitors travelling on a shoe string budget as well as those who are rich enough to afford first class or business class flights to Sydney. The Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras is also the place to spot famous gay and lesbian celebrities.
Perth International Arts Festival
The Perth International Arts Festival was founded way back in 1953 and has become the largest and the oldest festival of its kind in Australia. Besides being the mecca for art aficionados from different genres, the festival also features a world of dance and music programmes. The famed regular features of the festival are Lotterywest Festival Films, Perth Writers Festival, and Meet the Artists Sessions. Anyone looking forward to plan unique all exclusive holidays to Perth would do well to throw a trip when the festival unfolds.
The Melbourne International Arts Festival
The Melbourne International Arts Festival is yet another colourful cultural extravaganza from Australia. The festival, which has become one of the biggest multi arts festivals in the world, spans a variety of entertaining programmes such as music, visual arts, theatre, dance, and multimedia events for some two weeks throughout Melbourne. A number of free events also form part of the festival. The 2011 edition of the Melbourne International Arts Festival is to be held in October and anyone planning to catch a London to Melbourne flight during the festival has ample time to eke out travel information for the cheapest possible deal.
Melbourne Cup
This thoroughbred horse race is billed as ‘the race that stops a nation’ and is probably the most prestigious and richest two mile handicap in the world. The race has now been going on for more than a hundred years and is held at the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.
Adelaide Fringe Festival
This annual arts festival is supposedly the world’s second largest fringe festival and the largest arts event of the Southern hemisphere. The festival almost runs for a month and hosts scores of exciting events such as visual arts, cabaret, theatre, dance, music, and comedy throughout the length and breadth of Adelaide. Some of the most enticing elements of the festival are street theatre, Fringe Family Weekend, the Garden of Unearthly Delights, parade and concert, and the immense opening night party. This open access festival allows almost anyone and everyone to participate in the performances. Since its humble beginnings in 1960, the festival has come a long way and became a stand alone annual festival from 2007.
Adelaide Festival of Arts
This biennial arts festival is a globally renowned cultural event incorporating art forms like opera, dance, theatre, cabaret, new media, and classical and contemporary music. The festival is celebrated in many parts of the city with River Torrens and the Adelaide Festival Centre being at the heart of events. The resounding success of the Adelaide Festival of Arts has prompted political action for mobilising funds so that the festival can be celebrated every year. Some of the most outstanding events of the festival are Adelaide Writers’ Week, WOMADelaide, and Adelaide Festival of Ideas.
Brisbane Festival
This colourful festival started as a biennial event in 1996 and became an annual festivity since 2009. For three solid weeks, celebrations ring across parks, galleries, theatres, other public places, and also the visiting Spiegeltent. More than 300 performances and 60 events are held spanning free entry and ticketed events, as well as Brisbane specific seasons, and world premieres. One can look forward to a galore of shows like visual arts, classical music, circus, sideshow, contemporary music, physical theatre, regular theatre, opera, and dance.
A Small Piece of Advice
Budget travellers would do well to buy multi stop tickets to Australia as the destination is pretty far away taking a one stop hopping flight may prove to be quite expensive.