January
Event: Australia Day – January 26.
Location: in major cities.
Description: national celebration with concerts, entertainment, flag-raising ceremonies and parades.
Cost: free.
February
Event: Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras – February 11-March 4.
Location: Sydney, New South Wales.
Description: colourful parades and costumes which aim to shock.
Cost: many events are free.
Event: Adelaide Fringe Festival – February 24-March 19.
Location: Adelaide, South Australia.
Description: music, drama and dance.
Cost: many events are free.
March
Event: Taste of the Huon – March 5-6.
Location: Huon Valley, Tasmania.
Description: sample the local dishes with live music and entertainers.
Cost: £2 for adults, children under 16 free.
Event: Melbourne Food and Wine Festival – March 12-April 4.
Location: Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Description: grand dinners, Restaurant Week with set meals costing around £8, food and wine tastings and regional wine tours.
Cost: many events free.
April
Event: Alice Springs Cup Carnival – April 1-May 1.
Location: Alice Springs, central Australia, Northern Territory.
Description: Australia’s primary horse-racing event.
Cost: £4.
May
Event: Festival of the Lakes – May 5-14.
Location: Lakes Entrance, Victoria.
Description: an insight into local life.
Cost: free.
June
Event: Darwin City to Surf – June 10.
Location: Novotel Atrium. Darwin to Nightcliff Pool, Northern Territory.
Description: annual eight-mile fun run for the fit and young at heart.
Cost: £4.
Event: Feast of Sydney – June 17-July 2.
Location: venues throughout Sydney.
Description: a frenzy of food including the world’s longest buffet at Darling Harbour.
Cost: many events free.
July
Event: Alice Springs Show – July 7-8.
Location: Blatherskite Park, Alice Springs.
Description: annual agricultural show.
Cost: adults £4, children £1.
Event: Melbourne International Film Festival – July 20-August 6.
Location: Melbourne, Victoria.
Description: a must for film buffs who can watch a selection of top Australian films.
Cost: varies.
August
Event: Darwin Fringe Festival – August 11-September 3.
Location: Brown’s Mart, Darwin, Northern Territory.
Description: showcases the very best in locally produced performing and visual arts.
Cost: many events are free.
September
Event: 2000 Olympic Games – September 15-October 1.
Location: Homebush site and Darling Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales.
Description: the world’s biggest athletic event of the year – see page 64 for details on how to book tickets and accommodation.
Cost: ticket prices vary according to the event.
October
Event: Reef Festival – October 7-15.
Location: Cairns, Queensland.
Description: food and wine festival with beach parties promising days of fun in the sun.
Cost: free.
November
Event: Melbourne Cup – November 7.
Location: Melbourne, Victoria.
Description: the most prestigious horse racing event in Australia.
Cost: £10 per person.
December
Event: Telstra Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race – December 26 – January 1 2001.
Location: Sydney Harbour to Constitution Dock, New South Wales.
Description: join the thousands of spectators at Sydney Harbour to watch the 100-plus fleet set sail to Tasmania.
Cost: free to spectators.
January
Event: Australia Day – January 26.
Location: in major cities.
Description: national celebration with concerts, entertainment, flag-raising ceremonies and parades.
Cost: free.
February
Event: Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras – February 11-March 4.
Location: Sydney, New South Wales.
Description: colourful parades and costumes which aim to shock.
Cost: many events are free.
Event: Adelaide Fringe Festival – February 24-March 19.
Location: Adelaide, South Australia.
Description: music, drama and dance.
Cost: many events are free.
March
Event: Taste of the Huon – March 5-6.
Location: Huon Valley, Tasmania.
Description: sample the local dishes with live music and entertainers.
Cost: £2 for adults, children under 16 free.
Event: Melbourne Food and Wine Festival – March 12-April 4.
Location: Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Description: grand dinners, Restaurant Week with set meals costing around £8, food and wine tastings and regional wine tours.
Cost: many events free.
April
Event: Alice Springs Cup Carnival – April 1-May 1.
Location: Alice Springs, central Australia, Northern Territory.
Description: Australia’s primary horse-racing event.
Cost: £4.
May
Event: Festival of the Lakes – May 5-14.
Location: Lakes Entrance, Victoria.
Description: an insight into local life.
Cost: free.
June
Event: Darwin City to Surf – June 10.
Location: Novotel Atrium. Darwin to Nightcliff Pool, Northern Territory.
Description: annual eight-mile fun run for the fit and young at heart.
Cost: £4.
Event: Feast of Sydney – June 17-July 2.
Location: venues throughout Sydney.
Description: a frenzy of food including the world’s longest buffet at Darling Harbour.
Cost: many events free.
July
Event: Alice Springs Show – July 7-8.
Location: Blatherskite Park, Alice Springs.
Description: annual agricultural show.
Cost: adults £4, children £1.
Event: Melbourne International Film Festival – July 20-August 6.
Location: Melbourne, Victoria.
Description: a must for film buffs who can watch a selection of top Australian films.
Cost: varies.
August
Event: Darwin Fringe Festival – August 11-September 3.
Location: Brown’s Mart, Darwin, Northern Territory.
Description: showcases the very best in locally produced performing and visual arts.
Cost: many events are free.
September
Event: 2000 Olympic Games – September 15-October 1.
Location: Homebush site and Darling Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales.
Description: the world’s biggest athletic event of the year – see page 64 for details on how to book tickets and accommodation.
Cost: ticket prices vary according to the event.
October
Event: Reef Festival – October 7-15.
Location: Cairns, Queensland.
Description: food and wine festival with beach parties promising days of fun in the sun.
Cost: free.
November
Event: Melbourne Cup – November 7.
Location: Melbourne, Victoria.
Description: the most prestigious horse racing event in Australia.
Cost: £10 per person.
December
Event: Telstra Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race – December 26 – January 1 2001.
Location: Sydney Harbour to Constitution Dock, New South Wales.
Description: join the thousands of spectators at Sydney Harbour to watch the 100-plus fleet set sail to Tasmania.
Cost: free to spectators.
With attention fixed on the Olympic Games, the Australian Tourist Commission is facing its biggest ever marketing campaign surrounding a single event.
While in the past the ATC has focused on promoting natural attractions such as Ayers Rock, it is now turning its attention to its annual calendar of activities, festivals and sporting events.
These cover community-based events showcasing local life such as the Australian Country Music Festival in Tamworth as well as events that attract millions of viewers such as the renowned horse race, the Melbourne Cup. Less well known festivals, including the National Tomato Contest in Gunnedah, New South Wales, also get publicity.
The growing interest in food and wine is also triggering a many culinary and wine festivals, while Sydney is gaining a reputation for the most outrageous Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in the world.
ATC regional director Andrew Richards said:”These special-interest events are acting as a catalyst to attract people who may not necessarily come to Australia. We recognise that our calendar of festivals definitely plays a large part in contributing to the overall development of tourism.”
Clients who want more information about events and festivals should contact the ATC or check its Web site (www.australia.com) which features over 2,000 events.