Festival of Us 2025

On Sunday, Jan 26, NT AUSTRALIA DAY 2025 will be again held at the Territory Netball Stadium in Marrara, promising an inclusive celebration of the NT’s incredible diversity, and inviting all Territorians to feel a part of this significant ‘Festival of Us’.

Building on the “Reflect. Respect. Celebrate” theme, the 2025 Festival of Us has an incredible program of local entertainment, workshops, and multicultural market food offerings.

Kicking off at the Darwin Waterfront bright and early with a Welcome To Country and the Oz Run, followed by a smoking ceremony by Larrakia families, the Festival of Us will then move to the Territory Netball Stadium in Marrara, for the afternoon program of events.

The “Festival of Us” program commences at 11 AM and concludes at 8 PM and is a FREE event.

Follow the event on Facebook for program announcements and updates!

Keynote Speaker

Rana Hussain
Rana Hussain is the keynote speaker for Festival of Us 2025

Rana Hussain is a trailblazing advocate for inclusion and belonging, renowned for her transformative work in elite sport and media.
As one of the most prominent women of colour in these arenas, her journey from a brown Muslim girl navigating underrepresented spaces to a respected leader exemplifies resilience, advocacy, and cultural change.
Rana has made a significant impact as a sports administrator, working with major brands nationally and internationally to amplify diverse voices and champion social inclusion.
Her expertise as a consultant and board member of Reconciliation Australia equips organisations with strategies to foster leadership, inclusion, and organisational transformation. She also founded Good.Human, an initiative dedicated to creating environments where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
Her media presence further amplifies her mission. As a regular on the ABC and various sports broadcasts, Rana provides thought-provoking commentary on critical social issues.
She co-hosts Broad Radio, engaging audiences with her insights on representation and equity, rooted in the belief that diverse stories strengthen the social fabric.
What sets Rana apart is her deeply personal connection to her work.
Growing up as the child of Indian migrants in suburban Melbourne, she experienced firsthand the complexities of identity and belonging. These experiences fuel her authentic, empathetic approach to creating meaningful change, making her a relatable and inspiring figure.
Rana’s dynamic speaking style and exceptional facilitation skills have established her as a sought-after keynote speaker. Her engaging narratives resonate with diverse audiences, driving conversations that inspire action. Whether addressing corporate leaders or community groups, Rana’s message is clear: inclusion is not just an ideal but a vital practice for building stronger, more compassionate societies.
Through her work, Rana Hussain continues to break barriers, empowering individuals and organisations to embrace diversity and champion equity. Her story is a call to action, inviting all to join her in building a world where everyone can thrive.

Performances

Arrkula Yinbayarra (Together We Sing)

Arrkula Yinbayarra (Together We Sing), is a cultural force hailing from the remote Gulf of Carpentaria. This empowering community-driven project breathes life into critically endangered languages. Created by Marlene Timothy and co-led with Dr Shellie Morris AO, the debut album Waralungku features 10 songs in Yanyuwa, Garrwa, Gudanji, and Marra is a journey of women’s empowerment and linguistic preservation.
Each track resonates with the vibrant history and traditions of the Gulf’s diverse community. From standing ovations at Woodford Folk Festival to Port Fairy Folk Festival, Arrkula Yinbayarra has garnered acclaim and accolades, captivating audiences with its harmonious fusion of tradition and modernity.
This musical journey, a harmonious blend of cultural pride and artistic expression, beckons festival-goers to join in the celebration of resilience and heritage. Experience the powerful synergy of Arrkula Yinbayarra, where the spirit of community, language, and culture converges in a captivating performance that transcends time and resonates with the heartbeats of the Gulf’s people.
Arrkula Yinbayarra stands as a powerful example of how communities can take ownership of their cultural narratives, ensuring that they are not only preserved but also celebrated and passed on to future generations.

PHLtheBeat ft. Yung Milla

Rising All-Stars showcases the latest talent simmering from the suburbs of Darwin.
MC’d by rising rapper Yung Milla and dance sets by PHLtheBeat come check out the heat feat. Jimmy Rambles, a Scottish lad living in Palmo who recently supported Seth Sentry, ChillNT & 3% Jimmy blends catchy lyrics with rap and EDM high energy performances. Born in Zimbabwe LORDE migrated to Australia when he was six. Known for his passionate beats word on the streets say he’s gaining heat fast. Darwin born DJ W0ND3R a multi-genre DJ/Producer was the beat behind the Milla Bruthas at last year’s Barunga Festival and had the mob dancing all night long.
Keep your finger on the pulse and get set for a dance highlight with PTB and Yung Milla to close the set.

OzFusion

Run by the Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory (MCNT) which promotes multiculturalism, social inclusion, community harmony and celebration of diversity, OzFusion aligns with the Australia Day Council’s Festival of Us theme, and includes everyone as part of the story.

This year’s program is jam-packed, and includes: Traditional Vietnamese Dance; Greek Dancing; dancing by the Seafaring People of West Papua; Columbian Traditional Dance; Balinese dancing; performances by the Darwin Multicultural Choir; Zimbabwean cultural dancing; Latin Fusion performances; Nepali folk singing; traditional bamboo dance performed by the Karen Community; Carinosa performance by the Filipiniana association; a Thai dancing performance; Argentine Tango; an Indian classical dance performance; Irish and Scottish Dancing; and Sri Lankan Dance performance! As if that wasn’t enough, this will be followed by a DJ playing a multicultural mix of Hollywood, Bollywood, Nollywood and more!

Some images of the performances at the 2024 event below for a taste of what’s to come.

Entertainment

Bluey

Guess who’s coming to the Festival of Us? That’s right, the one and only Bluey! 🐾💙
Join us for your chance to meet everyone’s favourite blue heeler between 11:15am and 12:15pm.

Activities & Workshops

The Clubhouse Project	The Clubhouse Project is excited to showcase a snapshot moment of the Be-Inclusive Games, embracing and celebrating inclusivity across the wider community at the Festival of Us 2025! The Be-Inclusive Games Community Fun Day vibe offers a gentle introduction to sport and a range of activities that are geared towards friendship and family connection. We will be showcasing multiple inclusive, accessible sports and activities, that are suitable for everyone of any age and ability; that are coordinated by The Clubhouse Project and supported by Integrated Disability Action, Inc. (IDA) along with our community partners, known as the Clubhouse Collective.
Kick Back Parlour	Interplanetary Battle Cards (IBC Game), the Top End’s own sci-fi tabletop card game, will be set up and ready for some galactic battles in the Kick Pack Parlour. The team be will be bringing a Custom Card station ready for everyone to craft ⛏️ their own hero card with special edition “Festival of Us” backing! 🖨️🖥️🎴 Come on in and learn to play with the help of seasoned IBC Game Masters 🧑‍🏫 and, when you’re ready, enter the cosmic fray 🪐 and test your newly acquired skills against fellow tabletop gamers, battling it out for prizes including the Ultimate IBM Gamer Pack! ⚔️ IBC Game is a creation of Tangled Ventures.
Australia Day on a Station	Visit the Australia Day on a Station booth to see how Territorians on remote stations celebrate their Australia Day! Do you think you’ve got what it takes to master the muster? Salty Games will be demonstrating their yet to be released game, Pasture – The Livestock Simulator!
Spray Painting Workshop	Ever wanted to give spray painting a go but haven’t had any spray paint? Or a wall? Unsure if it’s something you’d even like to do? If so, then come and have a go at a pop-up spray painting workshop! You’ll have the chance to try spray painting on a wooden board, but don’t get too attached because the beauty of spray painting is that we’ll have to clean it up when you’re finished for the next person like a true street artist, so make sure you’re able to take photos of your work and have fun!
Batik Art Workshops	Ever wondered what batik is all about? This is your opportunity to try our therapeutic Batik waxed prints. Watch the ink create its own path on the cloth. Each piece is unique. Our simplified version is accessible for all ages and is a great piece of art to hang on the wall once finished.
Gaagudju – Kakadu Painting Workshops (Jacqui Cahill)	Jacqui Cahill, a renowned Kakadu artist who does regular art activities at Bowali Visitor Information Centre in Kakadu, will provide an opportunity to learn about Aboriginal Art from Kakadu and paint a beautiful piece of their own. Jacqui will also share her knowledge on Kakadu, her bush tucker walks based in Kakadu, and the history on the Cahill Families of Kakadu/Gunbalanya.
Block Printing Workshop with Janie Andrews, Artist and Facilitator	Participants to this workshop will have a range of local flora and fauna printing blocks to print their own unique designs onto tea towels they can take home with them.
Zumba	Get your body moving with the Top End Zumba Crew on the main stage.
Latin Carnival Show and Dance Lesson	The whole family can get involved with this full Latin Carnival and Latin Dance Lesson and Kids Class on the main stage.
DJ Workshops	TThe DJ workshop aims to teach skills, provide individual support and career pathway opportunities to young people.
Facepainting & Roving Entertainment	Our fabulous facepainters will be back to transform you into the character of your dreams, and you’ll be amazed by balloon-twisting, stilt-walking, magicians and fairies as they roam the venue spreading joy and entertainment to everyone.

FREE Community Dinner

Community Dinner

The Multicultural Council of the NT is once again supporting a FREE community dinner at the Festival of Us! Enjoy a delicious meal catered by local suppliers Hugs Pa Nim, Hey Dahl, Christine’s Exotic Eats, DeeBee Catering and Indian Curry Paradise.