What's on: Must see entertainment in Darwin this weekend
In what feels like a time-warp, we're already about halfway through Darwin Festival – one of the most magical times of the year.
I've been lucky enough to work across the festival, which means I've been able to catch a heap of the shows.
This week I'm breaking the mold and combining my Local's Tip and What's On This Week into one.
This weekend, make sure you embrace the highlights: circus and cabaret in the Spiegeltent, late-night music from WAFIA in Festival Park, and then dancing until the early hours at the Peachy Party in Club Awi.
Last weekend's Club Awi hoedown was one for the ages – have you ever seen a line dance to Untouched by The Veronicas? Hilarious.
If your Sunday calls for live music or free dance, you'll be spoiled for choice – and it's also your final chance to catch the phenomenal mentalist Suhani Shah.
But here's my real local's tip: choose something random.
Go out of your comfort zone. Join a silent disco.
Embrace the magic.
Some of my favourite festival moments so far have been completely unexpected.
The first show I saw featured a rapper belting out, 'You've got to be the real you if you really want to flex' while figure skating around the stage on rollerblades – a big flex, indeed. At Fort Hill Parklands, I watched fans right up the front making eye contact with their favourite singer, singing every word back at them in perfect unison – it was pure wholesomeness.
On the new Festival Harbour Cruise, Merrick Watts summed it up perfectly when he said, 'I'm so happy to be here doing a wine tasting on a boat … any other state would probably think it's too dangerous - but in Darwin it's sold out!'.
For future reference, a wine tasting and then a silent disco: fun.
And in a rock 'n' roll drag cabaret, the crowd roared just as loudly for a mullet contest as they did for a moment of activism – that's when you know you're in Darwin.
My favourite part is soaking in the little things – the wild, the hilarious, the heartwarming. The real 'Darwin' part of Darwin Festival.
SOMEWHERE YOU NEED TO EAT
Speaking of Darwin talent, it's that time of the year again.
The quest to find the best barista in Darwin – a very highly regarded title! Hospitality NT's Gold Plate Awards is coming up soon, and they've just announced the Top 4 Baristas of the Year!
A big congratulations to Thao from Besser, Yoga from Kopi Stop, Summer from Kopi Stop & Makan Stop, and Mim from Coffee Man – the top four of our many champions of caffeine! The Gold Plate Awards shine a spotlight on the incredible people, venues and flavours that make our dining scene so special - and I can't wait to spotlight some of the winners for you. All winners will be crowned at the Gold Plate Awards on Monday, 25 August – but grab a coffee from these venues in the meantime and see what you think!
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