Broome’s Quirky Festivals

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Broome’s events offer a colourful tapestry of culture and community spirit. From dancing at the Shinju Matsuri to dining on a long table on Cable Beach at sunset, Broome events allow visitors to connect with its pearling town soul.

Experience an authentic Yawuru welcome to Country, along with performances and the traditional awakening of Sammy the Dragon – this event provides something fun for families to do together!

Shinju Matsuri

Shinju Matsuri (Festival of the Pearl) is an incredible experience that offers colour, sound and taste in abundance – captivating your senses while celebrating Broome’s cultural heritage. First created to honour pearl divers returning safe after diving adventures, today this event draws from three different cultures (Japanese Obon, Chinese New Year and Malaysian Hari Merdeka) into one unforgettable event celebrated both locally and by visitors alike. Now entering its 40th year it has become one of Broome’s premier celebrations and an iconic event for locals as well as visitors alike.

Festival Hub at Town Beach is at the vibrant core of this festival, where you can experience captivating performances and cultural displays, while indulging in food from local vendors while taking advantage of captivating entertainment on offer.

Avoid missing the breathtaking Floating Lantern Matsuri! Don’t miss this opportunity to express yourself and contribute your mark on Broome’s unique culture by contributing a lantern kit each. Your ticket to this event includes entry to the Festival Hub as well as one lantern kit per person as well as refreshments upon arrival.

Come experience the Floating Lanterns on a guided tour with Bart Pigram, an insightful pearl farmer and storyteller from Broome’s Yawuru people. As Narlijia Tours was established to share this knowledge about its flora, fauna, history and traditions of this amazing region he can guide your tour with passion!

Relax and recharge with the soothing sounds of crystal singing bowls, shakers, shakers chimes drum voice bells and more as you experience an invigorating sound healing session led by two of Broome’s premier sound healers. This workshop is deeply restorative and deeply nourishing – an experience provided by two sound healers of Broome.

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Jetty to Jetty

The Jetty to Jetty event provides visitors with an amazing opportunity to discover Broome’s pearling history and story through the Jetty to Jetty app developed by Nyamba Buru Yawuru. Visitors are encouraged to retrace their footsteps along a heritage trail at their own pace while listening in on elders recount stories of Broome’s pearling history. Coles Indigenous Engagement Advisor Martin Taylor said he was proud to support such community events within Yawuru community as part of Coles Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business plan; Mr Taylor said.

On Sunday, September 10, Cable Beach hosts its spectacular final event of the festival: an impressive sunset cocktail party with canapes prepared by local chefs and entertainment from Kimberley cultural groups. In conjunction with this event is held the Lotterywest Shinju Matsuri Art Awards event where finalists display their works throughout town.

Streeter’s Jetty will close to the public on September 1st 2022 due to extensive structural rehabilitation being necessary and being unsafely restored as is. A thorough structural assessment revealed this need in February after being subject to public viewing for some time prior.

Marrugeku: Mutiara will take its place, reflecting upon 100 years of pearling industry cruelty through intercultural dance and visual arts performances choreographed by Dalisa Pigram, Amin Farid Soultar and Zunnur Zhafirah to inspire healing for all.

Chinatown Feast

Broome’s charming coastal township offers a rich tapestry of culture and community events. From its breathtaking Staircase to the Moon to its bustling Courthouse markets, each event provides an eye-opening insight into Broome’s captivating character.

Participate in the Shinju Matsuri (Japanese for Festival of the Pearl) to celebrate Broome’s rich multi-cultural heritage and vibrant cultural community. Attracted by Broome’s prosperous pearling industry, fortune seekers from throughout Asia brought with them their respective cultures: Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Koepanger all became an integral part of Broome’s identity, creating its current diverse community which thrives today.

This festival boasts an exciting roster of culturally significant activities throughout its month runtime, from exhibitions and workshops to concerts and a street parade. One of the festival’s signature events is its Floating Lantern Ceremony where participants release lanterns on water as a symbol of peace and remembrance; in turn, its final event – an amazing float parade showcasing creativity and energy of local community members – marks an exclamation point on its cultural significance.

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Foodies will love Chinatown Feast’s delectable cuisines and nonstop entertainment, while historic Japan Cemetery houses over 900 gravestones crafted from beautiful sandstone rocks. Or grab a beer at Matso’s in Chinatown before heading down under the stars to Sun Pictures Cinema for an alfresco movie viewing!

The Broome Markets, held each Saturday morning during the dry season at Courthouse gardens, are an absolute hive of activity. Here you can shop handmade crafts and savour delectable local foods like fresh seafood, artisanal cheeses and locally-grown produce – not to mention enjoying fragrant spices and herbs sold from stalls amidst live music in an exciting atmosphere!

Mayi Harvests

Broome’s past as an iconic pearling town has created a rich cultural tapestry. Each year, various heritage events are hosted to highlight this fascinating heritage; visitors can learn pearl diving at the Pearl Lugger Museum or take in live historical re-enactments – these experiences give visitors a deeper understanding of this town’s distinct culture.

Shinju Matsuri, or Japanese for “festival of the pearl”, has been held annually in Broome since 1970 as a tribute to its diverse heritage and South Sea pearling history, drawing fortune seekers from around the globe and including Japanese, Chinese, Malay, Koepangers Indonesians and Filipino people in addition to local Aboriginals as key components of Broome community life.

This festival takes place over the dry season and offers gourmet dining experiences, family-oriented events, and premium experience tickets such as the Floating Lantern Matsuri. Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself in the unique blend of cultures that makes this outback destination so unforgettable!

Foodies shouldn’t miss dining at Matso’s – Australia’s most remote brewery! Enjoy tasty tropical brews while taking in stunning views of Roebuck Bay from their outdoor seating areas.

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Mabu Buru Tours provide an intimate and immersive Indigenous experience of the Kimberley region. Johani, an honorable Karrajarri, Bardi, Nyul Nyul and Yawuru man, will lead an authentic experience that explores Aboriginal culture through Country, nature, history and lore – leaving you with greater appreciation and respect for Indigenous Australians as you uncover areas inaccessible to large groups of tourists.

Salty Plum Social Small Bar Walking Tour

Broome is known for its stunning beaches, milky blue waters and staircase to the moon; but its Indigenous culture also draws visitors in droves. Each year, the community honors this rich legacy through Shinju Matsuri events and tours that share local knowledge of Australia’s northern pearling region.

One of the highlights of this unique festival is the Shinju Matsuri Arts Awards, which honours Broome community talent. Artists entering are encouraged to draw inspiration from Broome’s rich culture, history and people for their artwork submission.

Salty Plum Social Small Bar Walking Tour is another essential event for art enthusiasts, offering three hours of cultural immersion and socialising in Chinatown’s historic precinct, featuring digital image projections brought to life through leisurely strolling as you visit heritage-listed sites brought alive through digital projections, with stops along the way for drinks and canapes at select venues.

At its birth during the pearling era, Broome developed an intriguing multi-cultural identity as Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Koepanger cultures coexisted peacefully alongside Aboriginal people. You can relive this period at Shinju Fringe; an offshoot of Festival of the Pearl that will offer three days of community entertainment next month.

Experience Broome from an entirely unique perspective with Jarndu Ngaank women’s talk tours led by Elder Pat, senior cultural woman Elder Pat is your guide and will offer an intimate glimpse of Aboriginal culture from a female point of view. Listen to stories and learn traditional knowledge while traversing Kimberley landscape with your guide – an experience not to be missed!

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