Have You Heard Of The Darwin Beer Can Regatta?

Whatever floats your boat, mate!

We at Festival Sherpa take pride in introducing our readers to the weirdest/coolest/most amazeballs and yet, unsung and underrated festivals from the shiftiest crevices of the world. Ergo, we love discovering new festivals. And we love enthusing about them to you. Here’s this week’s fix of quirky for you. 

The Darwin Beer Can Regatta, is exactly what it sounds like – a quirky racing festival of floats and boats made out of recycled beer cans!

Australia is the land of sunny beaches and lots of beer, and this best is the perfect combination of both. Every eyar contestants handcraft and design some pretty gnarly beer can boats and rafts which can be taken to sea. These designs are more ‘hopeful’ than anything else, and the best part is watching them hit the sea and sometimes come apart when they’re rowing back to shore.

Taking place is Darwin, Australia (obviously) the wacky festival has been around since 1974 and was started by these two very enterprising blokes Lutz Frankenfeld and Paul Rice-Chapman in a attempt to promote tourism in the city.

The festival takes place every July, and gathers creative contestants and a enthusiastic audience.

Contestants take great pride in building their boats for the Regatta by spending time and money on them, making sure they are sea ready. Of course, there is also the almost mechanical beer drinking they have to indulge in to create material for their wonder-floats. Not that anyone’s complaining!

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If you do ever plan to head to this festival there is tons for you to do as well, remember this – being a spectator is fun but the real joy comes from actually participating in the race. The festivals takes place on the Mindil beach, which is absolutely gorgeous, and it’ll do you good to head there a few days early if you’re interested in appreciating it’s beauty.

The festival comes with unlimited beer, fantastic aromatic grills and food (like the local favourite satay stick) and an extremely energetic and fun vibe. This festival should definitely be on your bucket list!