Mayali Mulil Festival
If you need a getaway from the hustle and bustle, the intimate Mayali Mulil Festival is the perfect opportunity to get out of town and immerse yourself on Murumburr Umbukarla country.
Entertainment programmer and acclaimed performer Shellie Morris says the beauty of the festival is its simplicity.
“I’ve been going to major festivals and bush festivals for nearly 20 years and it’s nice to have those moments of music and culture as the story of our festival,” she says.
“There’s so much beauty in the simplicity of it all.”
The festival is in the heart of Kakadu National Park on Morris’ sister’s homestead at the Kakadu Billabong Safari Camp.
“It’s such magnificent country,” she says.
“We’re situated on the Jim Jim river system, so that’s the backdrop.”
There’s a huge range of food, entertainment and cultural activities over the weekend, with festivities for the whole family.
“There are stories to be told from the family, weaving, Mago (Didjeridu) making and, obviously, there’s a lot of bush food there,” Morris says.
“The country is known for its magpie goose – it’s a delicacy and there’s also great fishing.
“We’ve got eight bands from Gunbalanya on Friday night – they’re emerging bands that one of the older men in the community has been mentoring.”
Also on the musical line up is Djolpa McKenzie from Wild Water, Dhapanbal Yunupingu and Djakapurra Munyarryun.
Festivalgoers will need to pack their own camping gear for the two-night festival.
Fri 7 – Sun 9 Sep | Kakadu Billabong Safari Camp | $40/$25 Child, One day | $65/$40, Two day | $170 Fam | See the event listing
