Australia Day

Celebrate Australia Day is the City of Rockingham's event, held 26th of January, bringing together the community in a vibrant, inclusive, and family-friendly celebration. Set across the scenic Churchill and Bell Parks, this flagship event showcases the City's commitment to cultural diversity, community engagement, and accessibility. The evening offers a rich program of live entertainment, cultural performances, interactive children's activities, carnival rides, and creative workshops, designed to engage residents of all ages and backgrounds. The event culminates in a spectacular fireworks display, creating a memorable experience that reflects the diverse spirit and shared identity of Rockingham's residents. • Main Stage Entertainment: •Master of Ceremonies: A charismatic host ensures smooth transitions and engaging interactions throughout the evening. •AUSLAN Interpreter: An on-stage interpreter provides live interpretation for all key announcements and introductions, ensuring accessibility for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. •Emerging Local Talent: The City of Rockingham Emerging Band winners and finalists showcase the region's up-and-coming musicians, supporting and celebrating local creativity. •Welcome to Country- Acknowledge the Traditional Custodians •First Nations Performance: A traditional cultural performance honours and celebrates the heritage and stories of the First Nations peoples. •Children's Show: A lively, interactive performance tailored for young audiences, with potential acts including Pepper Pig, The Lulus, or Paw Patrol (to be confirmed early November 2025). •Party Band - SWITCH: A dynamic headline act to close the evening with an energetic, dance-friendly atmosphere. •Cultural Groups: Performances from Chung WAH Chinese double lion dance and Apoteozzy Samba. •Acrobatic Acts: High-energy acrobatic performances provide visually stunning entertainment, enhancing crowd engagement. • Roving Entertainment: Throughout the parks, entertainers such as Balloonatic, stilt walkers, and Errol the Emu engage audiences with interactive fun and whimsical performances. • First Nations Cultural Activation: Facilitated by Milliyann Aboriginal Services, this immersive program offers: •Three scheduled storytelling sessions titled Ninni Ngingyann. •Sand Tracks activity where children learn to create and interpret traditional animal tracks through sand art and exploring how traditional stories are told through symbols and patterns. •Kep Barna Sensory Table providing a tactile experience teaching Noongar names of native animals and their environments. •Craft & Take-Home Activities featuring: oCustom 20-piece MDF jigsaw puzzles with local Aboriginal artwork illustrating a map of Australia with traditional place names and native animals. oActivity booklets titled Milliyaan Boodja Buddies including cultural learning games, colouring pages, and word finds, accompanied by colouring pencils. • Creative Zone for Children: A dedicated space where children can engage in arts and crafts, creating native flower and koala-themed squishes to take home, enhancing their personal connection to Australian wildlife. • Carnival Rides and Sideshow Alley (Bell Park): A family-friendly selection of rides including bumper cars, Traffic Jam, Lollie Swing, and Cup and Saucers, alongside traditional sideshow games and showbags, contribute to a festive carnival atmosphere. • Artistic Engagement: •Four professional face painters provide a wide variety of colourful, themed designs for children and families. •Two henna artists offer culturally rich, intricate temporary body art, creating a memorable experience for attendees. • Giant Garden Games: Large-scale interactive games such as Giant Jenga, Connect Four, and Cornhole encourage social interaction and family fun. • Fireworks Display: The event concludes with a spectacular fireworks show at 8:30 pm, providing a grand and memorable finale that brings the community together in celebration. • Inclusivity and Accessibility: Celebrate Australia Day prioritises accessibility and inclusion by: •Featuring a sensory-friendly chill-out zone for attendees with sensory sensitivities. The event will feature 24 food vendors, offering a vibrant mix of beloved local favourites alongside a diverse array of culturally inspired cuisines, providing attendees with a rich culinary experience.