Stuff We Like #76 - Mindil Beach Sunset Markets

Hey everyone, Toni here for another Stuff We Like. Today I wanted to talk to you about one of the things that makes Darwin famous. 
Every dry season the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets start up. They run on Thursday nights with a smaller version on Sunday night.

​

Thousands, and I do mean thousands, of tourists and locals flock down to Mindil every week to enjoy the food & craft stalls and just the all round atmosphere. Fireworks are always a part of the fun on the first and last market for the year. 

Blankets and camp chairs are brought down and set up on the lawns or beach. Hell, I've even seen people with camp tables, tablecloths, glasses and vases with flowers in them. Darwin's equivalent to roughing it I'm sure. LOL
There are roughly 60 food stalls covering just about every cuisine possible. It wouldn't be the Territory without a Roadkill cafe, then on the other side there's a stall called the lucky cow, a vegetarian stall that does an amazing deep fried camembert. Fresh fruit and smoothies are also in abundance. There are 130 craft stalls, from soap and moisturizers, to clothes and local artists drawings.

Not only are there stalls and food galore to keep you entertained there's also live music, kids playing instruments or singing busking for money and then performers and artists putting on shows. 

They officially open at 5pm and run through to 10pm at night but if you head down there earlier most stalls will start trading well before 5pm

My daughter counts down the weeks every year until the first market, she can't wait to head down and get her banana and honey smoothie.