You have to take your hat off to the people of Alice Springs: they know to celebrate a good piece of winter headwear – especially during the popular annual Beanie Festival from June 23-26.
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Organiser Jo Nixon is the granddaughter of founder Adi Dunlop and has been involved since the festival was started in 1997.
“I’ve seen it grow, develop and become one of the Northern Territory and Australia’s favourite festivals,” she said.
She said 150 people from interstate and overseas would volunteer at this year’s festival including newcomers and returning volunteers. “The event creates a lovely warm atmosphere where everyone is happy and sharing their skills. It’s four days of complete delight.”
Jo said beanies were important to the people of Alice Springs, where winter nights are cold and many locals see them as a way to make a statement about themselves.
About 7,000 beanies will be available at the festival, with 500 beanie makers contributing.
There will be best beanie competitions, textile workshops, kids craft activities and more, while funds raised will be used to support Indigenous women in remote central communities.
Beanie maker Margaret Banks has been making the trip to the festival from Melbourne since 2006.
She said the event was great fun, cultivated a strong sense of kinship and camaraderie.
“It never ceases to amaze me the number of people who are always waiting for the beanies on the Friday as if it’s a Myers sale,” she said.
Two of the most eccentric and unusual beanies she has seen were beanies joined by a scarf plus one sporting an elephant’s trunk.
The festival is held at the Araluen Centre, 61 Larapinta Drive, Alice Springs.
This story originally appeared on The Senior.
