Pack your dancing shoes and sense of adventure – the Opal Capital of the World is calling!
Where else but Coober Pedy can you swing a golf club under the stars, dance with belly dancers and bush bands, and celebrate opals, outback culture, and community all in one unforgettable weekend?
The Coober Pedy Opal Festival is back from June 13-15, bringing all the colour, creativity, and country spirit that this iconic town is famous for.
The festivities kick off on the Friday night with the Opening Night Dinner at the Big Winch 360, a local landmark with panoramic views of Coober Pedy’s unique desert landscape. Guests will be treated to a classic carvery meal, plus high-energy performances from the fabulous Beautifully You Belly Dance crew from Port Pirie. There’ll also be a chance to play a round of night golf on Coober Pedy’s famous course – the only one in the world with reciprocal rights with St Andrews in Scotland!
On Saturday, Hutchison Street will burst into life with a street parade leading to the community oval, where the real action begins. Expect live music, markets, delicious food and family-friendly fun. The oval will be buzzing with performances from Golden Guitar winner Gleny Rae, calling an old-fashioned barn dance alongside Alice Springs’ talented Mparntwe String Band – a heartwarming group born from Gleny Rae’s string band initiative to bring people together through music. Local Indigenous musician Simon O’Toole will also take to the stage for a special evening set.
Circus Elements will return with jaw-dropping tricks and will be running hands-on circus workshops for all ages. Kris Messenger from Bugs n Slugs is also back, inviting curious young minds to uncover dinosaur mystery blocks and fossick through nature’s wonders. Festival favourites like the fiercely contested Opal Festival King and Queen crowning and the ever-popular Tug of War will bring the crowd together for some good old-fashioned fun. There’ll be bouncy castles and a variety of novelty games, plus plenty to keep the littlest festival goers entertained thanks to RICE (Remote & Isolated Children’s Exercise), who are returning with their hugely popular under-5s activities.
Wet your whistle at the Coober Pedy Amateur Race Club bar, or enjoy Matriarch & Rogue wines straight from the Clare Valley, and as the sun sets, enjoy belly dancing, local talent and a stunning fireworks display lighting up the desert sky.
And for those looking to round out the weekend, Sunday has even more in store — from the roar of engines at the local Speedway to a quieter, reflective experience with the Coober Pedy Historical Society’s guided tour of Boot Hill Cemetery.
Coober Pedy Opal Festival
WHEN- June 13-15, 2025
OPENING NIGHT @ THE BIG WINCH – (Bookings essential) Click Here
FOR MORE INFO – Click Here
