Australians are known for having a laugh and not taking themselves too seriously. Some of the bizarre festivals held across the nation live up to that reputation.
Every year, people travel across the country to race boats made of beer cans, cross the red dirt in "sh-tbox cars" or show off their coiffured mullets.
Here's a list of 10 uniquely Australian festivals to add to your 2024 bucket list:
January: Parkes Elvis Festival, New South Wales
Australian fans celebrate the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis Presley, around his birthday on 8 January.
The festival celebrated its 30th year with a Blue Hawaii theme in 2023. This year's theme is the 1957 film Jailhouse Rock. Source: AAP / Stephanie Gardiner
As part of the festival, over 200 events will take place this year between 10 and 14 January, including live tribute acts, line dancing lessons and Elvis bingo.
March: Bumpers 'n' Beats Festival, Western Australia
The annual Bumpers 'n' Beats festival of Bunbury is a hit of nostalgia, with attendees admiring hundreds of vintage and customised cars during the show, held between 1 and 3 March.
The festival features live music and old movies and also encourages attendees to dress up in outfits from the 1950s to 1970s as part of its pin-up parade.
April: Sh-tbox Rally, from South Australia to Western Australia
Yes, "sh-tbox," that's a thing in Australian slang. It refers to a car that is unimpressive yet roadworthy and is valued under $1,500.
Not all beat-up cars finish the long-distance motoring event, as they travel through challenging terrain, including rivers and dirt roads. Source: AAP / Jarrad Seng
This year will see three rallies – the first being a trip from Adelaide to Perth by 20 April – and embraces a love for the underdog.
Participants attend a post-rally party at the finish line where people compare vehicles and share stories of their adventures.
May: Goomeri Pumpkin Festival, Queensland
The Great Pumpkin Roll is held in Goomeri, around 250km from Brisbane.
This year, the festival will be held on the last weekend of May, after being cancelled three times in the last four years due to COVID, flooding and drought in the Sunshine State.
The main event sees 800 pumpkins rolled down Policeman's Hill to splatter, while stalls in the town of Goomeri serve thousands of pumpkin scones and litres of pumpkin soup.
Attendees also wear bold green and orange outfits for the annual Pumpkin Pageant.
July: Boulia Camel Races, Queensland
Former Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Cassidee Sharp made the switch to camels and took out the longest camel race in 2023. Source: AAP / Matt Williams
In addition to camel races and camel tagging, this three-day festival offers family activities like camel rides, live music and helicopter rides over the Red Desert from 14 to 16 July.
August: Hervey Bay Whale Festival, Queensland
This festival allows attendees to learn about the marine world and spot a humpback whale at the peak of its migration season along Australia's east coast.
People can make their own lanterns for the Parade of Lights, see sea creatures at educational touch tanks or grab a paddleboard to witness the magic from the sea.
This year, this festival will be held from 1 to 4 August.
August: Beer Can Regatta, Northern Territory
Every year, Darwin locals gather their empty beer cans, plastic bottles and milk cartons to create vessels that float for the annual Darwin Lions Beer Regatta.
They then paddle out to find a hidden object in the water and return it to shore with flour bombs and pirate tactics employed to fight off other boats.
If you go up to the Top End on 18 August, you can be a part of the 40th-anniversary celebrations this year, with plenty of family beach activities including thong-throwing, tug-of-war and sandcastle building.
September: Broken Heel Festival, NSW
The legacy of Australian classic The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is celebrated annually with drag, cabaret, disco and plenty of feather boas in Broken Hill, where it was filmed.
Get your sparkly dresses ready and put on your dancing shoes for the 30th anniversary of the movie, with activities taking place from 5 to 9 September.
Broken Heel Festival celebrates the legacy of the beloved 1994 Australian road comedy film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Source: AAP / Rebecca Gredley
October: Deni Ute Muster, NSW
Since 1999, Australians have travelled to the outback town of Deniliquin in New South Wales to celebrate the ute, a uniquely Australian vehicle.
Originally started to help the town devastated by drought, 20,000 attendees now camp around the grounds and enjoy monster truck rides, car races and live country music.
A competitor in one of the competitions at the Deni Ute Muster. Source: Getty / Brook Mitchell
December: Mulletfest, NSW
The mullet is a beloved Australian hairstyle: short (or "business") at the front while long (or "party") at the back.
Mulletfest takes entrants from across Australia all year long, before crowning a series of awards at the finals in December. Source: AAP / Darren Pateman
Categories include the best everyday mullet, 'grubby' mullet, as well as junior mullet categories for children and even babies.
If you wish to witness the crowning glory of the winners and contestants, visit the Hunter Valley for the grand final on 7 December.
