The Lets Dance Carinda Music Festival is unique to the country town of Carinda. In 1983, David Bowie visited Carinda, where he filmed his iconic song 'Let's Dance' in the Carinda Hotel. This special event enticed the town to create this one-of-a-kind festival with unique ties to Carinda, something that no other town can claim. The festival is held annually over the October Long Weekend.
On Saturday, the main program features a lineup of artists and bands, workshops for visitors, demonstrations of sheep shearing and crutching, and a dog jumping competition. The festival encourages attendees to dress up as David Bowie, with competitions for the best-dressed lookalikes in male, female, and children's categories. One of the highlights is the 'Red Shoe Tent,' where visitors can paint their old shoes red and participate in a colouring competition for children.
On Sunday, a reenactment of the Let's Dance film clip is performed at the Carinda Hotel, where this incomparable event showcases exactly where Bowie stood, with the original wall tiles behind him.
Additionally, the festival hosts a street parade on Sunday of the long weekend, where many enthusiastic participants dress in David Bowie-inspired costumes.
This event aims to enhance local community engagement, foster social connections, and encourage fans of David Bowie to enjoy a fun-filled weekend, travelling to the Country and Outback region of New South Wales.
