Fremantle Festival

Editorial

When 18 November - 4 December, 2011
Where: Various locations 'round the 6959
Tickets: Many events free, for details email or (08) 9432 9786

Rather arguably, Freo is the nation's most festive suburb. The lane ways, art spaces and even the pubs of this Grand Old Dame are regularly colonised by creativity in a series of annual fetes. It's the summer sizzle of the Fremantle Festival, though, that warms the city most.

This year, Australia's most mature festival notches up 106 years of continuous activity and you might expect such a senior institution to kick its heels up in modest, stockinged style. This is not the case this year as the event meets the ISAF Sailing World Championships.

By the light of the ocean and in the shade of great sails, this is not so much a single event as a hub of community activity. The FF has many components; notably the Wardarnji Festival. This ongoing Noongar tradition explores the past and looks to the present of Indigenous culture at a family event in the grounds of the Fremantle Arts Centre on Saturday, November 26.

Further family fun unfurls in the form of the Children's Fiesta. On Saturday 19 November from 10am until 3pm, head with your small fry to Samson Park.

Plenty of nocturnal arts opportunities for grown-ups happen, too. Just check the website and prepare for Freo fun.

Helen Razer, Citysearch