The Festival

Festival Info

The Alice Springs Beanie Festival celebrated its 28th anniversary in 2024. Over 500 beanie makers from around Australia created 7258 beanies which arrived in Alice Springs ready for 4 days of beanie magic. 6000 visitors (50% local, 50% interstate) descended on the Araluen Arts Centre to enjoy the trill of the chase for that perfect beanie while enjoying home made tucker, live music and 30 textile workshops. We sold 5441 beanies for $243455 - smashing all records for any beanie festival! In the lead up to the Festival beanie making workshops were held in 5 Indigenous communities and 3 local schools, the results were outstanding and formed a large part of the Beanie Competition and Exhibition. Twelve of the Indigenous beanie makers then made their way to Alice Springs to become a part of the workshops and taught visitors to the Festival how to make beanies, share stories and culture while creating beautiful beanies.

Background History

  • How many times has the event been held?

    The Beanie Festival has been held 28 times, each year growing bigger and better. (100 beanies sold in 1997 compared to 5441 beanies in 2024!) 

2024 Information

  • General Overview

    The Beanie Festival is a celebration of the arts and textiles that surround the humble beanie. It brings together artists, locals, tourists, volunteers, Indigenous communities for a truly community feel of sharing and stories. At the Festival there is Beanie Central (over 7200 beanies hanging from the roof for general sales, a curated exhibition in Gallery 1 of the National Beanie Competition and Exhibition – with prizes for the best beanies sponsored by local businesses, teashop, cake stall, sausages, opening night with live music and food stalls, textile workshops with teachers from around the country and Indigenous beanie making workshops. 

  • Who ran the event, event management, national body?

    The Festival in a not for profit organisation and is run by a local committee and EO, and volunteers. 

  • When is it?

    June 20-23 2025, with the Exhibition running until July 13 2025. 

  • Where is it?

    Spread across the Araluen Arts Centre (Gallery 1, Witchetty’s, foyer, carpark, & Central Craft).

    Araluen Arts Centre 

    61 Larapinta Drive

     Alice Springs NT Australia.

  • Venue

    Accessing all of Araluen creates a lovely community feel, Araluen staff are an integral part of getting the Festival up and running. Visitors enjoy meandering through the different aspects of the Festival. 

Ticketing

Entry into Beanie Central is by gold coin donation.

Entry into The National Beanie Exhibition is $8 for a weekend pass or free for locals.

Children’s corner workshops are free and you can drop in anytime.

Entry into workshops have varying prices, please check out the program.

No need to book tickets.

Getting There

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Programs and Workshops

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Indigenous Beanie Making

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