Calendar of Events

Wherever you go in Australia, you'll find special events of all kinds, from the serious to the wild and wacky. For an exhaustive list of events beyond those listed here, check http://events.frommers.com, where you'll find a searchable, up-to-the-minute roster of what's happening in cities all over the world.

January

Sydney Festival: Highlights of Sydney's visual and performing arts festival are free jazz or classical music concerts held outdoors on 2 Saturday nights near the Royal Botanic Gardens. (Take a picnic and arrive by 4pm to get a place.) Call tel. 02/8248 6500 or go to www.sydneyfestival.org.au. Three weeks from early January.

Hyundai Hopman Cup, Perth: Tennis greats from the world's nine top tennis nations battle it out in a 7-day mixed-doubles competition. For tickets, contact Ticketek (tel. 13 28 49 in Australia; www.ticketek.com), or check www.hopmancup.com.au. First week of January.

Tamworth Country Music Festival, Tamworth (459km/285 miles northwest of Sydney), New South Wales: It may look like an Akubra Hat Convention, but this gathering of rural folk and city folk who would like to be rural folk is Australia's biggest country music festival. The Tamworth Visitor Information Centre (tel. 02/6767 5300; www.tcmf.com.au) takes bookings. January 16 to January 26, 2009.

Australia Day: Australia's answer to the Fourth of July marks the landing of the First Fleet of convicts at Sydney Cove in 1788. Every town puts on some kind of celebration; in Sydney, there are ferry races and tall ships on the harbor, food and wine stalls in Hyde Park, open days at museums and other attractions, and fireworks in the evening. January 26.

February

Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras: A month of events, culminating in a spectacular parade of costumed dancers and decorated floats, watched by several hundred thousand onlookers, followed by a giant warehouse party (by invitation only). Contact Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras (tel. 02/9568 8600; www.mardigras.org.au). The parade is scheduled for February 28, 2009.

Perth International Arts Festival: This annual 3-week-long festival covers everything from theater and music to film, visual arts, street arts, literature, and free community events, and attracts around 300,000 patrons. It also incorporates the Perth Writers Festival. For more details, contact the festival organizers (tel. 08/6488 2000; www.perthfestival.com.au).

March

Australian Formula One Grand Prix, Melbourne: The first Grand Prix of the year, on the international FIA Formula 1 World Championship circuit, is battled out on one of its fastest circuits, in Melbourne. For tickets, contact Ticketek (tel. 132 849 in Australia), or order online at http://cars.grandprix.com.au. Four days in the first or second week of March.

Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, Scarborough Beach, Perth, Western Australia: Up to 8,000 bronzed Aussie and international men and women swim, ski paddle, sprint relay, pilot rescue boats, parade past admiring crowds, and resuscitate "drowning" swimmers in front of around 10,000 spectators. Contact Surf Life Saving Australia (tel. 02/9300 4000; www.slsa.com.au). March 17 to March 22, 2009.

April

Anzac Day, nationwide: April 25 is Australia's national day of mourning for servicemen and women who have died in wars and conflict. Commemorative services are held even in the smallest towns, some at dawn and some later, with major cities holding street parades for returned servicemen and women. Huge crowds turn out. Details of all services in Australia can be found at www.dva.gov.au/commem/anzac.

June

Sydney Film Festival: World and Australian premieres of Aussie and international movies take place in the State Theatre and other venues. Contact the Sydney Film Festival (tel. 02/9318 0999; www.sydneyfilmfestival.org). Two weeks from first or second Friday in June.

August

Sun-Herald City to Surf, Sydney: Fifty thousand Sydneysiders pound the pavement (or walk or wheelchair it) in this 14km (8 3/4-mile) "fun run" from the city to Bondi Beach, which has been run for the past 35 years. For entry details, visit http://city2surf.sunherald.com.au (from June onward), or call tel. 1800/555 514 in Australia. If slots are available, you can enter the day of the race. The fee is A$30 (US$27/£14). Second Sunday in August.

Henley-on-Todd Regatta, Alice Springs: Sounds sophisticated, doesn't it? It's actually a harum-scarum race down the dry bed of the Todd River in homemade "boats," made from anything you care to name -- an old four-wheel-drive chassis, say, or beer cans lashed together. The only rule is the vessel has to look vaguely like a boat. Contact the organizers at tel. 08/8952 6796 or www.henleyontodd.com.au. Usually held late August or early September.

September

Floriade, Canberra: A million tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other blooms carpet the banks of Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin in stunning themed flower-bed designs at this celebration, which features performing arts and other entertainment. Contact Canberra & Region Visitors Centre (tel. 1300/554 114 in Australia; www.visitcanberra.com.au). For more detail on Floriade, check out the website www.floriadeaustralia.com. September 12 to October 11, 2009.

October

Lexmark Indy 300 Carnival, Surfers Paradise, Queensland: The world's best Indy-car drivers race a street circuit around Surfers Paradise on the glitzy Gold Coast as part of the international FedEx Championship champ car motor-sport series. Contact Ticketek (tel. 1300/303 103 in Australia; www.ticketek.com), or check the event's website (www.indy.com.au). Four days in mid- or late October.

November

Melbourne Cup, Flemington racecourse: They say the entire nation stops to watch this horse race. That's about right. If you're not actually at the A$3.5-million (US$3.1-million/£1.5-million) race, you're glued to the TV -- or, well, you're probably not an Australian. Women wear hats to the office, files on desks all over the country make way for a late chicken and champagne lunch, and don't even think about flagging a cab at the 3:20pm race time. For tickets, contact Ticketmaster (tel. 1300/136 122 in Australia; www.ticketmaster.com.au); for information, visit www.vrc.net.au. First Tuesday in November.

December

Sydney-to-Hobart Yacht Race: Find a cliff-top spot near the Heads to watch the glorious show of spinnakers, as 100 or so yachts leave Sydney Harbour for this grueling world-class event. The organizer is the Sydney-based Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (tel. 02/8292 7800; www.cyca.com.au). Starts December 26.

New Year's Eve: Watching the Sydney Harbour Bridge light up with fireworks is a treat. The main show is at 9pm, not midnight, so young kids don't miss out. Pack a picnic and snag a Harbour-side spot by 4pm, or even earlier at the best vantage point -- Mrs. Macquarie's Chair in the Royal Botanic Gardens. December 31.