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PICNIC DAY (NT)

When is Picnic Day (NT) in 2024?

Picnic Day (NT) in 2024 is on the Monday, 5th of Aug (8/05/2024).

Picnic Day (NT) is on the 218th day of 2024. There are 148 days left in the year.

Picnic Day (NT) Facts

  • Date: Aug 05, 2024
  • National
  • Also Called: Daun or Dia International Del Daun
  • Celebrations: Celebrations; Adventure, relaxing, cooking, shopping
Picnic Day (NT) iImage Credit: PixaBay.com

The first Monday of August is Picnic Day for those who live in the Northern Territory of Australia. The public holiday is also known as Daun or Dia International Del Daun. It serves as an extra day of rest after a long weekend full of various events.

History of Picnic Day

The exact origin of this holiday is not known. However, three sources try to explain the history behind Picnic Day. According to one source, Picnic Day was founded to commemorate the freedom of over 3000 Chinese workers. These workers also called coolies were slaves who provided cheap labor during the construction of the North Australian Railway. The railway connected the city of Darwin and Larrimah. When the railway construction was completed in 1889, the Chinese coolies were granted rights to live in Australia as citizens. They also received enough money to travel back to Hong Kong by a steamboat. The Chinese workers were excited to be free, and they went for a picnic at the Adelaide River to celebrate their new status.

The other source argues that the day was created to give the workers who were constructing the North Australian Railway a picnic day to enjoy at the Adelaide River.

The last source claims that the day has its origin from a race meeting that was held in 1947. Following the event's success, the organizers made it an annual event under the name Harts Range races. The organizers then presented a petition to the Northern Territory administration that pleaded for a holiday that would coincide with the dates of the Harts

Range Races. The administration gave in to their pleas and the day was renamed the Northern Territory Picnic Day.

Today, the first Monday of August is an official public holiday celebrated by all the residents of the Northern Territory.

How to Celebrate Picnic Day

Picnic Day is part of a long weekend holiday and therefore comes with plenty of activities to engage in.

You can plan for a short holiday with your family outside the town or just relax at home. Better still, go on a picnic lunch at a park and have fun spending quality time with your family. Another idea would be to attend the sporting events that could be happening in your area. This can include baseball, football, and netball games.

Plan to attend the famous Harts Range annual races which take place during the Picnic Day long weekend. The races are held in the Harts Ranges which is about 215 KM northeast of Alice Springs. The fun-filled event features bull rides, utility truck competition, whip cracking, rural ball, lizard races, and children’s novelty events.

Picnic Day is also a perfect time to visit the Adelaide River and participate in the railway heritage picnic activities organized for this day. Adelaide town is about 114km south of Darwin. Some of the activities that take place during the traditional railway picnic event include tug-of-war, egg and spoon races, the sack and three-legged races among other exciting activities you would not want to miss. Traditional food and refreshments are also served during the event.

Why Celebrate Picnic Day

Picnic Day celebrates the beauty of the Northern Territory and its rugged and inspiring landscapes. From the pod-like domes of Kata Tjuta, the ancient Uluru rocks to the Cliffs of Watarrka National Park.

Picnic Day also gives us an opportunity to celebrate the rural side of life with the Harts Range Bush races. The event is very popular, and that explains why it has been in existence for over 70 years now.

If you love to barbecue with friends, then celebrating Picnic Day will give you an excuse to enjoy your favorite treat. It means you can invite friends, set up a campfire and grill your meat as you dance to soothing music.

Interesting Facts about the Northern Territory

• The capital of Northern Territory is Darwin

• The Northern Territory’s coastline is over 13,500km long.

• Other than English, the top five languages spoken in the region are indigenous Australian languages, Filipino, Greek, Malayalam, and Mandarin

• 51.7 percent of the people living in Northern Territory are male while 48.3 are female

• The total population of the Northern Territory is about 245,000

• The Finke River in the Northern Territory is the oldest river system in the world

• The famous Uluru rock is millions of years old and stands about 348 meters high.

Picnic Day (NT) Observances

DAY
DATE
HOLIDAY NAME
  • Mon
  • Aug 07, 2017
  • Mon
  • Aug 06, 2018
  • Mon
  • Aug 05, 2019
  • Mon
  • Aug 03, 2020
  • Mon
  • Aug 02, 2021

List of National and Regional Public Holidays of Australia in 2023

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
SundaySunJan 01, 2023Jan 01New Year's Day
MondayMonJan 02, 2023Jan 02New Year's Day Holiday
ThursdayThuJan 26, 2023Jan 26Australia Day
MondayMonMar 06, 2023Mar 06Labour Day (WA)
MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13Labour Day (VIC)
MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13Eight Hours Day (TAS)
MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13Canberra Day (ACT)
FridayFriApr 07, 2023Apr 07Good Friday
SundaySunApr 09, 2023Apr 09Easter Sunday
MondayMonApr 10, 2023Apr 10Easter Monday
TuesdayTueApr 25, 2023Apr 25Anzac Day
MondayMonMay 01, 2023May 01May Day (NT)
MondayMonJun 05, 2023Jun 05Western Australia Day (WA)
MondayMonJun 12, 2023Jun 12King's Birthday (Most region)
MondayMonAug 07, 2023Aug 07Picnic Day (NT)
MondayMonSep 25, 2023Sep 25King's Birthday (WA)
MondayMonOct 02, 2023Oct 02King's Birthday (QLD)
MondayMonOct 02, 2023Oct 02Labour Day (Most Region)
MondayMonDec 25, 2023Dec 25Christmas Day
TuesdayTueDec 26, 2023Dec 26Boxing Day
SundaySunDec 31, 2023Dec 31New Year's Eve

List of Popular Celebration Days of United States in 2023

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
ThursdayThuJan 12, 2023Jan 12National Pharmacists Day
ThursdayThuJan 19, 2023Jan 19National Popcorn Day
WednesdayWedFeb 01, 2023Feb 01National Signing Day
ThursdayThuFeb 02, 2023Feb 02Groundhog Day
FridayFriFeb 03, 2023Feb 03National Wear Red Day
ThursdayThuFeb 09, 2023Feb 09National Pizza Day
MondayMonFeb 13, 2023Feb 13Galentine's Day
TuesdayTueFeb 14, 2023Feb 14Valentine's Day
WednesdayWedFeb 15, 2023Feb 15National Bagel Day
SaturdaySatFeb 18, 2023Feb 18National Drink Wine Day
TuesdayTueFeb 21, 2023Feb 21National Pancake Day
WednesdayWedFeb 22, 2023Feb 22National Margarita Day
FridayFriMar 03, 2023Mar 03National Employee Appreciation Day
TuesdayTueMar 07, 2023Mar 07National Cereal Day
SundaySunMar 12, 2023Mar 12Daylight savings
MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13National Napping Day
TuesdayTueMar 14, 2023Mar 14National Walkout Day
TuesdayTueMar 14, 2023Mar 14National Pi Day
MondayMonMar 20, 2023Mar 20National Proposal Day
ThursdayThuMar 23, 2023Mar 23National Puppy Day
ThursdayThuMar 30, 2023Mar 30National Doctor Day
WednesdayWedApr 05, 2023Apr 05National Walking Day
ThursdayThuApr 06, 2023Apr 06National Burrito Day
FridayFriApr 07, 2023Apr 07National Beer Day
TuesdayTueApr 11, 2023Apr 11National Pet Day
WednesdayWedApr 12, 2023Apr 12National Grilled Cheese Day
ThursdayThuMay 04, 2023May 04National Day Of Prayer
SundaySunMay 14, 2023May 14Mother's Day
ThursdayThuMay 25, 2023May 25National Towel Day
ThursdayThuMay 25, 2023May 25National Wine Day
FridayFriJun 02, 2023Jun 02National Donut Day
ThursdayThuJun 08, 2023Jun 08National Best Friends Day
SundaySunJun 18, 2023Jun 18Father's Day
WednesdayWedJun 21, 2023Jun 21National Selfie Day
ThursdayThuJun 22, 2023Jun 22National Kissing Day
TuesdayTueJul 11, 2023Jul 11Amazon Prime Day
ThursdayThuJul 13, 2023Jul 13National French Fry Day
FridayFriJul 14, 2023Jul 14National Nude Day
SundaySunJul 16, 2023Jul 16National Ice Cream Day
WednesdayWedJul 19, 2023Jul 19National Hot Dog Day
MondayMonJul 24, 2023Jul 24National Tequila Day
SaturdaySatJul 29, 2023Jul 29National Chicken Wing Day
TuesdayTueAug 01, 2023Aug 01National Girlfriends Day
SundaySunAug 06, 2023Aug 06National Sister Day
MondayMonSep 18, 2023Sep 18National Cheeseburger Day
TuesdayTueOct 03, 2023Oct 03National Boyfriends Day
WednesdayWedOct 04, 2023Oct 04National Vodka Day
WednesdayWedOct 04, 2023Oct 04National Taco Day
MondayMonOct 09, 2023Oct 09Leif Erikson Day
SaturdaySatOct 21, 2023Oct 21Sweetest Day
SundaySunOct 29, 2023Oct 29National Cat Day
TuesdayTueOct 31, 2023Oct 31Halloween
FridayFriNov 03, 2023Nov 03National Sandwich Day
FridayFriNov 24, 2023Nov 24Black Friday
MondayMonNov 27, 2023Nov 27Cyber Monday
SaturdaySatDec 02, 2023Dec 02Candle Day
SaturdaySatDec 09, 2023Dec 09National Pastry Day
FridayFriDec 15, 2023Dec 15National Ugly Sweater day