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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 2024

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
MondayMonJan 01, 2024Jan 01New Year's Day
FridayFriJan 26, 2024Jan 26Australia Day
MondayMonMar 04, 2024Mar 04Labour Day (WA)
MondayMonMar 11, 2024Mar 11Canberra Day (ACT)
MondayMonMar 11, 2024Mar 11Eight Hours Day (TAS)
MondayMonMar 11, 2024Mar 11Labour Day (VIC)
FridayFriMar 29, 2024Mar 29Good Friday
SundaySunMar 31, 2024Mar 31Easter Sunday
MondayMonApr 01, 2024Apr 01Easter Monday
ThursdayThuApr 25, 2024Apr 25Anzac Day
MondayMonMay 06, 2024May 06May Day (NT)
MondayMonJun 03, 2024Jun 03Western Australia Day (WA)
MondayMonJun 10, 2024Jun 10King's Birthday (Most region)
MondayMonAug 05, 2024Aug 05Picnic Day (NT)
WednesdayWedSep 25, 2024Sep 25King's Birthday (WA)
MondayMonOct 07, 2024Oct 07Labour Day (Most Region)
MondayMonOct 07, 2024Oct 07King's Birthday (QLD)
WednesdayWedDec 25, 2024Dec 25Christmas Day
ThursdayThuDec 26, 2024Dec 26Boxing Day
TuesdayTueDec 31, 2024Dec 31New Year's Eve

List of Popular Celebration Days of United States in 2024

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
FridayFriJan 12, 2024Jan 12National Pharmacists Day
FridayFriJan 19, 2024Jan 19National Popcorn Day
FridayFriFeb 02, 2024Feb 02Groundhog Day
FridayFriFeb 02, 2024Feb 02National Wear Red Day
WednesdayWedFeb 07, 2024Feb 07National Signing Day
FridayFriFeb 09, 2024Feb 09National Pizza Day
TuesdayTueFeb 13, 2024Feb 13Galentine's Day
TuesdayTueFeb 13, 2024Feb 13National Pancake Day
WednesdayWedFeb 14, 2024Feb 14Valentine's Day
ThursdayThuFeb 15, 2024Feb 15National Bagel Day
SundaySunFeb 18, 2024Feb 18National Drink Wine Day
ThursdayThuFeb 22, 2024Feb 22National Margarita Day
ThursdayThuFeb 29, 2024Feb 29Leap Day
FridayFriMar 01, 2024Mar 01National Employee Appreciation Day
ThursdayThuMar 07, 2024Mar 07National Cereal Day
SundaySunMar 10, 2024Mar 10Daylight savings
MondayMonMar 11, 2024Mar 11National Napping Day
ThursdayThuMar 14, 2024Mar 14National Walkout Day
ThursdayThuMar 14, 2024Mar 14National Pi Day
WednesdayWedMar 20, 2024Mar 20National Proposal Day
SaturdaySatMar 23, 2024Mar 23National Puppy Day
SaturdaySatMar 30, 2024Mar 30National Doctor Day
WednesdayWedApr 03, 2024Apr 03National Walking Day
ThursdayThuApr 04, 2024Apr 04National Burrito Day
SundaySunApr 07, 2024Apr 07National Beer Day
ThursdayThuApr 11, 2024Apr 11National Pet Day
FridayFriApr 12, 2024Apr 12National Grilled Cheese Day
ThursdayThuMay 02, 2024May 02National Day Of Prayer
SundaySunMay 12, 2024May 12Mother's Day
SaturdaySatMay 25, 2024May 25National Towel Day
SaturdaySatMay 25, 2024May 25National Wine Day
FridayFriJun 07, 2024Jun 07National Donut Day
SaturdaySatJun 08, 2024Jun 08National Best Friends Day
SundaySunJun 16, 2024Jun 16Father's Day
FridayFriJun 21, 2024Jun 21National Selfie Day
SaturdaySatJun 22, 2024Jun 22National Kissing Day
SaturdaySatJul 13, 2024Jul 13National French Fry Day
SundaySunJul 14, 2024Jul 14National Nude Day
WednesdayWedJul 17, 2024Jul 17National Hot Dog Day
SundaySunJul 21, 2024Jul 21National Ice Cream Day
TuesdayTueJul 23, 2024Jul 23Amazon Prime Day
WednesdayWedJul 24, 2024Jul 24National Tequila Day
MondayMonJul 29, 2024Jul 29National Chicken Wing Day
ThursdayThuAug 01, 2024Aug 01National Girlfriends Day
SundaySunAug 04, 2024Aug 04National Sister Day
WednesdayWedSep 18, 2024Sep 18National Cheeseburger Day
ThursdayThuOct 03, 2024Oct 03National Boyfriends Day
FridayFriOct 04, 2024Oct 04National Vodka Day
FridayFriOct 04, 2024Oct 04National Taco Day
WednesdayWedOct 09, 2024Oct 09Leif Erikson Day
SaturdaySatOct 19, 2024Oct 19Sweetest Day
TuesdayTueOct 29, 2024Oct 29National Cat Day
ThursdayThuOct 31, 2024Oct 31Halloween
SundaySunNov 03, 2024Nov 03National Sandwich Day
FridayFriNov 29, 2024Nov 29Black Friday
MondayMonDec 02, 2024Dec 02Cyber Monday
SaturdaySatDec 07, 2024Dec 07Candle Day
MondayMonDec 09, 2024Dec 09National Pastry Day
FridayFriDec 20, 2024Dec 20National Ugly Sweater day