Guringai Festival

Founded in 2001, the Guringai Festival aims to raise awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the Northern Sydney region. The festival usually starts on Sorry Day 26 May and goes through to the end of NAIDOC week, the second week in July each year.

The Festival involves 11 councils and numerous reconciliation and community groups. Events include workshops, art exhibitions, performances, films and talks. 

History of the Guringai Festival

Before the founding of the Guringai Festival in 2001, many Councils in the northern Sydney Region participated in reconciliation programs such as Sorry Day and NAIDOC Week with their own Civic programs, receptions, awards and performances.

In 2001 Manly, Warringah and Pittwater Councils together with various community groups incorporated all their Reconciliation Day and NAIDOC Week events across the northern beach peninsula under one ‘festival’ umbrella. It was decided that the festival would be named 'The Guringai Festival - Footprints on the Peninsula'.

In 2003, Willoughby, Lane Cove, North Sydney, Hornsby and Kuringai Councils joined the partnership together with more local community and reconciliation groups. 2006 saw Taronga Zoo and Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority commence their participation in the festival

The Guringai Festival is unique in incorporating events from across ten Local Governments across Northern Sydney working together to celebrate Aboriginal culture and heritage, one of the oldest cultures in the world.

The Guringai Festival Committee works actively to promote awareness and understanding of Australia’s indigenous culture by encouraging participation in the annual festival and its art and cultural programs. The Festival runs each year from late May (National Sorry Day) through to mid July (NAIDOC week) and is a joint project between ten local government areas based on the traditional lands of the Guringai people as well as community groups and other government departments.