“My fave festival of the year in Ulladulla”: ngulla NAIDOC Festival 2025 a hit
ngulla NAIDOC Festival is now well and truly back as a fixed annual calendar event, since its revival in 2024 after COVID and the Black Summer fires.
This year, an estimated 1,500 people attended (which is a rough estimation, based on knowledge that more than 1,000 free sausage sangas were given out!).
“This day is about lifting each other up, empowering the person beside you,” said Mitchell Lasker, who volunteers in Walking Together and the ngulla NAIDOC Festival, “giving strength, love, knowledge and guidance to a better future for everyone.”
The festival provided numerous opportunities for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to engage with and celebrate First Nations culture.
Live music featured Mudjingaal Yangamba Dhurga Language choir, Ulladulla youth didg’ group Miribi Bunbal, Lemonise, Ron Callo Band, Sam Ellis and Michelle McBride.
Cultural exhibits by local schools and preschools, Ulladulla TAFE NAIDOC Artworks & Dhurga Language, local organisations & community groups.
Koori Markets had Aboriginal creators selling artworks and artefacts, language resources, food, fashion and homewares.
There was a huge range of free activities and entertainment thanks to a true community effort including 37 participating stallholders offering free face painting, weaving, native reptile petting, food, circus skills, footy skills, & more.
In keeping with Aboriginal lore around kinship and community, free food was shared with the whole community, including native ingredients in offerings from Ulladulla LALC, Hayden’s Pies, and Walking Together in collaboration with MilkHaus, Jasper Peel Bakery & Lagom. Free sausage sizzles by Lions Club,NSW Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Ulladulla LALC cooked up more than 1,000 sausages to give away!
“The feedback has been so positive”, said Leanne Brook of the Ulladulla Local Aboriginal Land Council and ngulla NAIDOC Festival co-organiser. “We are full of gratitude to all the community members and dozens of organisations who came together to share some amazing offerings and activities.”
Feedback from attendees highlighted the enriching experience of being immersed in the strength Aboriginal cultures: “This is a fantastic and entertaining exhibit of our Aboriginal culture”, “amazing festival, everyone is so inviting”.
Some of the children’s handwritten notes left with organisers declared: “best day ever!!! I had so much fun!!!” and “This is very epic, can’t wait for next year”. Kids loved free play and art activities, the circus workshop, Wanda the Wombat and the native reptile petting zoo, and didgeridoo performances.
One enthusiast simply wrote: “fave festival of the year in Ulladulla”.
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