Barunga Festival has drawn thousands from across the Top End

From cute choirs to all the action of the deadly AFL, see all the fun from Barunga Festival in our mega gallery.

THE ICONIC Barunga Festival has drawn thousands of people from across the Top End to a weekend of arts, culture and music.

The event, famous for presenting the Prime Minister Bob Hawke with the Barunga Statement, has a strong history of showcasing the Katherine region and supporting remote Indigenous communities to come together and celebrate the positive aspects of community life.

This year, festival goers cheered on local teams as they challenged various other remote communities in games of AFL, softball, cricket and basketball.

A Bungul set the scene with dancers from Groote Island introducing audiences to traditional and ceremonial welcomes.

Local bands along with the Barunga School children’s choir kept people on their feet dancing, before the unseasonally humid weather took people to the river to cool off.

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Sitting together at Barunga, locals and visitors captured the spirit of this year’s festival, Countrymen sharing culture.

Darwin mother Leah McLennan was one of the estimated 3000 people who travelled to the community, 80km east of Katherine.

“It’s been absolutely brilliant,” Ms McLennan said. “Just an upbeat happy vibe.”

The family friendly festival will continue on Sunday, with the evening closing with a bungul (traditional dances) and a concert.

SEE ALL THE PICS HERE:

Bungul time with the Groote Eylandt dancers in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Bungul time with the Groote Eylandt dancers in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Bungul time with the Groote Eylandt dancers in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Bungul time with the Groote Eylandt dancers in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Bungul time with the Groote Eylandt dancers in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Tyquan Wilfred , Leo Hall , Stretton Cooper and Nick Bonson relax in the shade a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Local bands get their star turn in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Local bands get their star turn in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Local bands get their star turn in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Local bands get their star turn in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Half time kick about as the Gunbalanya V The Barracuda Bulldogs in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Gunbalanya V The Barracuda Bulldogs in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Gunbalanya V The Barracuda Bulldogs in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Gunbalanya V The Barracuda Bulldogs in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Kalarno Bombers Pitcher Kaitlyn Austral against the Wadeye Magic in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

The crowd goes wild in the mens basketball as the Arnhem Crows V Galwinku Tigers game goes down to the wire in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

The crowd goes wild in the mens basketball as the Arnhem Crows V Galwinku Tigers game goes down to the wire in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Annette Lantjin of the Wadeye Magicagainst the Kalarno Bombers in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

the Basketball kings V Galwinku Tigers game goes down to the wire in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Kalarno Bombers runner Joniesha Manbuloo against the Wadeye Magic in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Kalarno Bombers bench emotional against the Wadeye Magic in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Teams come together post game in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Siobahan Gibbs from Brisbane in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Lexie Gregory from Darwin in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Federal Member for Lingiari Marian Scrymgeour speaks at a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Member for Arnhem Selina Uibo speaks at a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Kalrno pensioner Peter Byres turns out for a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Elizabeth Jentian 10, as the Barunga Schoolkids Choir is the first act of a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Local parents turn out as the Barunga Schoolkids Choir is the first act of a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

The youngsters turn out as the Barunga Schoolkids Choir is the first act of a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

The youngsters turn out as the Barunga Schoolkids Choir is the first act of a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Local Barunga School student Lily, sings in the choir at the Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Elizabeth Jentian 10, as the Barunga Schoolkids Choir is the first act of a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Fitzroy Crossing Blueswoman Kankawa s in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell

Bungul time with the Groote Eylandt dancers in a weekend of Music, Sport and Culture at the Barunga Festival. Picture Glenn Campbell