January
Horse Races, Open Tennis Championships, 10 km Run. Trans-Tasman Theatre Festival.
February
International Clay Target Championship, Golf Carnival, Triathlon, Veterans Golf and Bowls Tournaments.
March
Foundation Day On March 6th, 1788, after five days of sailing around Norfolk Island seeking a landing place, Lieutenant Philip Gidley King finally discovered a way through the reef at Kingston and was able to land his party of nine male and seven female convicts and seven free men. Norfolk thus became Britain's second colony in the Pacific, just six weeks after the foundation of Australia This event is colorfully re-enacted each year - don't miss it.
Kids in Traditional Dress
April
Triathlon, Easter Golf Tour-nament, Veterans TennisTour-nament, Walkathon, Bounty Bowls Tournament
May
Country Music Festival, featuring the Trans-Tasman Entertainer of the Year Award, Street Parade, Gymkhana.
June
Bounty Golf Tournament.
Bounty Day Every year on June 8th, just as they
have done since 1856, the islanders don traditional gear and re-enact the landing of their
ancestors at Kingston jetty. This is followed by a walk to the Cenotaph for the laying of
wreaths, then to the wonderful old cemetery where the touching Pitcairn hymns are sung. A
colourful and elaborate picnic is then held at Slaughter Bay, in the windless enclosure
inside the massive walls of what once was the pentagonal prison. If you know some of the
locals you could be asked to join them at their tables or ground-camps, bedecked with
flowers and groaning with island dishes. If not, take your own rug, food and beverage.
Though waves of the strangely cadenced Pitcairnese language will wash around you, you'll
feel welcome. As the sun sinks towards the sea and the shadows lengthen, you may fancy you
hear a Bounty roll-call. And perhaps you will imagine you see lips move, framing
the word `Aye'.
Now it's time to go home and get ready for the Bounty Ball
at 7 pm at Rawson Hall.
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July
Writers and Readers Festival
Squash - Norfolk Island Masters & Open
Cycling -Tour de Norfolk
Tennis - Veterans Doubles
Pony Club - Jumpathon
August
Bowls - Open Fours and Oceana Classic Triples.
September
Annual Spring Fair, held in the grounds of the lovely St. Barnabas Chapel.
October
Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Annual Show A tradition since 1860. Gigantic fruits and vegetables, home-made edibles (later for sale), photographic display, island crafts, children's art, etc. Equestrian and dog agility displays, cat show, stalls.
November
Thanksgiving Day Services, held since the days of the visiting American whalers, celebrated in harvest festival-style in the churches. Bridge Congress with Ron Klinger.
December
Christmas Parade. Christmas Shopping.
