A celebration of culture, cameleer heritage and outback spirit
From July 8–10 2025, the legendary frontier town of Birdsville will buzz with excitement during the inaugural Birdsville Camel Carnival. Supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, this new free family event brings desert communities together through a shared love of culture, storytelling, and one unforgettable animal.
At the Birdsville Camel Carnival, you can experience the thrill of camel rides and pig races, enjoy live music echoing across the plains, and dive into the rich cultural threads of the desert’s cameleer past. This event promises an unforgettable experience for everyone.
Sharing Birdsville Stories
Camels have roamed the area around Birdsville for generations, embodying values such as culture, connection, and resilience. In an attempt to honour these beautiful creatures, the Birdsville Camel Carnival will feature camel rides, a celebration of cameleer culture, and recognition of the diverse people who shaped outback life.
Through engaging storytelling, the newly curated Frances Gage McGinn exhibition, Birdsville – The Black Book, and other interactive experiences, the event breathes life into an inspirational chapter of Australian history in the landscape where it unfolded.
Outback-Style Entertainment
Whether you’re travelling with kids, or planning a fun weekend with friends, the program has something for you. Meet the Legendary Crackup Sisters as they bring their whip-cracking, joke-slinging antics to Camel Corner, or listen out for acoustic musicians and roaming performers as they create the soundtrack to your unforgettable weekend.
The event is a delightful blend of liveliness and relaxation. As part of the Desert Champions Way: Outback Camel Trail, Birdsville joins four other outback towns in a month-long celebration of the region’s cameleer history. Think camel races in Jundah, Bedourie, Boulia and Winton, underpinned by Birdsville’s thrilling festival.
The carnival will also feature an artisan market, where local makers will showcase their wares, including the Birdsville Bakery’s camel pies.
Headlining the carnival are evening concerts at the Birdsville Hotel, which bring top Australian acts to the edge of the Simpson Desert. This isn’t your average gig — it’s starlit skies and a crowd that feels more like family than a festival.
“Bring ya chair, ya mum, ya kids, and your neighbour to watch a show and share a laugh,” says S.T.Ruth of the Crackup Sisters.
The Outback is open – come and say G’day!
The Birdsville Camel Carnival is part of an Outback Queensland initiative to celebrate our unique stories, environments, and cultural legacies. Visitors can witness and actively participate in a proud, living tradition here, where history rides again, one camel at a time.
Join the journey this July and immerse yourself in something extraordinary, where red dust, roaring laughter, and desert skies converge at the edge of the map.
Birdsville Camel Carnival — July 8–10, 2025. Out here, every track tells a story.
Plan your Outback-tastic adventure today at: www.thediamantina.com.au/birdsvillecamelcarnival.
To discover all the amazing things to do in Birdsville during your visit, click here.
