• City of Darwin's Jingili Water Festival and Families Week event, a fun and free community event taking place at the Jingili Water Gardens on Saturday 16 May 2026.   

• The festival will celebrate the 2026 National Families Week theme, ‘Every Family, Everywhere’. 

• Activities include water slides, a foam cannon, face painting, petting zoo, live DJ, guided walks, scavenger hunt, food trucks, an inflatable dodgeball arena, all building on the success of last year’s inaugural event. 

City of Darwin will bring the community together next month with a free family-friendly celebration at the Jingili Water Festival and Families Week event. 

The event, hosted by the Chan Ward Elected Members in conjunction with Fun Bus and Fun in the Parks, will be held on Saturday 16 May 2026, at Jingili Water Gardens.  

Lord Mayor Peter Styles said the event highlights the value of shared community spaces and free, accessible activities for all ages. 

“Building on the success of the 2025 inaugural Jingili Water Festival, we’re pleased to return with this much-loved event for another year,” he said.  

“Jingili Water Gardens will turn into a morning of fun, creativity and water-based activities and I encourage people of all ages to come along and enjoy it.  

“The 2026 National Families Week theme, ‘Every Family, Everywhere’, really fits what this festival is all about - creating a welcoming space where everyone can join in,” Mr Style said.  

The event has something for everyone, with guided walks, water-based play, face painting, petting zoo, water slides, a monster foam cannon, DJ, an inflatable dodgeball arena, a low sensory area, a barra themed scavenger hunt and an appearance from Boof the Barra, he said.  

 
For the adults there be guided walking tours through Jingili Water Gardens with members from Jingili Community Garden Members. 

National Families Week runs from 11 - 17 May 2026, and City of Darwin will be hosting more fun events, recognising the role of families and encouraging communities to spend quality time together. 

Jingili Water Festival and Families Week Event 
Saturday 16 May 2026 
9:00 am - 12:00 pm   
Jingili Water Gardens, 93 Freshwater Road, Jingili 
FREE 

For more information, visit Jingili Water Festival and Families Week event | City of Darwin | Darwin Council, Northern Territory