Festivals in Port Moresby

The most famous of the Port Moresby festivals is the Hiri Moale festival. It is the foremost cultural event of Port Moresby. Other festivals are also held throughout the year which provide you a glimpse of the history and culture of Papua New Guinea. Port Moresby is the capital city of Papua.

Hiri Moale festival

The Hiri Moale festival is a 3-day colorful festival held every year in September. It is the foremost cultural event of Port Moresby. It is held on September 16, the Independence Day of Papua New Guinea. It is a time of great celebration with people dancing and singing in the streets with leis of frangipani around their necks.

The festival celebrates the epic journeys that the Motuan people of the present-day Central Province made. They used to trade clay items and sago with the Erema (Gulf) people. The Motuan people would travel by canoes to the Gulf. They would sell clay pots and yams there. In return, they would bring back sago and wooden logs. Sago was used to survive the droughts. The wooden logs were used to build the canoes.

In its present day format, the festival features an art exhibition, dances, a beauty pageant contest called the Hiri Queen contest, canoe racing and musical concerts.

Baliem Valley Festival

The Baliem Valley Festival takes place from August 8 to August 14 every year. The administration of Jayawijaya Regency organizes the festival which attracts thousands of visitors. The festival includes the slaying of pigs by warriors with their bows and arrows. The main highlight of the festival is the native tribal dance performance. The dancers wear no clothes except for penny gourds covering private body parts. The festival also includes a number of cultural competitions including singing, dancing and drama. Participants also enjoy games of archery and bull fights.

Mt. Hagen Cultural Festival
  
Every year in August, the different tribes that makeup Papua New Guinea assemble together at M. Hagen to help foster community spirit between the tribes. You can see the tribal people in their traditional costumes, people with full body paint, tattoos, detailed headgear and those carrying some traditional warfare. Their dances are very vibrant and rhythmic. Musical concerts are held. An agricultural exhibition also takes place.

Goroka Cultural Festival

The Goroka show is held in the same pattern as the Mt Hagen cultural festival. It is held in Goroka in the month of September. Here tribes also gather together to play music, dance and participate in their tribal rituals. The tourists are able to get a fascinating glimpse into their culture. The festival's origins date back to 1957 when it was held for the first time at the Independence Park. A 'Miss Gorkoa Show' contest is also held.

Visit Port Moresby during the festivals and enjoy learning more of the culture of the area.