City of Darwin’s Fun Bus program is celebrating 35 years of lighting up lives with a community celebration at Lake Alexander on Saturday 20 July 2024.
The party will run from 3pm until 7pm and will feature a free sausage sizzle, waterslide, jumpy castle and entertainment from Fairy Jill’s Enchanted Entertainment and Tip Top Circus.
Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said to reach 35 years was a wonderful achievement and encouraged everyone to celebrate a Darwin family institution.
“The Fun Bus mobile playgroup is a fantastic resource for the community and we are very proud that it is still going strong after all these years,” Mr Vatskalis said.
“I love hearing the stories about Darwin parents, who went to Fun Bus as kids, are now bringing their own families along to enjoy the inclusive and educational activities on offer.
“There will plenty of fun and exciting activities available at the celebrations, including lantern and drumming workshops and Fun Bus and Fun in the Parks activities.
“The party is for anyone with young children, but also for anyone who took part in Fun Bus when they, or their kids, were younger and want to relive the memories.
“It will be a great opportunity for the community to celebrate the work the Fun Bus has done over the last 35 years to create welcoming and supportive spaces for Darwin families,” he said.
The ‘lighting up lives for 35 years’ theme will be reflected in the entertainment with fire twirlers and lantern making activities on offer.
The Fun Bus is a free accessible mobile playgroup that provides play-based activities for children under five and their parents and carers.
Operating from outdoor parks during the dry season and City of Darwin’s community centres in the wet season, the Fun Bus provides is an educational program which is stimulating, engaging, developmentally appropriate and enhances children’s learning and development.
The Fun Bus first originated around 1979, when it was established by the Darwin Family Centre and funded by the Northern Territory Government, before it was handed over to City of Darwin, in conjunction with the Northern Territory Government, in 1989.
