NAIDOC Week offers cultural celebration for whole community 2025
Published on 02 July 2025
Council is proud to be hosting a community flag raising ceremony for NAIDOC Week complete with cultural performances, guest speakers and markets.
Everyone is invited to come along to this free celebration on Monday, July 7, at 10am in the Civic Precinct.
Mayor Greg Williamson said the flag raising ceremony was a tremendous tradition that kicked off council’s local NAIDOC celebrations in a way that unified the community.
“This is a wonderful event that brings our community together to celebrate Indigenous culture, history and diversity,” Mayor Williamson said.
“It’s always fantastic to have the community share their culture with performances from the Tchundal Malar Aboriginal Dancers and Mackay Torres Strait Islander Dancers,” he said.
Following the flag raising ceremony, community is invited to the First Nations Markets, being supported by Indigenous business support program, Trading Tracks, in the Civic Precinct grounds.
The markets will feature traditional artwork and craft, natural products, cultural food and Indigenous themed products, and will run until 2pm.
As part of NAIDOC Week celebrations, from July 6 to 13, there will be a series of activities and events hosted by local community organisations.
These include an Elders Morning Tea, the Mr and Miss NAIDOC event, a NAIDOC youth fashion parade and plenty more. All the details can be found on the NAIDOC; Mackay and District Facebook page.
The week will culminate in the NAIDOC Street Parade to Queens Park on Friday, July 11.
Assembly for the street parade will be at 9am in Macalister Street for the commencement of the march at 10am.
The march will finish at Queens Park about 11am where there will be a showcase of cultural performances and cultural food stalls for the NAIDOC Family Fun Day. About 60 community and cultural information stalls will be onsite until 3pm.
The 2025 National NAIDOC Week theme is “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy”.
This theme honours the achievements of the past and empowers young leaders.
The Mackay Torres Strait Islander Dancers are one of the groups who proudly share their culture during the NAIDOC Flag Raising Ceremony.