Shinju Matsuri 2023: Festival organisers cancel fireworks, Jetty Gala due to inflation

The organisers behind a long-running Broome festival, Shinju Matsuri, have revealed the fireworks display, a much-anticipated highlight of the festival finale, and the Jetty Gala have been cancelled from this year’s program.

In a statement released Thursday organisers said while the events had received significant support from major sponsors, inflations costs had meant it was “impossible” to fund the two events.

“The Shinju Matsuri board and event organisers, Kimberley Special Events, have decided it would be more beneficial to the Broome community and visiting guests to focus on putting the funding into the better execution of a variety of community events,” the statement said.

In place of the Jetty Gala on Friday 1st September, there will be an alternative event taking place at the Broome Civic Centre, Marrugeku: Mutiara.

Mutiara is a show which reflects on 100 years of the brutality seduction of Broome’s pearling industry, told through intercultural dance and visual art revealing the resilience, love and strength of ancestors.

It will be choreographed by Dalisa Pigram, Amin Farid Soultar, Zunnur Zhafirah and ex-pearl diver Ahmat Bin Fadal.

The Lotterywest Shinju Festival Finale will still take place on Sunday, September 10, with the event focusing on performances from local groups in the absence of fireworks.

Anyone who had already purchased tickets for the Jetty Gala will be contacted by the Shinju Matsuri team over the coming weeks.