The Goroka Show is one of Papua New Guinea's great cultural gatherings, held around Independence Day in September at the National Sports Institute grounds. It began in the late 1950s and now brings together scores of cultural groups for sing-sings, body painting, headdresses, masks, drumming, and competitions.
For travellers, this is the reason to plan around Goroka rather than merely pass through it. Book months ahead, arrange transport carefully, and expect the town to be full. The show is intense, crowded, and unforgettable when handled with a good guide and enough time.