What’s on

JANUARY

Australia Day

Celebrate what's great about our nation at local Australia Day with community events presented by Cairns Regional Council.  The Australia Day celebrations offer a free events including breakfast, music, stalls, games, entertainment and community activities.  

https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/whats-on/annual-events/australia-day-celebrations

FEBRUARY

Chinese New Year celebrations

The most important festival in the Chinese Lunar Calendar and celebrates the significance of the New Year through dance, music and cultural performance. Cairns has a strong connection with China, reflected in the relationship with Zhanjiang, Cairns’ sister city and Zhongshan, Cairns’ friendship city, and the Chinese New Year celebrations between 25 January and 5 February are one of the biggest and most popular events on the local calendar.  The Street Festival is NOT TO BE MISSED and will be followed by a spectacular fireworks display at 9:00pm.

https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/whats-on/annual-events/chinese-new-year

ECOFiesta

Now in its tenth year, the Cairns Ecofiesta is a major festival of stellar performances, hands-on workshops and a massive expo of green-tech and sustainable living solutions. With a dedicated children's program, local street eats, roving performers and satellite events, its the perfect time to come together and celebrates their regions unique natural environment, tropical lifestyle, raises awareness of environmentally friendly living solutions and how to reduce the impacts on the environment.

https://www.queensland.com/en-au/event/cairns-ecofiesta

JULY

The Cairns Show

Bringing some of the Bush to the City and having lots of fun at the annual event. Enjoy all the festivities including rides, animals and plenty of food. This annual event is not to be missed.

https://cairnsshow.com.au/

Relay For Life

A fun and moving overnight experience that raises vital funds for the Cancer Council’s research, prevention, information and support services. Relay is a chance for the Cairns community to recognise and celebrate local cancer survivors, patients and their carers, to honour and remember loved ones lost to cancer and to raise money to help save more lives. Join the thousands of Australians who take part in Cancer Council’s Relay For Life each year in the fight against cancer: start or join a team in the Cairns 2020 Relay today!

https://secure.fundraising.cancer.org.au/site/TR/RelayforLife/CCQLD?pg=entry&fr_id=6162

AUGUST

Cairns Festival 

One of the biggest event on the Cairns calendar, celebrating art, culture and the beauty of tropical living in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Brought to you by Cairns Regional Council.

https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/festival

Cairns Cup Carnival

It's the Tropical North Queensland version of Melbourne Cup festival, where visitors get to experience all the excitement at Cannon Park Racecourse including live racing, entertainment, superb fashion and exciting company.

http://www.cairnsjockeyclub.com.au/cairns-cup-events/

Cairns Pyramid Race & Country Fair

15 August 
You’re damn fit, you run a lot, you have strength, grit and confidence, so the prospect of a of 12-kilometre race doesn’t especially faze you. You stare up at the perfect peak of Walsh’s Pyramid rising 922 metres above you and think “how hard can it be?” The Great Pyramid Race is arguably the toughest of it’s kind on the planet and you’ve just run it and no matter when you crossed the line, in what time or what place, you’ve won.

https://pyramidrace.com.au/

Targa Great Barrier Reef Event

4-6 September
This is an event like no other as it passes through landscapes that are truly unique to Tropical North Queensland. Sugar cane and banana plantations will line the various stages and the weather will be anything but cold, being held at an ideal time of the year.

https://targa.com.au/targa-great-barrier-reef-competition/?loadmenu=1

SEPTEMBER

Cairns Amateurs Carnival

Experience Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef at its fashionable best… northern Australia’s most anticipated social and sporting event icon, the Cairns Amateurs Cup sponsored by Stella Artois, is the feature of the Carnival, and a must-do social spectacle to witness live. While Cairns Amateurs Carnival is a racing event at its core, the Carnival transcends traditional sporting events with a combination of sport, fashion, celebrity and entertainment. With a reputation for fashion with a tropical twist, great racing and an unmatched scale and splendor this is the pinnacle of the north’s social calendar.

https://cairnsamateurs.org.au/

Cairns Marathon

Sunday 20 September
Event distances include the Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km, 5km and the 2km. Each road race will take in the best that Cairns has to offer. The event hub will become a hive of activity hosting running clubs, corporate teams and sponsors. On-course and post-race entertainment in Fogarty Park are an integral element of the participant’s overall event experience.

https://www.cairnsmarathon.com.au

OCTOBER

Reef Feast Palm Cove

Celebrating our Tropical Lifestyle and Unique Regional Produce over 3 Days of Fantastic Events Reef Feast Palm Cove is Tropical North Queensland’s premier community event, celebrating cuisine, fresh produce, live music, relaxed culture and lifestyle of the magnificent tropics.

https://www.reeffeast.com.au/

Babinda Harvest Festival

An annual event that has been held within the community for the past 56 years, making it one of the longest running regional festivals.  The township of Babinda comes alive with daytime excitement from Tractor Pulls and Trader’s Markets leading to the Grand Street Parade that is filled with over 70 community groups, schools, businesses and cultural groups in a wave of colour, music and excitement. The fun and entertainment continue throughout the evening with festival rides, music, dances, food, competitions, fireworks and the crowning of the Babinda Harvest Festival Queens.

http://babindaharvestfest.org/

DECEMBER

Each year, Council supports the community in celebrating with a range of Christmas activities throughout the region. There will be something for everyone in every area of our region. Popular events include Christmas Race Day, Green Christmas, Christmas Markets, Carols by Candlelight and other festivities.

https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/whats-on/annual-events/chinese-new-year

Cairns Art Gallery is the exclusive Queensland venue for the national tour of Sidney Nolan’s Ned Kelly Series from the National Gallery of Australia. For the first time in 15 years, the National Gallery of Australia’s collection of Sidney Nolan’s ‘Ned Kelly’ paintings is touring Australia in its entirety.

When: 6 March - 14 June 2020
Cost: Free entry and no bookings required
Where: Cairns Art Gallery, Cnr Abbott & Shields Streets
More information: https://www.cairnsartgallery.com.au/whats-on/exhibitions/ned-kelly-series

NOVOTEL CAIRNS OASIS RESORT ARE OFFERING EXCLUSIVE ACCOMMODATION RATES FOR CAIRNS ART GALLERY VISITORS.
Available from 1 March - 30 June 2020.

First held on the 27th of October 1962, however back then it was known as the Babinda Sugar Harvest Festival and was presented by the Bellenden Kerr Junior Farmers. Initially the street procession was held at 7.30pm and the Sugar Princess was crowned at 9pm in the Memorial Hall. Entrants in the Sugar Princess quest came from Tully to Mossman and everywhere in between. Babinda’s own Joan Arnold (nee Dickson) claimed the title of the very first Sugar Princess. The day after the Festival an afternoon of water sports was held at the Russell River by the Russell River Water Sports Club.

Where: Babinda 
When: 12^th October