There’s something for everyone at the Cairns Festival this year. No matter your interests, check out the range of exciting talks, performances and activities that are on offer this year.
Don’t miss the Cairns Festival and Cultural Diversity Week Official Opening Ceremony and Awards Presentation!
When: 28 August at 12pm – 2pm
Where: Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre
For a terrific day out that’ll roll into a spellbinding night, check out the Grand Parade and Fireworks!
When: 29 August at 3:30pm – 9pm
Where: Cairns Esplanade
Free family event highlights
The following events are free to attend and are perfect for the whole family. Click on the event name for all the details:
Indonesian Cultural Exhibition: 25 August, 10am – 5pm
Where: Canopy Art Centre, 124 Grafton St, Cairns QLD
Cairns Festival Birding: 28 August – 6 September
Where: all around Cairns
Low Gravity: 28 August – 4 September
Where: Crate59, 59 Sheridan St, Cairns QLD
Declan Delargy: Beyond: 29 August – 5 September
Where: KickArts Contemporary Arts, 96 Abbott St, Cairns QLD
Spotlight Showcase: 28 August, 6pm – 9pm
Where: Cairns Festival Stage, Cairns Esplanade
Sunday on the Nard – Kids Festival: 30 August, 9am – 1pm
Where: Muddy’s Playground, Cairns Esplanade
Sunday on the Nard – Family Concert: 30 August, 3pm – 7pm
Where: Cairns Festival Stage, Cairns Espanade
Help Cairns break a world record!
On the 29th of August, AJ Hackett Bungy wants to celebrate 25 amazing years by attempting to break the Guinness World Record of most people bungy jumping in 24 hours! Check the website for all the details.
Art Gallery Exhibitions
Check out the gorgeous exhibitions that are on at the Cairns Regional Gallery during the festival. All exhibitions are running from the 28th of August, so pop in and see:
Alick Tipoti: Zugubal Ancestor Spirits
Collection in Focus: Ray Crooke OAM
Donal Friend: Far North Queensland
Lucy Carroll: Women in Defence
Out of Queensland: New Indigenous Textiles
Shows and Entertainment
Take your significant other or the whole family out for an evening of thrills, spills and plenty of laughs. These shows will be playing around Cairns:
Jason Coleman’s Animalastic: 28 August – 29 September
Where: Spiegel Zelt by the Lagoon, Eastern Event Lawn
Show times: 11am & 1pm – all details here
Tickets: $34.50, Family of four $99
Jason Coleman’s Spiegelicious: 28 August – 29 September
Where: Spiegel Zelt by the Lagoon, Eastern Event Lawn
Show times: 6:30pm & 9pm – all details here
Tickets: $89.50 general admission, $79.50 groups (minimum of 8 people), $69.50 concession/seniors/students
The Catholics: 28 August
Where: Tanks Arts Centre
Show times: 7:30pm – all details here
Tickets: $35 adult, $30 senior/government benefit card holder/student/group (10+)
Biddigal Dreaming: 28 August
Where: Centre of Contemporary Arts Cairns, 96 Abbott St
Show times: 7:30pm
Tickets: $12 – $24
