Cairns Festival launches 10-day program with spectacular opening night
Cairns’ streets have transformed into a spectacular entertainment hub as the city's biggest cultural festival kicks off with an electric opening night.
From the soulful harmonies and deep bass drops of Groove Terminator & the Soul Song Choir, to a spectacular lightshow over the Cairns Lagoon and a funky laneway art launch, there will be something for everyone at Cairns Festival opening night.
The party started early with SWISH Laneway Street Art Exhibition on Bank Lane, to be followed by a stacked 10-day program of free and ticketed events spanning exhibitions, performance, theatre, food and live music, and concluding with Carnival on Collins on Father’s Day, Sunday, 7 September.
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said the festival was about celebrating the community and showcasing the city’s creativity to the world.
“During Festival time, there is a fun and contagious energy right across Cairns,” Ms Eden said.
“It’s fantastic to see locals and visitors coming together, enjoying special moments and experiencing everything our city has to offer across such a diverse program, many of which are free and family-friendly.”
LANEWAY PARTY
The SWISH! Mural Art and Pop-up Laneway Party lit up Bank Lane on Thursday and Friday night, kicking off a week of celebrations as a part of Cairns Festival.
The CBD laneway debuted its open-air gallery at the event, which features a number of colourful murals painted by local and interstate artists.
Laneway venues MexiCairns, Three Wolves, and Coral Sea Brewing Co offered pop-up food and drink stalls and a range of live musicians and DJs provided entertainment.
“It was a great atmosphere - you felt like you were in one of the major cities,” artist Caroline Mudge said.
Ms Mudge, who painted a mural for the event, said the addition of the open-air gallery to the laneway added incredible colour to the city.
“It increases foot traffic and beautifies these spaces, which really adds to the culture and soul of Cairns,” she said.
Manager at Mexicairns, Josh Mokaraka, said roughly 500 people attended the first night of the event on Thursday.
Ms Mudge, who painted a mural for the event, said the addition of the open-air gallery to the laneway added incredible colour to the city.
“It increases foot traffic and beautifies these spaces, which really adds to the culture and soul of Cairns,” she said.
The popular Bubble Emporium will return, while Fever Dreams at Tanks Arts Centre will offer festival-goers a fluorescent, textured world of illusion.
Also taking to the stage, Buenos Nachos presents its sultry and spectacular cabaret show Madam After Dark at Bulmba-ja on August 30, blending glitter, circus and unapologetic performance art.
Other highlights include The Whale, an interactive, large-scale moving whale suspended in space, the Live Music Trail linking unique local venues with performances from pool parties to inlet cruises, comedians Luke McGregor and Merrick Watts in ticketed shows at Tanks Arts Centre and Jazz Under the Stars at Cairns Botanic Gardens.
Ms Eden encouraged residents to line the streets on Saturday, August 30 for the Grand Parade, which will feature around 60 floats from community groups, businesses, sporting clubs and schools.
“It’s going to be such a great night, probably my most favourite of the year so we will see you there,” she said.
The festival will wrap up with Carnivale on Collins and the final Live Music Trail events at various locations across the city.
For more information, visit the Cairns Festival website.
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Originally published as Cairns Festival launches 10-day program with spectacular opening night
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