Highlights from the Papua New Guinea independence day festival in Cairns

The Papua New Guinean community of Cairns shared their culture and served up food to celebrate independence day. See photos from our gallery.

DANCES, cultural wear, food and face paint adorned the Far North as residents from Papua New Guinea celebrated their 47th independence day.

PNG Festival performances kicked off at Fogarty Park with Theresa McCann and daughter Darusilla McCann among the dancers participating.

Theresa McCann and her daughter Darusilla McCann danced for the crowds at the PNG family cultural day, held at Fogerty Park. Picture: Brendan Radke

The pair enjoyed a day of celebrations under the sun with friend Tuana Chapman who joined them on stage for her first ever performance.

Culture, dances, food: The faces celebrating PNG festival

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“Usually I come and sit down, buy some food and enjoy the day but this time I decided that we should promote our area,” she said.

Tuana Chapman and Josh Pini at the PNG family cultural day, held at Fogerty Park. Picture: Brendan Radke

“There’s food, face painting, they’re selling all the wares, all the baskets and all the clothes.”

Representing the Western Highlands province, Seraphina Dufil was the cultural embodiment of her region – with an Aussie twist.

Seraphina Dufil dressed in her Western Highlands province ceremonial costume at the PNG family cultural day, held at Fogerty Park. Picture: Brendan Radke

She was dressed in a handmade cultural beaded skirt, leaves and flowers and she swapped the traditional possum skin around her neck for kangaroo skin. Peacock feathers and layers of jewellery were also in the mix.

“I might be dancing, with the Highlands group, and probably do the Waipa which is the dance where we connect arms and dance around a circle,” she said.

“The day has been good.”

Originally published as Highlights from the Papua New Guinea independence day festival in Cairns