With Christmas in the rear view Cairns gets ready to ring in the New Year

Christmas may have come and gone but for Cairns’ hospitality businesses the show goes on as plans heat up for New Year’s Eve celebrations. Find out what the city has planned here.

Christmas may have come and gone but for Cairns’ hospitality businesses the show goes on as plans heat up for New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Over on the Esplanade, The Courtyard manager Ben Power said that pre-Christmas wasn’t as busy as they would have liked, but that’s been pretty standard for the past few years.

As of Boxing Day, though, things are starting to heat up, he said.

“There’s a lot more tourists around, there’s a lot of foot traffic today, and we’re expecting it to be busy through to late January,” he said.

“There are definitely more international tourists, English or European, and a lot more American tourists I’ve noticed, and we’re still getting a lot of domestic tourism.

“It’s a festive time of the year, and people are enjoying their time with positive spirits.”

Ben Power, Julie Boioude and Jake Mcanally, all ready to celebrate the New Year. Picture: Nuno Avendano

He said they were looking forward to a street party on New Year’s Eve, when the Esplanade will be closed from 4pm.

“We’ve extended onto the road for a four-day period, extending our dining space from 9pm to 2am, and hopefully with the weather holding up and tourists coming down for the fireworks, and being a weekend, it will be big,” he said.

“It’s not a prepaid ticketed event so anyone can come in and have a great night to bring in the New Year.”

Other hospitality venues across the city will also be putting the last minute touches to their events as they look to host diners and party goers for the big countdown.

Fireworks will be lighting up the skies from the Northern Beaches to Edmonton as the council puts on its celebrations to ring in 2023.

New Year’s Eve fireworks displays will be held simultaneously at the family friendly time of 8.30pm at the Cairns Esplanade, Palm Cove jetty and Walker Road Sporting Precinct in Edmonton.

Swimming with a fireworks show at the Lagoon at the turn of 2021. Picture: Kristy Bartolo

For the traditionalists, there will also be midnight fireworks on the Cairns Esplanade.

Youngsters can enjoy a free movie screening of DC League of Super Pets at the Esplanade and Walker Road at 6.30pm.

“The New Year’s Eve events are a fantastic way for the community to come together with family and friends to celebrate and welcome in 2023,” Mayor Bob Manning said.

“I invite residents to join one of the New Year’s Eve events to toast the end of 2022 and ring in 2023 with a spectacular fireworks show.

“We also have a movie screening prior to the fireworks at Edmonton and the Esplanade – the perfect opportunity to bring the children down, spread out a blanket and celebrate the New Year with the whole family, weather permitting.”

Other events set to close the year with a spark include the chance to cheer with fans in the snake pit as the Taipans take on the 36ers, a New Years Eve Resolution Fun Run on the Esplanade complete with fancy dress, and scores of parties across the city’s bars and venues.

Originally published as With Christmas in the rear view Cairns gets ready to ring in the New Year