Cairns Christmas lights: Your ultimate guide to 120 festive home displays
From rainbow themes to Star Wars displays, Cairns boasts 120 twinkling homes this Christmas. Check out the list HERE.
Cairns Christmas lights lovers can look no further, with a keen local compiling a massive list of 120 festive displays to help families soak up the Christmas spirit.
And while decking the halls isn’t easy as the heat, rain and even cyclones can threaten to dampen the occasion — it hasn’t stopped homes across the region twinkling.
Andrea Attree, who runs the Cairns Christmas Lights Facebook page, said there are 120 homes from Palm Cove, Mount Sheridan and as far as Babinda on her Christmas lights list for 2025.
“This feels like a specials one this year,” she said.
Ms Attree said displays feature “rainbow themes”, with a few Star Wars-inspired displays popping up too.
Cribwood Close, Boxwood Close and Mayflower Street in Mount Sheridan were given a special mention for this year’s displays.
“Almost every home is lit up there, creating a magical neighbourhood spectacle,” Ms Attree said.
She also gave a special mention to Fry Close in Whitfield, where owners John and Christine Forrester are lighting up their home for the last time after nearly 30 years.
“It’s a beautiful display,” Ms Attree said.
“Everyone should go see it before they pack it up for the last time.”
Taking over the reins in 2013 from the previous admin, Amanda Brownhill, Ms Attree has since been the driving force behind the city’s festive light trails.
She has run the community page for more than a decade now and typically starts putting the list together a couple of months out from December.
Each year, residents can nominate themselves to have their displays added to the list.
“It’s all volunteer work,” she said.
“I do it because I love it. I don’t expect anything in return — it’s about the community.”
Ms Attree encourages residents to share their displays, whether interactive, walk-through or just for a quick drive-by. She said the Facebook page is more than just a list — it’s a celebration of giving.
Her research is also pain staking as it takes many hours driving around Cairns each evening during the festive season, checking displays, snapping photos, and making sure the homes are ready for visitors and accurately listed.
“We leave around 7pm and drive until about 9 or 9.30pm,” she said.
“That adds up to roughly 30 hours across several days. But it’s worth it.”
The response from the community has been overwhelming, with thousands of followers and an influx of thank-you messages praising Ms Attree for her hard work.
“It’s nice when people say, ‘You are my hero’, or when they see me out and give me a little gift, but I do it and don’t expect anything in return,” she said.
Ms Attree said she was initially worried there might be a drop-off this year due to the cost of living and electricity prices, when only 40 homes had signed up a week before the list was due to be released.
However, the page once again experienced a last-minute rush.
“Lots of people felt Christmas snuck up on them,” she said.
“Some people just want to see interactive displays, others prefer a drive-by. But the lights shouldn’t be about competition — it’s about joy, bringing people together.”
She also reminded the community to be kind, respect driveways, and appreciate the time and energy homeowners put into their displays.
“If it’s not an interactive display, remember not to touch anything,” Ms Attree said.
“Drive to the conditions, don’t block driveways, take your rubbish with you, and most importantly, be respectful of the properties and each other.”
For those inspired to join next year, Ms Attree said the deadline to be included on the list is October 30.
“I’ve already got a confirmation for 2026 — that’s commitment,” she said.
She hopes her dedication will continue to grow the community page and encourage more homes to get involved each year.
“You give rather than you take,” she said.
“No house is judged — it’s not a competition. I’m so passionate about this, I love doing it. This is what Christmas is about.”
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Originally published as Cairns Christmas lights: Your ultimate guide to 120 festive home displays
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