Cairns festival to celebrate PNG Independence on Esplanade

A vibrant offering of food, entertainment and culture will be on display to mark PNG Independence Day. Read what to expect at this special event, plus your guide to what’s on this weekend.

FOGARTY Park on the Cairns Esplanade will come alive on Sunday as Papua New Guinea residents living in the Far North will celebrate the 47th anniversary of the country’s independence.

The festival will embrace the rich and diverse cultures of PNG, festival representative Dianne Austrai-Ombiga said.

The Cairns Papua New Guinean community will hold their annual PNG family cultural day at Fogarty Park. Andrea Kila, 15, Mia Grimsley, and 10 Mary Kila, 13, will represent different provinces with traditional dances, starting at 10am. Picture: Brendan Radke

“This celebration offers the perfect occasion for New Guineans and their friends in FNQ to spend the afternoon together to commemorate PNG achieved independence from Australia on September 16, 1975,” she said.

“And the festival is a wonderful opportunity for some of the region’s 6000 PNG residents and visitors to experience different cultures within Papua New Guinea.”

Ms Austrai-Ombiga said the event was open and free to everyone who wanted to visit Fogarty Park on Sunday.

The Cairns Papua New Guinea community will celebrate their annual PNG family cultural day this weekend. Andrea Kila, 15, Mary Kila, 13, Jane Killian, Mary Hoepper and Mia Grimsley, 10, will represent their provinces through dance at the cultural celebration on Sunday at Fogerty Park. Picture: Brendan Radke

“There will be food stalls, art and craft, music, entertainment and cultural activities for all the family,” she said.

“We are expecting around 500 people to attend.

“Everyone is welcome to celebrate and attended this drug and alcohol free event.

“We are so excited to be sharing our culture with the winder community.”

She said the event, which is organised by the PNG Wantoks Cairns Group, will begin with a children's parade of the youngsters wearing traditional attire at 11am.

The Cairns Papua New Guinean community will hold their annual PNG family cultural day at Fogarty Park. Andrea Kila, 15, Mia Grimsley, and 10 Mary Kila, 13, will represent different provinces with traditional dances, starting at 10am. Picture: Brendan Radke

Also on this weekend

Saturday

Cairns Surf Life Saving Carnival, Palm Cove 10.30am-4.30pm

AFL Cairns grand finals, from 12.15pm, Cazalys Stadium

FQPL grand final day, Endeavour Park, 11.30am onwards

Atherton Cup, Atherton Turf Club, 11am–6pm

Cardiac Challenge bike ride, Kennedy Hwy

Sunday

CDRL Preliminary Finals, Barlow Park, 10.30-5pm

Cairns Surf Life Saving Carnival, Palm Cove, 7.45am-3pm

Cairns Baseball League finals, 9am onwards Trinity Beach

Ona Mission – Multisport Adventure event, Mission Beach

Cardiac Challenge bike ride; NQ Orchestra, 2pm Cairns Performing Arts Centre

Originally published as Cairns festival to celebrate PNG Independence on Esplanade