Port Douglas Carnivale kicks off with a delectable spread for 200

Hundreds of locals tucked into a spectacular spread by the Crystalbrook Marina on Friday, giving Port Douglas’ biggest annual event of the year a delectable start.

Two hundred patrons tucked into a spectacular four course spread on the Crystalbrook Marina, giving Port Douglas’ biggest weekend of the year a delectable start this Friday.

The Longest Lunch, a ticketed event to raise funds for charity, was an iconic coming together of community to toast the start of the Port Douglas Carnivale weekend with a dash of philanthropy.

The lunch was catered by four of the region’s top restaurants with beverages by Devil’s Thumb distillery and chief organiser Hemingway’s.

Gingezilla from Popcorn Caberet entertained the crowdi at the Longest Lunch, part of the Port Douglas festival, held at Hemmingways Brewery at the Crystalbrook Marina, Port Douglas. Picture: Brendan Radke

Head of hospitality at Hemingway’s Roman Haslinger said it was a collective of businesses coming together to support the community and showcase the best of FNQ.

“It was really important for us to bring it back to its origin, what it should be and that was on the Marina,” he said.

“When we work together, we make the region shine, and that’s what we want.

“A lot of the guests here today and not from here and I want them to experience the laid-back lifestyle of the region.”

President of Mossman Hospital Friends of the Foundation Deborah Kachel said they hoped to raise between 80-100K for the hospital through the event.

Photos: Carnivale kicks off with The Longest Lunch

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“It will help services like extra patient monitors, a system for communication and entertainment for patients, infusion clinics and treatment chairs – those are the sorts of things we are hoping for,” she said.

Christine Foster, the first winner of the afternoon’s raffle prizes, scored a $500 gift voucher for food and beverages from soon-to-be opening wine and cocktail bar Sails.

“I’ve been coming here (The Longest Lunch) for three years now, from Cairns,” she said.

“We always try to get the first ticket and make sure we get good accommodation.

“The best part is obviously the lunch but we are also looking forward to the Wonderland Spiegeltent cabaret show at 8pm and enjoying the rest of this weekend.”

The Devil’s Brew distillery served up a special drink for the occasion called the Devil’s Ruby – a heady concoction of signature gin, grapefruit syrup, passionfruit liquor, and soda water.

With the evening street parade on Macrossan Street later in the evening and a weekend chock-full of events from the FNQ Gin Fest to Music Trails and a Seafood Extravaganza, the Carnivale was well and truly off to a great start.

Originally published as Port Douglas Carnivale kicks off with a delectable spread for 200