Entertainment
9 August, 2025
Celebrating art deco heritage
Lovers of all things 1920s will be dusting off their ‘flapper attire’, practising their Charleston moves and gearing up for a week’s work of entertainment at the fabulous 2025 Tropical Art Deco Festival next month.
Celebrating a century of art deco style this year, the boutique festival is held appropriately in Innisfail, which showcases Australia’s most concentrated art deco architecture.
“Our festival program is packed with events. There’ll be something for everyone with lots of opportunities to dress up and have a great time,” Innisfail and District Historical Society president Trish Ernst said.
The festival begins on Sunday, September 14 with a nod to the elegance of the era at high tea in the shire hall.
On offer are sumptuous sweet and savoury treats, prizes for those who dress to impress in their art deco fashions, lucky door and raffle prizes and live music.
Free and ticketed events continue throughout the eight days with historical walks, talks and tours, a 1920s murder mystery dinner at Innisfail’s Brothers Leagues Club, the Great Gatsby 100th birthday picnic, singing and vintage hat workshops, a fancy-dress trivia night, vintage cars on show and culminating with the bustling vintage market on Sunday, September 21.
Ms Ernst said the Great Gatsby birthday picnic on Saturday, September 20 marked 100 years of art deco and coincided with the year F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ‘Great Gatsby’ novel was first published. It will feature more live performances by local musicians, singers and dancers, a fashions on the field competition and a doggy deco parade.
“Bring your picnic goodies, folding chair or picnic rug and have a look at the vintage cars on display,” Ms Ernst said.
“Refreshments will be available from the Mens’ Shed barbecue.
“It’s a free family event from 2-5pm and we’d love to see lots of people there.”
A free screening of Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Great Gatsby’ movie at the Innisfail RSL Club will be held at 7pm, after the picnic.
Ms Ernst said that while visitor numbers were growing, “we still need everyone to support this unique festival”.
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