Artists of the North Exhibition is a presentation of the talent and formidable skills in our region’s artists.
For the first time in many years the exhibition will not have a theme, inviting all creative genres and subjects to join in the Artists of the North’s 16th year of art excellence, with our very diverse, cultures, backgrounds, styles, genres but, most importantly - an overwhelming love of art.
No image is too wild or untamed, no subject subdued. Artists are bringing their thoughts, their feelings and their gift of life through art to share with everyone.
From the most basic collage to sculptures of existence itself, we invite all to witness, gaze and appreciate the wonder of our artists from here in North Queensland.  

Open: 9.00am – 4.30pm Weekdays, 10am – 2.00pm Weekends  

Cost: Free

 Image: On High, oil on board by Brad Congdon  

Host a tea your way in May or June to raise essential funds for people impacted by cancer. 

1 in 2 Australians are diagnosed with cancer before the age of 85. We want to change that, and we need your help. 

Your morning tea will help raise vital funds to bring us closer to a cancer free future. 

Register to host 

Register your Biggest Morning tea and receive a free host kit to make things easy-teasy. 

Plan your tea 

Pick a date, invite your friends, and start planning the fun! 

Have fun and raise funds! 

Have a tea-riffic time and raise funds for people impacted by cancer. 

The official date for Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is Thursday May 27th 2021, but you can host your tea anytime until the end of June! Whenever suits you best.

TAFE Queensland invites you to an exhibition by continuing diploma students. The exhibition tracks the process of incubating, planning, refining and delivering concept-based artworks. 

Open 1 April - 28 May (excluding public holidays)

Monday to Friday, 9am - 4pm

TAFE Queensland is operating to current state mandated COVID-19 policies and procedures. Please respect physical distancing. 

Artwork acknowledgment: Keelie Nicholls, Pathways 2021, mixed media

This year's Freshwater Festival has a big line-up and will have something for everyone with food stalls, live music, the Easter Bunny, Easter egg giveaways and raffles, children's fun court with tennis games hosted by Baseline Tennis Academy, and 2 jumping castles, face painting, market stalls and more.

For more information, head to the Freshwater Festival Facebook page.

Starting from 10am through until 10pm - Lock in the date and get ready for a great day filled with kids activities galore, live music, market stalls, shopping 'til late, food. 

10am - 3pm - The Great Easter Quest - Get your map and clues from the 'Rock Nest' at Centenary Park – follow the bubbles and look for Bugzy Bumblebee and Jenny the Fairy. Keep a look out for our special chickens. Solve the riddles correctly and collect your Easter prize!! Lots of fun for kids and adults.

3.30pm - An Easter bonnet parade with a twist, KURANDA STYLE. Get crafty, think junky! 

Live Music from 4 pm with Blue Reed, Joker Pokers, Koahlition, Muddy Barron Shakers, Howlin' Dingoes and The Blue Healers

We look forward to another great event for our community and visitors. More details to come, so stay tuned! Market stalls also available – email kurandatradersassociation@mail.com for bookings.  

Chinese New Year celebrations will continue on at Cairns Museum with the sights and sounds of the annual event the inspiration for the April school holiday program. The program includes a range of great affordable activities for children as young as five, right up to teenagers with specialised Chinese inspired art workshops. On Saturday April 10 and 17, Cairns Museum will also host Chinese-inspired art workshops for children over eight years. Rounding out the program, is the colouring in competition and Chinese lion scavenger hunt, which are available daily from Monday to Saturday. If your child is aged nine and over and an audio tour is more their interest, they can virtually join Pip, Caden and Jessie, who bring the Museum to life using their own device (BYO headphones). 

All workshops are free with entry, but require a $5 contribution to cover material costs for existing annual pass holders and members. 

Bookings are essential as places are limited.

This powerful installation continues the Gallery’s international research interest in complex narratives around blackness and cultural identity. Alberta Whittle was born in 1980 in Barbados, and works between Barbados, Scotland and South Africa. She has developed a visual, oral and textual language to question accepted Western constructs of history and society and the legacies of slavery, colonialism and the current climate crisis.

The Port Douglas Market has one of the most diverse stallholder communities of any market in Australia. Frequented by locals and visitors alike, the market is a regular “must do” for people from all over the world. Port is renowned as an arts community. The markets will showcase amazing local arts as well as mouth-watering food. Come up for the morning, vivit the markets, walk through the town, Port Dopuglas is your oasis located an easy drive north of Cairns. It’s a great day to find a few treasures in our paradise which we call home, and hang out with the locals.

Educate and engage the kids these school holidays with live Reptile shows at Smithfield Shopping Centre. 

Things are about to get wild with Mammals, Marine Creatures, Birds, Reptiles & Insects. Come and interact and learn about our Native Australian Wildlife with shows and interactive sessions and embrace the inner wild child! 

Monday 12 April 10:00am & 11:30am 

Tuesday 13 April 10:00am & 11:30am 

Wednesday 14 April 1pm & 2:30pm 

Thursday 15 April 4pm 

Friday 16 April 10:00am, 11:30am & 1pm 

Limited spaces available, bookings are essential. 

Please call on (07) 4281 3801 or email your name, total guests, number & preferred session to smithfield@lendlease.com to book now.

Art, Desire & Beauty is about competitive artists, mad patrons, & seductive models. It tells how different viewers reacted to art in the ancient Greek world. And who would know better than Alastair Blanshard, Professor of Classics & Ancient History, the author of many books including “Hercules-An Heroic Life”, “Sex, Vice & Love from Antiquity to Modernity”, & “Classics on Screen”? Alastair tells of the pursuit & personal cost to art lovers in ancient Greece, a dangerous business which evoked violent passions though by some Authorities to be demonic.

Alastair tells of the pursuit & personal cost to art lovers in ancient Greece, a dangerous business which evoked violent passions though by some Authorities to be demonic.

Sheridan Room, Cairns Sheridan Hotel - Entry via McLeod Street from 7:00 pm for a 7:30 pm start. 

Grass roots exhibition shines light on art works with meaning.

The rich diversity and artistic talent of UMI Arts’ emerging and mid-career artist members will be celebrated at tomorrow’s opening of the organisation’s annual You and Me exhibition showcasing the works of five Indigenous female artists and launches UMI Arts’ 2021 program of events. 

Opening at 1 pm, Thursday 15 April 2021, this year’s exhibition showcases the works of five Indigenous female artists and launches UMI Arts’ 2021 program of events. 

Spanning the themes of old lore and new law, bush food and medicine and nature’s abundance, 13 artworks using varying styles, inspirations and mediums showcase the talent and ability of local artists, Shirley Mayo-Collins, Lisa Michl OAM, Dorothy Edwards, Trish Barnard and Natasha Davui.

 The exhibition runs until 25 June 2021 at the UMI Arts Gallery, 1 Jensen Street, Manoora.  

Snapping Tours will be hosting a Tropical Cocktail Cruise during the Feast of the Senses. Now how awesome does this sound? Experience such a tropical atmosphere when you cruise along the Johnstone River, whilst sipping on amazing tropical cocktails made by the wonderful bar staff. Let us tell you…when you have one cocktail…you will want to go back for more! It is a cruise not to be missed, so gather the mates or family together and join us on an awesome cruise! We look forward to seeing you on our Tropical Cocktail Cruise. 

• Free complimentary drink on entry 
• Range of tropical cocktails to try 
• Tropical fruit platters 
• Music 
• Bar service 
• 2.5hr river cruise - Departs Innisfail Wharf at 5.30pm 

Book online through Snapping Tours - $35 per person 

Book a team of up to 8 players or just book yourself. 

Dress to impress in your most colourful tropical outfit!

Prizes galore for just $2.00 per person entry

The Restaurant & Bar will be operating for the night.

To book direct with the RSL please phone:  4061 1601

Join us for a visit to the Johnstone River Community Gardens for a walk and talk through the Indigenous Dyes, Fibre and Food Gardens, then on to Broken Nose Vanilla Farm for morning tea and a fascinating look at growing vanilla beans and their products.

Enjoy a delicious lunch at the Garradunga Hotel, followed by a fascinating tour & talk at the South Johnstone Department of Agriculture & Fisheries research facility. Patrons should wear sun-safe clothing, walking shoes and hat.

$80 per person - Bookings available through TryBooking.com

Morning tea and Lunch included.

Enjoy a feast for all the senses with a taste of the tropics at this gala food event. Enjoy a sumptuous menu selection featuring a grazing table, local, wild-caught prawns and seafood, hot & cold meats and locally sourced tropical fruits and vegetables. A fusion of traditional Italian cuisine and an innovative use of tropical produce will create taste sensations. Vegetarian options available. 

Tickets $75 per person, with a Cash bar operating on the night.

Bookings available on TryBooking.com

Hot on the heels of the recent metro Matchbook 30th Anniversary Tour dates, Ian Moss is taking the iconic album on the road and he’s stopping in at Tanks for two special shows. 

Six of the album’s 10 songs, including Tucker’s Daughter, were written by Cold Chisel bandmate Don Walker; two were co-written by Moss and Walker; and one co-written by Moss, Walker and Cold Chisel drummer, Steve Prestwich.

Fri 16 Apr and Sat 17 Apr: Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7.30pm start

FREE Weekend Workshops for Kids aged 8-14 years

Hey kids, mums and dads, Co-Lab returns to the Cairns Children’s Festival with Building Bridges, a series of workshops engaging children and their families in the construction of both physical and artistic bridges. 

Bamboo is an ancient construction material and is still used today for all sorts of structures. The bamboo used in Bamboo Connect comes from stands that were originally planted by Chinese market gardeners on the slopes of Mt Whitfield for use as garden trellises.

‘Kids in Collaboration’ // 17-18 April
Exploring natural curves & collaborative arches.

‘The Kids’ Bridge’ // 1-2 May
Exploring triangles & arches to create strong structural Partnerships)  

All workshops are 2-days (Saturday & Sunday)

Participants can sign up for the morning group, 9.30am - 11.30am or the afternoon group, 1pm - 3pm

Bookings: For more information or to make a booking, call Hedy on 0428 883 121. Limited places are available. Bookings essential.  

Our journey begins with some food for thought with a visit to Ninney Rise Historic House where we enjoy morning tea in tropical surrounds, along with the opportunity to enjoy locally crafted silver jewellery by Liz Gallie. We then take a tour of All Fish for Dogs, an innovative new local business reducing the amount of fish waste, creating food for dogs. Enjoy lunch at Bingil Bay Cafe, followed by a tour of the tropical and exotic Fruit Forest Farm, touring the operation in an open-air vehicle.

**Sold Out**

River Feast will be held in Edith Street, in Canecutter Court and along the banks of the beautiful Johnstone River. 

The biggest of all the events during the festival is the Australian Bananas River Feast on Sunday 18th April. With gates open at 9.00am, this year’s entry is free. There will be an exotic array of food and produce stalls, arts, crafts and cooking stage. 

Our celebrity chef, Kylie Farinelli, of Zumbo’s Desserts and ‘Sugar Queen’ products fame, will demonstrate her extraordinary culinary skills. The cooking competition with local contestants, some ‘celebrities’ in their own right, will endeavour to create the best burgers on the Cassowary Coast. 

Sit back and relax at the Findex Entertainment Stage down on the riverbank, featuring local performers and community groups. 

Don’t miss the colourful, tasty and aromatic Rare & Tropical Fruit display sponsored by Soils First. You can give just about everything on display the taste test before you bid at auction for the abundant fruit at the end of the day. Local growers will give you all the information you need to know about the fruits on display and some handy hints on what to do with them when you get your produce home. 

Hey mums and dads, don’t forget the Feast of Fun Kid Zone on the riverbank, with inflatable rides and activities for kids of all ages, sponsored by Brothers’ Leagues Club. Kids can enjoy craft activities, stories, join in with the creating of a community mural and much more.

Say I Do In Tropical North Queensland is all about celebrating the unity of love. At our wedding expo you’ll find all your wedding needs in one place. 

Tropical North Queensland’s premier event for all things engagement, wedding and love. Find a wide range of our carefully selected vendors ranging from, photographers, celebrants, florists, venues, stationery, wedding cakes and more.

The Centre is open Wednesday 9am-12.30pm.  $5 entry includes refreshments and meditation. (meditation 9.30 - 10am) Healings and Readings - $20 (approx. 30 mins) concessions available

Drop in for a cup of coffee or tea and a biscuit.

Browse the extensive library, borrow books, hire DVDs and CDs.

You can meet with like-minded people, reconnect with yourself and find new friends.

One of our members leads a different meditation each week.

Healing Book ~ Add the name of the person, country, event that you would like to be healed and healing energy will be focused there at every Meditation. We invite you to volunteer and lead one of your favourite meditations.

Volunteer card readers, healers and admin always welcome

Each week we have a different facilitator talking about and teaching their special subjects. Some of the subjects covered are numerology, tarot, different healing modalities and even mediumship. To find out what is on this week like our Facebook page or email the secretary to get our weekly "what’s on" newsletter.

Cost to members is $5.00, non-members $8.00

You can join on the night for only $10.00. Membership entitles you to borrow library books and hire CD’s and DVDs at a reasonable cost.

Volunteer speakers, card readers, healers and admin always welcome.

Big bass. Big beats. Big Horns. 

True Vibenation do everything big. After an explosive performance at Tanks in 2020, this trio of multi-instrumentalists are coming back, and Cairns, you can dance! 

Raised in the cultural migrant melting pot of Australia, their sound and the trio themselves, have developed a reputation for an electric live show, which features all three artists producing beats and playing horns live on stage.

The Yungaburra Markets provide a relaxed family atmosphere and has the philosophy of fostering the value of buying local. 

250 local growers, producers and artisans gather to display and sell their produce and handiwork on the ‘Bruce Jones Market Grounds’ in the middle of the historic village of Yungaburra on the Atherton Tablelands.

 Aquatic exercise is a low impact, effective and fun way to get fit, burn calories, strengthen joints and bones and reduce stress. Aqua Aerobics increases general well-being with little or no impact and you don’t even have to be able to swim. This class is FREE.

  Please refer to the Cairns Esplanade Facebook page for up to date class notifications such as cancellations due to bad weather.  

The Centre is open Saturdays 9.30 am to 2pm.  $5 entry includes refreshments and meditation. (meditation 12 noon)

Join in the Intuitive Circle between 10 and 11 am

Healings and Readings - $20 (approx. 30 mins) concessions available

Drop in for a cup of coffee or tea and a biscuit.

Browse the extensive library. Borrow books, hire DVDs and CDs.

You can meet with like-minded people, reconnect with yourself and find new friends.

One of our members leads a different meditation each week.

Healing Book ~ Add the name of the person, country, event that you would like to be healed and healing energy will be focused there at every Meditation. We invite you to volunteer and lead one of your favourite meditations.

Volunteer card readers, healers and admin always welcome

Australia’s favourite comedy convoy is locked, loaded and hitting every corner of the country! 

Join our diverse line-up of the hottest acts direct from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for a very special show that is sure to tickle everyone’s funny bone. 

For over twenty years the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow has presented an all killer, no filler night of stand-up, sketch, satire, silliness and song to towns and cities across Australia.

Dawn Services, parades and marches will be happening across the north this Sunday April 25 as we pause to remember those who served. 

A full listing of events can be found on the Cairns Local News website, from Cardwell to Cooktown, the North will pause to remember.

ANZAC Day Dawn Service will commence at 5.30am at Vasey Esplanade, Trinity Beach.

Please be aware that the cenotaph has been relocated. It is now located at the T Junction of Vasey Esplanade and Trinity Beach Rd.

There will be road closures for the event from 3am. Parking will not be available on Vasey Esplanade.

Food and drinks will be available for purchase at operating food venues for this event.  

Join us at Brothers Leagues Club this ANZAC Day! 

 Enjoy a meal at Lanterns Restaurant from 11:30am or join us for Two-up and Raffles from 1pm! 

 Raffle tickets are on sale for $1, with draws running every half an hour. 

 Lest We Forget. 

 Please note that the Queenslander Bar, Shamrock Bar, TAB and Gaming will be open from 1pm.

Join Kaylah for this very rewarding healing meditation, followed by mini Pranic Healing sessions... Come early for intro and a chat.

Meditation on Twin Hearts is a core meditation of Pranic Healing. It activates the Heart and Crown chakras by blessing the Earth with Loving Kindness.

Benefits Include.....

Inner peace and happiness

Improving mood and physical vitality

Better memory and concentration

Harmonious relationships and better self confidence

Clarity of mind and improved efficiency

The practice is guided and suitable for beginners and experienced meditators.

For more information call Kaylah on 0438 183 951.

Everyone is welcome at these friendly and informal evenings. You are also welcome to volunteer your gift as a healer, reader or both! We aim for everyone attending to receive at least one healing or reading of 20 minutes.
Healing practitioners of various modalities including Reiki, intuitive channelled energy, the Emotion Code and Healing Touch are regularly available. These evenings have an exceptional energy about them, which is very relaxed.

Entry: $10.00

Volunteer card readers, healers and admin always welcome.

The Annual Races & Rodeo are back for another year with a weekend full of family fun and entertainment. 

Kicking off Thursday Night with a Meet & Greet at the Golf Club from 6pm. 

2 days of Racing on Friday and Saturday followed by Cabarets each night. 

Then the Rodeo to follow on Sunday and Cabaret Sunday night. 

Thurs 29 April: 

Meet & Greet at Golf Club with Raffles and BBQ from 6pm and Bar open until late 

Friday 30 April: 

Race Day with the Calcutta, 5 Race Program, and the day finishing with a Cabaret featuring the band Careless 

Saturday 1 May:

Race Day with the Calcutta, 6 race program, Fashions on the Field and the day finishing with a Cabaret featuring the band Careless 

Sunday 2 May: 

Ironbark Cattle Co. Rodeo: The action starts at 9am with an Early bird breakfast from 6.30am. Trade Exhibitions over the day and merchandise available. The Grand Parade happens on Sunday and another Cabaret with Special Artist: Shandell Hilditch.

Monday 3 May: 

Recovery Breakfast at Golf Club, with a Breathalyser available for a Gold Coin Donation. The MGATC Members Meeting is at 10am.

This event is  an ABCRA AFFILIATED Full Points Rodeo 

Nominations Open Soon

Food an licenced bar available all weekend.

Camping and facilities are also available. 

COST : $90 WEEKEND PASS* 

*includes Camping and entry to Races, Rodeo and Cabarets. Children 16 years and under FREE. 

Mt Garnet Rodeo will be operating under a COVID Safe Event Plan

Health Screening questions and QR Scan will take place on entry to the L.D. Lucey Memorial Park, manage your arrival, don’t leave it until just before the event as there may be congestion at front gate. The Front gate of L.D. Lucey Memorial Park will be manned 24/7 as of Thursday the 29th of April 2021.

See www.mtgarnetrodeo.com.au and https://www.facebook.com/mtgarnetrodeo/ for more details.