General News
22 July, 2022
Cairns Italian Festival a food and culture showcase
CAIRNS will transform into a ‘Little Italy’ for nine days starting next week as the city experiences a celebration of food, culture, family values and history, as the inaugural Cairns Italian Festival gets underway.
From Thursday July 28 until August 6, iconic venues across Cairns and the region will host a series of events including a wedding show, a major community festival and food – in fact, food from every region of Italy.
The main highlight is ‘La Festa’ Day – on Saturday July 30 at Fogarty Park on the Cairns waterfront, topped off with fireworks in the evening, expected to attract hundreds of people.
“It’s an authentic Italian day,” the Italian Festival’s president, Stephen Cordenos said.
“We have 20 food stalls representing all the different regions of Italy in food. The big thing about that is there’ll be a lot of food there that generally people would not get at a typical restaurant, and the experience will be something new for most people.”
After 14 months of intensive planning by volunteers, the Italian festival will include the entire North Queensland region from Cairns, Atherton, Dimbulah, Edmonton, Gordonvale, Innisfail, Silkwood and Tully, to Mareeba, Mossman, Mutchilba, Port Douglas and Yungaburra.
The organisers are aiming to make the event a celebration rich in Italian history, culture, food, wine, song, and dance. There will be bands from Sydney and Melbourne performing classic Italian folk songs, children’s play areas, a celebrity chef, laser show and comedians and stage shows during the festival.
But not only will the festival be a significant regional cultural event of top entertainment, fun and culinary delights, it will also honour the Italian immigrants who left their homeland in search of a better life and future in Australia.
Generations of Italians have over many decades made Australia and Far North Queensland home, changing the face and future of the region in farming, business, and development.
“The most important thing for me is the stories of these immigrants that are never lost,” Mr Cordenos said.
“Apart from the Festa Day, we are doing an inaugural foundation book, which is 100 stories of Italian immigrants that have come to Australia.”
Tickets for some events have already sold out.
For details, and to check remaining available tickets, go online to: cairnsitalianfestival.com.au.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
June 8th to August 7th
Ancient Rome Exhibition at Australian Armour and Artillery Museum
July 28th, 29th and 30th
Interactive Italian Wedding Show by the Mareeba Theatre Company at The Benson Hotel
July 30th
La Festa – Community Festival at Fogarty Park July 31st La Dolce Vita – Cocktails and Ferraris at Salt House August 1st Opera on the Reef
August 3rd
Family Italian Movie Night - Bello, Onesto, Emigrato Australia Sposerebbe Compaesana Illibata at Earlville Cinemas
August 3rd
Flynn’s Italian Producer’s Dinner August 4th Family Italian Movie Night - Se Mi Vuoi at Earlville Cinemas
August 5th
Carnivale Masquerade Gala Ball at Cairns Convention Centre (includes Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony)
August 6th & 7th
Comedy Night with Joe Avati at Brothers Leagues Club
August 7th
TGT Mareeba Salami and Sausage Competition Festa at Mareeba International Club
