Entertainment
6 September, 2024
Lively end to Cairns Festival
THE 62nd iteration of the Cairns Festival has come to a spectacular end with the lively and colourful Carnival on Collins last Sunday.
Blue skies, great tropical weather and a sense of community were present at Carnival on Collins last weekend to make for the perfect ending to another successful Cairns Festival with an array of free entertainment and ticketed events, food and lots to do for the whole family.
Thousands of people packed Edge Hill for this much-loved Father’s Day tradition, which saw Collins Avenue transformed into a festival space filled with street performers, over 200 market stalls, live music and more.
The Tanks Arts Centre and Cairns Botanic Gardens were also buzzing with activity, hosting art exhibitions, film screenings, craft workshops and roving performers for attendees of all ages.
Highlights included the Slime of Your Life event, which delighted children with its playful, messy fun, as well as the Flecker Gardens main stage which saw the Cairns Taiko Drummers, Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy Band and El Moth among others entertain the crowds.
The Reef Lights were once again one of the big protagonists of Cairns Festival with thousands walking around the Esplanade to see the captivating lasers, digital artistry and entrancing soundscapes, plus the Lagoon lights and water show and its profound message on protecting the Reef.
Other popular installations included HEXADECA a musical playground that transforms the public into conductors of their own symphony, and The Bubble Station which produced 12,000 bubbles per minute.
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said even the weather got into the festival spirit with clear skies welcoming thousands of people to Carnival on Collins.
“Carnival on Collins is an absolute highlight of Cairns Festival and a wonderful way to close out 10 days of high-quality arts and cultural action,” Cr Eden said.
“That so many people came down to Edge Hill to enjoy the free activities on offer is proof that Carnival on Collins remains one of the community’s favourite events.
“The Cairns Festival adds so much fun and colour to our city, and it really brings everyone together, so it’s always sad when we reach the last day.
“I can’t wait to see what next year’s line-up has on offer,” she said.
Cairns Festival is also expected to have injected an estimated $2 million into the local economy.
“Festival brings people to the region, they stay in our hotels, dine in our restaurants, experience all the natural beauty the region has to offer as well as experiencing the incredible arts culture we have on offer,” Cr Eden said.
