General News
12 March, 2026
Smorgasbord of foodie fun
FOOD lovers are expected to flock to Innisfail this month for the four-day Feast Of The Senses festival on the Cassowary Coast.
Now in its 23rd year, the event, which kicks off on Thursday 26th March, delivers a smorgasbord of tropical delights through activities like the popular River Feast, food trails, cooking demonstrations, food vans, market stalls, and a highlighted feature, rare fruit tastings.
Feast Of The Senses spokesman Dave Jensen said the region was a clear choice for a premier fruit event.
“More than 150 varieties of fruit are grown in Tropical North Queensland and at Feast Of The Senses you can try mangosteen and durian,” he said.
“Or stick to the traditional banana that elevated Innisfail into the Guiness Book of Records in 2017 for the world’s longest banana split stretching 8.04km along the highway.”
The Feast Of The Senses launches a season of celebration of all things food in the region, with the Tasting the Tropics event reaching across April.
TTNQ chief executive officer Mark Olsen said this year’s event would start a little earlier and overlap with Feast.
“We are so excited about Tasting the Tropics in April that we are kicking it off a few days early at Feast Of The Senses,” he said.
“Restaurants, cafes, farms, hotels and tour operators have joined the month-long celebration by dishing up their best tropical creations and throwing in some great entertainment to complete the experience.”
Feast Of The Senses, in the meantime, will begin on Thursday 26 March with some fun and fruity trivia at the Innisfail RSL Club’s Gone Troppo Trivia Night.
The Northern and Southern Food Trails will be held on Friday and Saturday and delicious tropical food events will be featured at the RSL and Brothers Leagues Club Bistro in the evenings.
Tickets for the food trails are on sale now and places were filling fast, according to president and volunteer Festival Manager, Rosi Jensen.
“There’s a notable increase in out of town, southern and international visitors,” she said.
“Our food trails are eagerly awaited every year.
“We have some terrific venues to visit on both food trails. It’s a great day out and a unique experience for locals and visitors alike.”
On Sunday 29 March, the Innisfail riverfront and Canecutter Court will come alive for the River Feast, from 9am to 3pm.
Music and entertainment will continue all day, along with a huge variety of market stalls, food vans and taste sensations, including Cassowary Coast Rare Fruits Association’s display and free fruit tastings in their marquee on the river and fruit auction later in the day.
Families with children can enjoy the free and ticketed activities in the Feast of Fun Kid Zone all day, while adults can linger at the cooking stage for recipe ideas, demonstrations and free tastings in Canecutter Court.
For more information or to book tickets, visit the Feast Of The Senses website and Facebook page.
