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The start of the Cairns Festival on 26^th August will be celebrated with a laser and light instalment -Reef Light: Illuminate the Tropics from 6.30pm on Friday 26th August - inspired by the underwater wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, and which will light up locations along the Esplanade and the popular Lagoon for the entire 10 days of the festival.

The installation was designed to bring to life the Great Barrier Reef through a virtual under-the-sea experience, which will see sharks and turtles swimming through the sky and lasers lighting up the land.

Complementing Reef Light is festival favourite City Lights, which lights-up the façade of Cairns City Library building on Abbott St with the projected artwork of Francoise Lane.

The Cairns Festival 10-day program showcases a diverse and exciting array of events including fireworks, scores of roving performers, free concerts, and the ever-popular Grand Parade along the Esplanade on Saturday.

Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said it was only appropriate that the 60th instalment of the festival was shaping as the biggest in its history.

“Cairns Festival had its humble beginning in 1962, with a highlight being the grand opening of a new jetty on Green Island,” Mayor Manning advised.

“It is also worth noting that the Ellis Beach Surf Life Saving Club played an instrumental role in its inception.

“Since then, the festival has undergone a number of name changes, including Fun in the Sun, the Reef Festival and Festival Cairns, but what has remained steadfast is the community support of this event.”

Councillor Kristy Vallely adds “we have a program of 78 events, many of which are free, featuring some 1200 artists, technicians and performers for our Diamond Jubilee program.

“From magnificent lightshows, giant hot air balloon sculptures, modern dance, and outstanding musical performances, the festival will showcase local, world-class national and international theatre, art, music, circus cabaret film, and comedy.

“Cairns Festival is the perfect time to come together to enjoy and celebrate the creativity of our community and the rich cultural identity of our vibrant Tropical North Queensland city.”

Another new and spectacular addition to this year’s Cairns Festival program will be Patricia Piccinini’s hot air balloon artwork, Skywhales: Every Heart Sings.

This free event, ticketed event, will be held at the Cairns Showgrounds on 3rd September.

Several suburban satellite events are also scheduled throughout the festival, including Light Moves at Lake Placid on Wednesday 31st August – a performance cycle of projection, dance, and live music that shares story and creation motifs of the Djabugay story place by artist Bernard Singleton Junior.

This year’s Cairns Festival program includes popular events such as the Grand Parade and fireworks display on 27th August; nightly free concerts at Festival HQ (on the lawn at The Court House) or the Cairns Esplanade main stage, Carnival on Collins on 4th September and lots of live entertainment including Amy Shark (sold out), Alex the Astronaut, and the Australian Dance Collective.

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