Tropic Weekender: Our curated guide to the best upcoming events around Cairns
It’s a big one this weekend!
Aside from spoiling Mum for Mother's Day, there’s a few festivals and expos lined up featuring everything from craft beer to boating, camping and fishing, car and horse racing and even pioneer heritage and history.
Tones and I is also in town, as well as markets, food events, a Grease tribute show and a Taipans game.
Thursday 6th May
Salt House is hosting a Trivia Night tonight with all proceeds going to the Sea Turtle Foundation. 6 to 9pm, $10 per person. Booking essential.
Boardwalk Social is back with its Flavours of the Far North event, this time showcasing local fruit and veg merchant Simon George & Sons. 5:30 to 7:30pm, bookings encouraged.
Delectable dumplings, drinks and good times at Miss Chief Bar & Eatery, yes please. Their regular Yum Cha Emporium is on tonight from 7pm. Eight plates and a drink for $55pp.
Friday 7th May
Cairns Expo, the region’s largest home, caravan, camping and boating event starts today. Over three huge days, the Cairns Showgrounds will be filled with plenty to see and do, including great entertainment for the whole family.
The Boats of our People exhibition, part of the Cairns Children’s Festival, features artworks by local children following a simple brief to think about their cultural background and create a picture of a boat. On display at the Court House Gallery until May 29.
Revheads can motor it to North Queensland’s biggest horsepower festival. The three-day Northern Nats at Springmount Raceway features everything from burnouts to drag racing, roll racing and power skids.
Saturday 8th May
Step back into the 1880s at Herberton’s Pioneer Weekend Country & Folk Music Festival. Across Saturday and Sunday, the festival will include everything from a steampunk band, yesteryear fashion, blacksmithing, wood chopping and tin panning. 9am to 5pm both days.
Frock or suit up for the Roy Marsh Memorial Race Day at the Gordonvale Turf Club. Tickets available at the gate or online.
Cairns Potters Club is hosting a Mother’s Day arts and crafts fair from 8am-2pm, where kids can play with clay while parents shop for unique gifts.
Cairns Craft Beer Festival is back at Hemingway’s, with a full line-up of five local brewers and three distillers. Food includes smoked meats and local seafood. Free entry, 12 to 10pm.
Laneway’s next event is Off The Dome comedy, featuring four local comedians and improv acts in the Westcourt bar. 6:30pm start.
All Greased Up Tribute Show, stopping in Edge Hill Bowls Club this Saturday, pays tribute to the songs of the 70s cult movie and the legends of the 50s rock n’ roll era, complete with superb costumes, comedy, great vocals and a whole lot of fun. $60pp includes a three-course dinner.
Tones and I is finally in town, ready to dance (monkey) in the Munro Martin Parklands. Tickets are still on sale to see one of world’s biggest names in pop music. 6.30pm start with Jelly Oshen and Tessa Devine as support acts.
The Taipans take on the Brisbane Bullets tonight before the team heads south for a few rounds. 8pm start at the Pop-Up Arena.
Sunday 9th May
Mother’s Day is here! Holloways Beach Markets is a great place to start, with over 100 stalls lined up along the shore. 8am to 1pm.
Three Wolves is hosting a celebration, with every mum to receive a glass of sparkling wine on arrival, while Crystalbrook, Rocco’s Bubbles and Brunch includes a three-course set menu and two-hours of bottomless mimosas.
End Credits Film Club will be showing Israeli film Golden Voices at the BCC Cinemas Earlville.
