Tropic Weekender: Our guide to the best events and things to do in Cairns
This weekend is packed to the rafters with the Port Douglas Carnivale and its huge range of events, as well as plenty going on in Cairns and the Tablelands.
Of course, it’s also polling day on Saturday! Don’t know who you’re voting for yet? You can find our wrap-up of Leichhardt and Kennedy candidates on Tropic Now.
The weather’s looking mostly fine and sunny with a top of 29 degrees – just perfect!
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Friday 20 May
Cairns Museum today launches its latest exhibition, Sihot’e Nioge - When Skirts Become Artworks, showcasing the beautiful Tapa art of the Oro province in PNG. Tonight will see its official launch and creator’s talk at 6pm at the Court House Gallery. The exhibition runs across both venues over the coming weeks.
The Port Douglas Carnivale kicks off today with a huge program of music, food events, a gin fest, performances, comedy, and circus. Tonight, Akmal brings his best laughs to the Wonderland Spiegeltent, while a Totally Tiki Hawaiian Dance Party goes down at the Yacht Club. Before that though, make sure you check out the Street Parade on Macrossan from 4.30pm.
If you’re hanging closer to Cairns, head to the Freshwater Festival for a dose of local markets, food trucks, and plenty of kids’ activities. 5pm start, free event.
Brother Jenkins is also hosting another one of its Friday Knock Offs, this time featuring Badshore, Ondrayaz and Madam Mañana. 4pm start.
At Salt House, Pauly P will be bringing loops of reggae, funk and dub as a one-man-band from 5pm.
CPAC is also hosting the Banff Mountain Film Festival tonight, which is screening 2.5 hours of exhilarating short films of explorers, runners, mountain bikers, skiers and climbers from around the globe. Tickets are $35, 7pm start.
Saturday 21 May
Firstly, don’t forget to vote in the federal election! If you haven’t cast your ballot paper yet, you can find a list of voting centres here. The polls close at 6pm.
For some sport, you can head to the Northern Pride’s home game against Sunshine Coast Falcon or watch the Cairns Dolphins & Marlins take on the Darwin Salties.
Saturday brings one of the Carnivale’s top events, the FNQ Gin Fest, which brings together six local distilleries and their brilliant spirits! Midday to 6pm at the Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, free event.
Later on you can see INXS and Bon Jovi tribute shows at Rex Smeal Park, before heading to a live set by Kate Ceberano at Wonderland Spiegeltent. Tickets essential for both.
At Cairns’ Munro Martin Parklands, Kasey Chambers & Busby Marou are bringing their Behind the Barricades tour to the tropical north. 6.30pm start, tickets $79.
In the Tablelands the Great Northern Bullriding Series returns to Mareeba Rodeo Grounds. 5pm start, tickets $25.
Sunday 22 May
The Tanks Markets returns this weekend, hosting a great range of local stalls from 9am to 2pm.
You might also be heading up the range for the Lake Eacham Triathlon today, which kicks off at 7am.
Sunday’s Carnivale events include the Seafood Extravaganza throughout the afternoon, before Joe Camilleri & The Black Sorrows bring the festival to a close.
