Mark your calendars, Cairns Festival is back from 23 August to 1 September and it’s going to be a feast for the senses.

Last year, over 100,000 people attended an array of events, from the ever-popular Grand Parade and Carnival on Collins, to projections and immersive lighting installations and live music, as well as fireworks and art exhibitions.

The Cairns Cup Carnival is a headline event of the Cairns social calendar and a major highlight each year for the locals and guests in our region. With superb fashion, racing, fun and entertainment, the Carnival will run over two days with a variety of packages on sale.

This boutique festival showcases Australia’s most concentrated area of Art Deco Buildings in a region rich in tropical natural assets. Whether it’s sophisticated soirees, dining experiences, alluring fashion, vintage car displays, cocktail cruise or taking in the region’s fascinating stories and history, there’s a lot to discover throughout the Tropical Art Deco Festival this year.

Shine On Gimuy is an immersive First Nations light and multi-arts festival which showcases the wealth of Indigenous arts and culture in Tropical North Queensland. Held along the glistening foreshore of tropical Gimuy (Cairns), the 2024 festival will bring the Esplanade and Salt House Festival Hub to life from Thu 3 – Sun 13 October.

A feast for the film making senses, the Port Shorts Film Festival will be held under the breathtaking sky of Port Douglas and showcase some of the world’s best short films. Join acclaimed Australian Actor Stephen Curry and Wolf Creek and Rogue Executive Producer Matt Hearn for two days of workshops and sensational films, with filmmakers vying for a prize pool worth more than $15,000!

The Great Barrier Reef Ocean Swim (GBROS) is operated in conjunction with Sunlover, the biggest and most reliable tour operator on the Barrier Reef. The 2024 swim will take place from the Sunlover pontoon located on Moore Reef, 60km from Cairns. A One Kilometre course is marked out by buoys and following the Reef perimeters, to create the most beautiful swim view in the world!

Cairns Fashion Week is an annual celebration of fashion in Australia, combining innovation, artistry, and culture. The event takes place over five days in a tropical setting, showcasing the talents of designers from around the world. The event elevates fashion to an art form, blending tradition and innovation. From runway shows to after-parties, the week showcases the creativity of fashion-forward, avant-garde, and trendsetters. It’s a must-attend event for anyone passionate about the ever-evolving world of style.