Great Australian Bites
Come and enjoy Great Australian Bites at Munro Martin Parklands
Celebrate Australia Day on Monday 26 January 2026 with a fun-filled afternoon of free activities and entertainment for the whole family! Bring your family and friends, soak up the tropical atmosphere, and join the Cairns community for a day of celebration, community, and fun.
Australia Day Awards
5:00pm – 6:00pm (gates open from 4:30pm)
Celebrate and recognise the outstanding individuals and groups who make an exceptional contribution to our community. The ceremony honours those who give their time, energy, and passion to local clubs, sporting groups, volunteering, charity work, businesses, cultural or youth groups, or advocacy roles. Award categories include:
- Citizen of the Year
- Young Citizen of the Year
- Volunteer of the Year
Great Australian Bites
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Join the celebrations for an evening of family fun.
Following the awards, enjoy a free community concert featuring live music, cultural performances, and family-friendly entertainment. Kids will love free face painting, jumping castle, and fun activities, while adults can enjoy the stage entertainment in a relaxed tropical setting.
Enjoy a variety of delicious offerings from local food vendors. Foodies can enjoy free, locally sourced bites while supplies last. Check out the list of food vendors below.
A full program of entertainment will be released closer to the event.
All events are free and open to the public. Come along and join our vibrant community as we celebrate Australia Day together!
| Time | Activity | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 4:30pm | Gates open | ||
| Toshi Sakamoto | |||
| 5:00pm - 6:00pm | Australia Day Awards Ceremony | ||
| Sand & Sea dance troupe performance | |||
| SES award winners announcement | |||
| Australia Day Award winners announcement | |||
| 6:00pm - 8:00pm | Family friendly concert starts | ||
| All in Line-Dancers performance | |||
| Whiskey Boat | |||
| Vivien Aisi | |||
| Tropic Thunder | |||
| 8:00pm | Event concludes |
At The Great Australian Bites, there’s plenty of FREE family-friendly fun including:
- Face painting – get creative and colorful
- Bugzy Bumblebee bubble workshops – blow your own giant bubbles!
- Jumping castle – bounce around and burn off some energy
- Mini golf – fun for kids and adults alike
- Palm weaving workshops by WEAVE n ART – learn traditional craft skills
At The Great Australian Bites, enjoy a variety of delicious offerings from local food vendors. Foodies can sample free, locally sourced bites while supplies last.
Once the free samples run out, food vendors will continue serving their tasty offerings on a cash basis.
Food vendors include:
- Rotary Club of Cairns West - sausage sizzle
- BBQ Brothers
- The Hungry Nomad
- Mojo Street Food
- Mo Mo Express
For those looking to keep cool, the bar at Munro Martin Parklands will also be open.
The Great Australian Bites is proud to showcase an exciting lineup of local artists and performers who bring the heart, rhythm and energy of our region to life.
This year’s entertainment program features a diverse mix of music and movement, from soulful live performances to high-energy dance and crowd-favourite bands. Taking to the stage across the event will be:
- Toshi Sakamoto
- Sand & Sea Dance Troupe
- All in Line-Dancers
- Whiskey Boat
- Vivien Aisi
- Tropic Thunder
For more information about accessibility at Munro Martin Parklands, please visit the venue website.
Wet Weather Plan
Celebrate with us - rain or shine! If it rains, bring a raincoat and dress for the weather, as the event will go ahead at Munro Martin Parklands. Marquees will be available to provide both shade or shelter from the rain.
We can’t wait to see you there! Follow our Facebook page for event updates.
The Great Australian Bites is proudly supported by the Queensland Government and assisted by the Australian Government through the National Australia Day Council as part of Queensland's Australia Day program.
Last Updated: 20 January 2026
Latest News > All News
New strategy for a more resilient Cairns
Today, Council endorsed the Cairns Social Resilience Strategy 2026–2030, establishing a framework to strengthen social resilience across the region and...
24 June 2026
Changes to Liquor Licensing Policy endorsed
Changes to the Liquor Licensing General Policy aim to strengthen Council’s consideration of requests for feedback into liquor and gaming...
24 June 2026
Council improves community safety
Cairns Regional Council has completed the installation of new CCTV infrastructure at four locations across the Cairns Local Government Area....
22 June 2026