Road closures associated with Cairns Festival 2023

Cairns Festival officially gets underway tomorrow (Friday 25 August), headlined by Australian indie-rock royalty The Jungle Giants at Munro Martin Parklands, the return of immersive Reef Lights on the Esplanade, and live entertainment at Festival HQ on the Court House Gallery lawn.

On Saturday, thousands of people are expected to watch the Grand Parade along the Esplanade, which gets underway at 5.30pm, followed by the fireworks spectacular from 7.30pm.

Cairns Festival 2023 runs from Friday 25 August to Sunday 3 September, with an array of free and ticketed events at a range of locations across the Cairns region.

Council advises of the following changed traffic conditions and road closures associated with this year’s event:

Friday 25 August

Shields St, Esplanade to Aplin St, from 4pm on Friday 25 August until 3pm on Saturday 26 August. Traffic control on site from 5am on Saturday to allow for commercial vehicle access only.

Saturday 26 August

Lake St, from Minnie St to Florence St: 5am-10pm no parking from 5am road closed at 4pm

Minnie St, from Lake St to the Esplanade: 2pm-10pm

Cairns Esplanade, from Minnie St to Spence St: 5am-10pm

Pier Point Rd, half road closure, no access to bus stops: 5am-10pm

The Pier Car Park, western section only: 5am-10pm

Sunday 27 August

Esplanade Dining Precinct, from Shields St to Aplin St, closed to all traffic from midday to midnight.

Carnival on Collins (Edge Hill) – Sunday 3 September

Part Collins Ave, between McLean St and Mayers St: 5am-6pm

McCormack St, between Collins Ave and Walsh St: 5am-6pm

Goodwin St, between McCormack St and Macdonnel St: 5am-6pm

Walsh St, between McCormack St and Macdonnel St: 5am-6pm

Friend St, between Collins Ave and Walsh St: 5am-6pm