Annual events

Council delivers and supports many exciting events each year.

The events calendar below lists our region's major annual arts, sporting, cultural and community events.

Click on the event listing in the calendar for more information, or visit our upcoming events calendar for even more events dates and details in the Cairns region.

Groups and organisations looking to add a great event to our annual calendar can apply for funding and support through Council's Major Event Grant and Economic Event Partnership Grants and Community Community Partnerships.

Australia Day Family Fun Day (JANUARY)

Grab your family and friends and head to the pool to enjoy a free BBQ, music, games, stand-up paddle boarding, face painting and a jumping castle for the kids.

Chinese New Year (FEBRUARY)

Lunar New Year is a time of great joy, excitement and goodwill. In Cairns, these celebrations are brought together by CADCAI as the Cairns Chinese New Year Festival, to share our region's rich Chinese history and culture.

Citizen of the Year Awards (FEBURARY)

Cairns Regional Council's annual Citizen of the Year Awards recognise citizens who have made a major contribution to the community. This is your opportunity to nominate a friend, colleague or relative; someone that deserves recognition for their achievements and contributions to the Cairns community.

International Women's Day (MARCH)

Cairns Regional Council's annual International Women's Day Awards recognise women who have demonstrated leadership, providing inspiration as a role model within our local community. Join us to recognise and celebrate women who make a positive impact in our community.

Anzac Day (APRIL)

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who served and died in military operations for their countries. Events will be held across the Cairns region to recognise the spirit of Anzac and remember those who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

North Queensland Games (MAY)

The 2024 North Queensland Games is an exciting and vibrant sporting event that brings together athletes and sports enthusiasts from across the region. The NQ Games are held every 2 years and shared between Townsville, Cairns and Mackay.

Cairns Children's Festival (MAY)

The Cairns Children's Festival is an annual celebration for children aged 12 years and under. It puts our youngest creatives in the spotlight whilst also creating a safe and fun environment for families explore, create and imagine.

Crankworx Cairns (MAY)

Crankworx is the ultimate mountain biking experience. Head to Smithfield Mountain Bike Park for the Crankworx World Tour featuring elite competition, amateur and CWNEXT next generation racing, Kidsworx events plus a vibrant expo and festival vibe.

Red Hot Summer Tour (MAY)

The Red Hot Summer Tour is an annual series of multi-artist events that tours Australia wide including spectacular regional locations and local destinations.

Great Barrier Reef Masters Games (MAY)

The Great Barrier Reef Masters Games is held every two years in Cairns. Athletes and supporters from across Australia and Oceania come to participate in their chosen sports and enjoy a great social program over three fantastic nights.

Cairns Ecofiesta (JUNE)

Cairns Ecofiesta is Queensland's premier sustainability festival. This free, family-friendly event features performances, workshops, community and conservation groups, environmental agencies and eco-businesses. Explore clean tech, chat with experts in the net zero transition and wander through market stalls offering sustainable living solutions.

Ironman Cairns (JUNE)

Swim in the warm waters of Tropical North Queensland, ride one of the most scenic coastal roads in the world and finish in the heart of the Cairns with the crowds calling your name. It's easy to see why the Cairns Airport IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship Cairns earned the title of World's Best IRONMAN in the 2022 Athlete Choice Awards.

Relay for Life (JULY)

Relay For Life is a fun and moving experience that raises vital funds for the Cancer Council’s research, prevention, information and support services. Relay is a chance for the Far North QLD community to recognise and celebrate local cancer survivors, patients and their carers, to honour and remember loved ones lost to cancer and to raise money to help save more lives.

Channel 7 Cairns Marathon (JULY)

With a distance to suit every ability and age group, this community-focused event caters to all. Event distances in the 7 Cairns Marathon include the Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km, 5km and the 2km. On-course and post-race entertainment in Fogarty Park is an integral element of the participants' overall event experience.

Cairns Show (JULY)

The annual Cairns Show is a budget-friendly event catering to all ages and backgrounds. Enjoy entertainment, competition entries, educational displays, exhibits, food stalls, animals of all shapes and sizes, and thrilling rides in Sideshow Alley!

Reef to Reef (JULY)

Reef to Reef is an MTB stage race taking place over four days in the heart of Tropical North Queensland. Starting on the reef-fringed Coral Sea coast it quickly heads inland across a network of trails through tablelands, hinterland, farm lands, MTB parks, and tropical rainforest before finishing back at the coast four days and 190 km’s later.

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (JULY)

CIAF is Australia's premier Indigenous art fair, attracting national and international collectors and curators. It strengthens and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, and creates pathways for emerging visual and performance artists.

Cairns Italian Festival (JULY)

The Cairns Italian festival is an event that encompasses the entire North Queensland. The Cairns Italian Festival is a celebration rich in Italian history, culture, food, wine, song, and dance.

Mayor's Charity Golf Day (JULY)

The Mayor's Charity Golf Day is an annual charity fundraising event and one of the most popular events on the Cairns business calendar. This event has run for more than a decade and relies on sponsorship, with all profits donated to nominated charities.

The Great Pyramid Race (AUGUST)

The Great Pyramid Race endurance event has been held in Gordonvale each year since 1959. Take part in the arduous 12km Great Pyramid Race, 9km Half Pyramid Race, 6km Race to the Base, 3km Cross Country, 1800m Juniors Race and the Charity Fun Run.

Trash to Treasure (AUGUST)

The Trash to Treasure is an annual event organised by the Council to promote waste reduction and sustainability. The fair offers workshops, entertainment, and stalls where attendees can learn how to repurpose and reuse unwanted items.

Cairns Cup Carnival (AUGUST)

The Cairns Cup Carnival is a headline event of the Cairns winter racing events. Boasting a carnival atmosphere with a winning trifecta of exhilarating racing, superb fashion and exciting company the Cairns Cup welcomes its community and visitors to beautiful Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef every year. The Cairns Cup is held over two days each year.

Positive Ageing Expo and Seniors Lunch (AUGUST)

Celebrate Seniors by spending the day at the Positive Ageing Expo. This is a free, one-stop event where seniors can meet service providers, businesses and community groups that focus on seniors. Stallholders will provide information and services relevant to ageing seniors.

Cairns Festival (AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER)

Cairns Festival is an annual 10-day celebration of art, culture and the beauty of living in Tropical North Queensland. Cairns Festival proudly hosts a kaleidoscope of culture, arts, music, comedy, visual arts, and family events celebrating the beauty and rich cultural heritage of living where the sun and sand meet the city.

Babinda Harvest Festival (SEPTEMBER)

In this small sugar town, the festival celebrates the start of the sugarcane harvest as well as celebrating the harvesting of other tropical produce from our region - bananas, pawpaws, tropical flowers and vanilla to name a few.

Cairns Amateurs (SEPTEMBER)

The Cairns Amateurs Racing Carnival is three days of fun, fashion, glamour, food and entertainment built around two days of horse racing in Cairns in early September each year.

Clean Up Cairns (SEPTEMBER)

Each year Council partners with Clean Up Australia to host a series of clean ups across the Cairns region. September is the best time for litter clean-ups in our region; it’s still relatively cool and the wet season hasn't yet arrived. Lend a hand by volunteering at one of the community clean-ups this September.

Mayor's 5-Star Chefs for Charity Event (NOVEMBER)

A collaboration between Council and four of our city's five-star hotels, local suppliers and businesses, with proceeds from this annual signature event going to the Mayor's Christmas Cheer Appeal providing food hampers for those people in need at Christmas.

Understory Film Festival (NOVEMBER)

The Understory Film Festival is for local independent, student, emerging and professional film makers in the North Queensland region to compete for experience, screening opportunities, awards and prizes. The competition culminates in a red carpet event - the Understory Film Festival Screening and Awards Night.

Christmas Tree Light Switch-On (DECEMBER)

Every year once the Christmas Tree has been installed and decorated on the Esplanade, Cairns Regional Council invites the community to come celebrate the start of the Festive Season.

Mayor's Christmas Cheer Appeal Charity (DECEMBER)

The annual Mayor's Christmas Cheer Appeal raises funds to buy food hampers for local families and older members of our community who need a helping hand to help make their Christmas festive. Generous contributions help to spread some Christmas joy to those in our community who need it the most.

Carols in The Park (DECEMBER)

Celebrate Christmas in the tropics with Cairns' biggest carols event - Carols in the Park. Featuring an on-stage showcase of local talent and plenty of opportunity to sing along.

New Years Eve (DECEMBER)

Welcome the New Year at one of three venues across the city. Cairns Regional Council's New Year's Eve firework displays will be held at the family friendly time and at midnight on the Cairns Esplanade.

Last Updated: 26 March 2024

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