A Quieter Journey

We're excited to offer an inclusive experience at the Cairns Children's Festival, designed to accommodate audiences who may need quieter spaces, less crowds, or alternative ways to enjoy the shows.

We've put together a special program to help ensure every child can enjoy the magic of the festival in their own way, with adjustments for a calmer, more relaxed experience.

We hope these Quieter Journey options make your visit to Cairns Children’s Festival 2026 more enjoyable, allowing every child to have a magical experience.

Saturday 16 May:
Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Cairns City Library

Sunday 17 May:
Tanks Arts Centre & Cairns Botanic Gardens

Plus, pre-festival activities from 11 - 15 May (Tank 4 Gallery) and school holiday workshops.

Quiet Spaces

We will have a designated Quiet Space available on Sunday 17 May. This space is marked with signs featuring a Quiet icon and will be clearly labelled 'Quiet Space'. These areas provide a calm retreat where children can take a break as needed. Check the program map for exact location.

Quiet Spaces locations & times:

Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre amphitheatre (behind the cafe) – Sun 17 May from 9am - 2pm
Learn about our Quiet Spaces with our visual story

See the Tanks venue page for maps and full venue information.

Visual Stories for Cairns Performing Arts Centre & Tanks Arts Centre provide accessible, step-by-step visual guides to help visitors prepare for a new environment.

Tank 4 Gallery

Fri 8 May – Sun 17 May

Your Cairns Children's Festival fun can start early at Tank 4 Gallery with a kids artwork exhibition, after-school workshops running 11 - 15 May and the exhibition kicking off from Friday 8 May. Visiting before Festival weekend can offer a quieter environment for your children to enjoy the art without large crowds.

Find out more about the exhibition and activities below.

Gallery opening Hours:
9.00am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday
10.00am - 2.00pm Saturday
9.00am - 2.00pm Sunday

Dive Deep Down Exhibition

Exhibition - free

Dive Deep Down curated by Sorami Ochi, is our annual Cairns Children's Festival exhibition. The exhibition features works by children from FNQ and launches Friday 8 May.

Tinkering Tank: Fish Tank

Interactive exhibition - free

Fish Tank is a hands-on, imagination-powered tinkering space where children dive into the colourful underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef - right here on the doorstep of Cairns.

Fish Tank Workshops

After School Workshops - free

A pre-Festival experience! Led by local artist Hayley Gillespie, these guided tinkering sessions let kids experiment, explore ideas in more detail and start building parts of the reef that will come alive on Sunday 17 May.

Recommended Events

Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Cairns Botanic Gardens & Cairns City Library

POD - CPAC

Studio show - ticketed

POD is a magical multi-sensory and sensory friendly adventure for all ages. The story and our natural world are brought to life through live music, puppetry, immersive projections and an interactive set that the audience are invited to explore.

The Magnificent Danny & Dazzle

Play - free

Based on the children’s illustrated book The Magnificent Danny & Dazzle, this joyful live play adaptation features a cast from ARC Disability Services Inc. Presented as an engaging live read in a fun, low-sensory environment in the Botanic Gardens, the performance is designed to be welcoming and accessible for audiences of all ages.

Night at the Library: The Unwritten Story

Capped Group Show - ticketed

Produced by by Box Jelly Theatre Co. this is a roving theatre experience with small groups capped at 30 kids. Set inside the Cairns City Library, the performance unfolds throughout the building, inviting children and families on an interactive, exploratory journey.

Tanks Arts Centre & Cairns Botanic Gardens

Sun 17 May

Tanks Art Centre and Cairns Botanic Gardens will be busy with many free events, and we expect a noisy environment. Past festivals have seen high foot traffic and lively crowds, so some shows may be loud or overwhelming for some audiences. Here are some quieter options on Festival day for your little ones to have some space if needed.

Tanks' Quiet Space is located at the Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre.

screenPLAY

Botanic Garden Visitor Centre - free

Lay back on a beanbag and enjoy films produced by kids within the air conditioned Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre. The space is also designated as a 'Quieter Place' and is recommended for those on the Quieter Journey.

Púuna Sanctuary by Lia Pa'apa'a

Flecker Lawn - free

Púuna Santurary offers a vibrant, culturally grounded creative space for children. A space for bubbas aged 0–3, suitable for all ages.

screenPLAY Workshops

School Holiday Program - free

Join us for a week of discovery and creativity at Creative Life's free School Holiday Program! Tailored for participants aged 8 to 16. Running Mon 13 Apr - Fri 17 Apr, registration required.

A huge thank you to our generous sponsors Pacific Toyota and Inspired Signs for their incredible support! Your contributions help make Cairns Children's Festival possible.

Last Updated: 15 May 2026

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