MEDIA RELEASE 5 June 2009
WANTED: FLOATS THAT ‘TELL OUR STORIES’ IN GRAND PARADE
Saturday 22 August 09
Wanted: Grand Parade Floats bringing colour and life to Festival Cairns’ twilight procession along the esplanade on Saturday 22 August. Today, Festival Cairns event coordinator, Belinda Griffin has put out a call for entries with news a free parade float workshop will take place on Wednesday 17 June with Scott Maidment, Grand Parade Creative Director.
Attracting crowds of more than 35 000, the Grand Parade is one of Festival Cairns’ most highly anticipated and popular, free, family-fun events.
This year, instead of being the finale highlight, the Grand Parade has been repositioned in the program to open Festival Cairns with a bang as the first of many highlights.
According to Belinda Griffin, Festival Cairns event coordinator, the Grand Parade is the community’s chance to shine, while celebrating life in Cairns; its natural heritage and idyllic tropical lifestyle.
“With thousands of people lining the streets to enjoy this annual spectacle, the Grand Parade is an excellent opportunity to showcase and promote your company, group or association to an extensive and receptive audience. And while the exposure value is outstanding, there are many other benefits, not the least of which is having fun,” she said.
Entries are now being taken for all businesses, community groups, artists, clubs and organisations interested in being involved in this year’s parade.
This year Festival Cairns’ Grand Parade will receive creative direction from Scott Maidment and his team who are responsible for Adelaide’s Fringe Festival parade.
“We anticipate this contribution will breathe new life into the parade. As such, there will be many free opportunities for your group or business to work with professional project artists on creating exciting and innovative floats for this year’s parade,” said Mrs Griffin.
The first is a FREE Workshop with the man himself, Grand Parade Creative Director, Scott Maidment and his team of creatives, which will take place on Wednesday 17 June. Details to be advised.
Get your Application Form now from Council’s website www.cairns.qld.gov.au or contact Caress Creed on 4044 3594 or c.creed@cairns.qld.gov.au for more details.
The opening of a new Green Island jetty on 26 May, 1962 was established as the first annual Cairns Tourist Festival, and renamed ‘Fun In The Sun’ the following year. Since then Tropical North Queensland’s most significant annual celebration, now in its 47th year, has experienced a number of changes including its re-launch in the early nineties as ‘Reef Festival’ before its dynamic incarnation in 2002 as ‘Festival Cairns’.
This year Festival Cairns begins a new chapter. For the first time in many years it will be managed and directed by its founding organisation, Cairns Regional Council; who last month, unveiled details of its vision to deliver a reinvigorated, brighter and bolder event program spanning visual and performing arts, culture and entertainment – showcasing the city’s key cultural precincts with a mix of free and ticketed events.
Festival Cairns will run between Friday 21 August and Sunday 6 September 2009. This year’s theme is “Telling our Stories”.
Ends
For more information:
Belinda Griffin, Festival Cairns Coordinator
T: 07 4044 3593 M: 0407 966 530 E: festival@cairns.qld.gov.au
Issued by:
Pip Miller PR
T: 07 4032 4400 M: 0419 681543 E: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au
www.pipmillerpr.com.au