Festival Cairns Bubble Boy at Grand Parade
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MEDIA RELEASE Monday 31 August 2009
FESTIVAL CAIRNS 2009 BEGINS FINAL CHAPTER IN WEEK
LEADING UP TO ‘THE END’
It’s a rollicking read! Festival Cairns 2009 gathers speed on day one of its final week; racing towards the finish line this Sunday 6 September with an exciting line up of events – including three of its six highlights – to culminate in a spectacular free concert of Cairns Bands, a short movie of this year’s “Grand Parade” and Festival highlights, and a finale fireworks display over Cairns Esplanade to signal the end of the 2009 program.
Cairns Amateurs, Reggaetown and Carnival on Collins headline a multi-dimensional week of story-telling, art, music, poetry and an entire weekend dedicated to providing families with free and fun-filled festivities.
According to Festival Cairns event coordinator, Belinda Griffin, this year’s program has already hit some high notes for Cairns and its wider community with its inaugural Cairns Indigenous Art Fair and food events with celebrity chef Gary Mehigan in particular, declared a resounding success.
“Not only were expectations surpassed in attendances to both of these new additions to the program, but brought to life, this year’s theme, Telling our Stories. In practice, both events beautifully positioned and showcased our region and its bountiful arts and food culture.
“Add to this the overwhelming success of events in the weekend just passed – namely Tex Perkins, Ergon Energy Busking Festival, We Built this City, timeOUT concert – and we have all the momentum needed to drive headlong into our final week of celebrations,” she said.
The story telling theme continues this week at Cairns Libraries with the first in a four day Oral History Project getting underway tomorrow in Mossman and Babinda. In Cairns, Wayne Rees will address the Festival Cairns 2009 theme at 10.30am in Earlville on Thursday 3 September while Paul Hockey will finish the event off in style at Stratford Library on Friday at 2pm.
From today through to Friday, City Place Hub showcases the region’s education and training with a focus on creative and cultural industry. TAFE in the Tropics puts beauty, Indigenous art, ceramics, music and fashion under the microscope with free, tented displays for the public to wander through and enjoy.
City Place Hub is also the starting point for the second Heritage Walk hosted by Mixed Lollies’ stilted Troppo Tourists and a member of the Cairns Historical Society. The walk gets underway from 9.30am.
Thursday 3 and Friday 4 September focuses on the creative talent of younger members of Cairns and its community with Schools Cultural Concert at Bunnings Hub Stage. This long standing tradition gives students the opportunity to shine in a concert environment – providing entertainment for the general public to enjoy and appreciate. Schools Cultural Concert showcases choirs, string ensembles, big bands, orchestras, rock bands, dance and performance. From 10am to 2pm and 6pm to 9pm on Thursday and 6pm to 9pm on Friday.
Tanks Arts Centre is also under the spotlight this week as it hosts the Australian Poetry Slam tomorrow from 7.30pm in Tank 5 and on Thursday 3 September, unveils its Energy Exhibition that runs until Wednesday 16 September. This highly anticipated exhibition is the region’s showcase of some of the best young and emerging artistic talent and in the past has acted as a stepping stone for student artists to become solo exhibitionists. This free exhibition is open from 9.30am to 4.30pm on weekdays.
This week promises another musical feast at Tanks Arts Centre hot on the heels of a sell-out crowd for Tex Perkins last Friday. One of the country’s most recognised jazz singers, Grace Knight will expertly cap off the last concert in the Jazz Up North 2009 series at Tanks on Friday 4 September.
This weekend the party reaches fever pitch at Canon Park with Cairns Amateurs Racing Carnival while across the way at Tjapukai Cultural Park, the message from Australia’s favourite Island roots reggae festival organiser, Mickie Sellton, is, ‘get down to Reggaetown’ on Saturday 5 September with headliners Blue King Brown, Katchafire (NZ) and Anthony B (Jamaica) gracing the stage between 1pm and 11pm.
In 2009, Festival Cairns has provided families with an abundance of free, kid-friendly events and activities. Starting with Bunnings Esplanade Hub stage and its ongoing program of entertainment, Pacific Toyota Grand Parade and Kewarra Beach Resort’s We Built this City over the weekend, the fun will continue on Saturday 5 September at Cairns Regional Gallery and Esplanade Lagoon.
From 10am to 5pm, Cairns Regional Gallery will throw open its doors with a day of art and entertainment for the whole family while the Esplanade Lagoon is the place to be between 3pm and 10pm for McDonald’s/Sea FM Beach Party and Dive-In Movie: it is the biggest beach party in Cairns with games, a DJ, Aussie Barbie, great inflatable race, lifeguard challenge, karaoke and two movies to watch in the great outdoors.
This weekend celebrates the natural beauty and wonder of Flecker Botanic Gardens, Centenary Lakes and surrounds with Jazz Under the Stars from 6.30pm on Saturday 5 September warming up the gardens and stage for Father’s Day Favourite and festival finale highlight, Carnival on Collins.
From 9am to 3pm, Cairns Botanic Gardens, The Tanks Arts Centre and Collins Avenue present the city’s biggest street party that in 2009, celebrates its 20th birthday with a bonanza of activities and entertainment. These include almost 200 stalls (arts, craft, food, refreshments, lifestyle and plants), three exciting stages of live entertainment, a free Children’s Wonderland, amusement rides, roving entertainers, a coffee retreat and more.
The perfect finish to Father’s Day and Festival Cairns 2009 is planned to take place from 6pm at Cairns Esplanade.
At 6pm, the Youth Stage Band provides free entertainment and music before Mayor Val Schier officiates the winner’s presentation of this year’s Pacific Toyota Grand Parade. At 6.45pm a special movie screening of Festival Parade and Highlights will take place before another musical treat –this time from Cairns Concert Band playing until 9pm.
After two action-packed weeks, the attention returns skyward for the finale fireworks – an explosion of lights destined to thrill both young and old and calling ‘The End’ to this year’s Telling our Stories themed, Festival Cairns.
Scheduled Media Calls & Highlights Monday 31 August to Friday 4 September:
· Tuesday 1 September at 11am in City Place Hub for TAFE in the Tropics with Deputy Director of TNQ TAFE, Donna-Maree O’Connor
· Tuesday 1 September from 7.30pm at Tanks Arts Centre, Australian Poetry Slam
· Wednesday 2 September at time AM TBC – Mike Newman from Xplosive Art will visit Fireworks Barge on Esplanade in readiness for Finale Fireworks on Sunday 6 September from 9pm when once again, his team will light up the sky – closing the chapter to this year’s Telling our Stories Festival Cairns.
· Wednesday 2 September Schools Cultural Concert – TBA
· Wednesday 2 September at City Place Hub from 9.30am – Heritage Walk withTroppo Tourists and Cairns Historical Society volunteer
· Thursday 3 September at Tanks Art Centre – Curation of Energy Exhibition
· Thursday 3 September Carnival on Collins – TBA
· Thursday 3 September at 10am at Earlville Library – Wayne Rees tells his story
· Friday 4 September at 2pm at Stratford Library – Paul Hockey tells his story
Pip Miller PR will issue official media calls for all of the above and more opportunities are available on request. Tel: 0419 681543
As event manager of Festival Cairns 2009, Cairns Regional Council gratefully acknowledges the support of major sponsors Arts Queensland, Queensland State Government, Ergon Energy and Pacific Toyota. This year’s theme, “Telling our Stories” will roll out over 16, action-packed days between Friday 21 August and Sunday 6 September 09.
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