HAPPY DAZE

A CRUISE heralds the start of the Cairns LGBT+ community’s 10th annual Tropical Mardi Gras festival tonight.

“Our motto is ‘Show Your Pride in Paradise’, and I think that sums it up very well,” Tropical Mardi Gras president Ben Woodward said.

Launching the festival is the popular Love Boat cruise through Trinity Inlet from 6.30pm, followed by the Splash Pool Party, featuring DJ Dan Murphy and drag superstar Vollie La Vont, at Cairns Hilton hotel on Sunday.

Mr Woodward said the cruise was being held for the second time after selling out last year. “This year we have a bigger boat,” he said.

The event runs until October 9. See tropicalmardigras.org

Picture: JUSTIN BRIERTY SPLASHDOWN: Drag queen Claudia Izout will make an appearance with her pool boys, Jack Foulstone and Jeremy Ithier.