FNQ ON A GOOD WICKET
Big Bash gets ball rolling on big year of major events
GET your ringside tickets to some of the biggest events coming to the Far North in 2019 — and it all starts tonight.
Women’s cricket will burst on to the oval at Cazalys from 6.15pm when the stadium hosts the Big Bash league clash between the Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder.
It’s the first time the women’s league has played in Cairns and arrives as the city cements its reputation as an events tourism destination.
However, it’s not just established sporting events, like the Ironman Cairns and UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, that are ensuring the Far North reaps major multimillion- dollar benefits from visitors.
The International Rafting Foundation’s World Rafting Championships will be held in the Far North for the first time this year at Tully.
From iconic horse races to cultural feasts and entertainment, be prepared to fill your calendar and be wowed.
THE reputation of Cairns as an events city will be hit out of the grounds with a bevy of national and international attractions set to take the Far North’s ability to host major functions to “the next level” this year.
Starting today with Brisbane Heat v Sydney Thunder’s inaugural Women’s Big Bash League match at Cazalys Stadium, the city is set to welcome a more varied group of visitors with sporting, arts and food festivals filling up the calendar.
The anticipated blockbuster 12 months for the Far North comes on the back of Queensland being named top international honeymoon destination at India’s Wedding Sutra Honeymoon Awards late last year and Google’s Year in Search revealing Queensland made the Top 10 Google searches for ‘flights to’.
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said the hard work to position the city as an events destination had paid off.
“Cairns is now a location that event organisers want to explore. They are choosing to come here because they know we have excellent venues and support services, an engaged community and we’re a desti- nation that people will travel to in order to see a concert or sporting event.
“Events are a key element of our economic development strategy. They not only promote liveability of our region, but they are an economic driver – particularly through event tourism.
“While one-off events – like the upcoming Red Hot Summer festival (April 27) – are great for the region, we love to attract annual fixtures that have the ability to grow over time. “Ironman Cairns is the perfect example – each year gets bigger and better. We hope Targa (tarmac rally) will follow that trend. “But we’re also hoping that our community’s support of sporting events can extend into more regular fixtures, such as a national rugby league team. The establishment of a joint venture with PNG would take our city to the next level in terms of facilitating sporting events. And I think we’re ready to take that step.” One of the region’s most successful events, the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, has received new Queensland Government funding to further expand its arts and culture program. CIAF organisers have received support to create Cultural Heights, a new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performance piece that will be the first of its kind.
Cultural Heights will be part of the art fair’s 10th anniversary year.
FEBRUARY 4-10
Visitors from China and Cairns’ unique link with the world’s most populous country help mark Chinese New Year in a special way in the tropics.
APRIL 27
John Farnham, Daryl Braithwaite, Jon Stevens and Vanessa Amorosi, the Red Hot Summer Tour will play at Barlow Park.
MAY 13-20
Tully will host the International Rafting Foundation’s 2019 World Rafting Championships.
MAY 23-26
Trail running, dragon boat racing, cricket, athletics and netball are among more than 20 sports at the Great Barrier Reef Masters Games.
JUNE 9
Boasting the most spectacular bike course in the world, Ironman-Asia Pacific has become a must-do on the Ironman circuit as it takes competi-
tors from the Reef to the rainforest in June 2019.
JUNE 15
Join thousands at the Yarrabah Band Festival and encourage local indigenous artists to take to the stage.
JUNE 29
The Cairns to Karumba Bike Ride is a seven-day adventure along the Savannah Way taking in outback towns and ending with an ocean view.
JULY 12-14
Cairns indigenous Art Fair brings the creative works of the first people to the city.
AUGUST 8-11
Australia’s newest mountain bike stage race ride, Reef to Reef MTB, is held in the heart of Tropical North Queensland.
AUGUST 23
Cairns Festival, the city’s annual display of arts, music and culture, complete with a popular float parade hosts events each day until September 1.
AUGUST 31
Targa Great Barrier Reef runs until September 2 showcasing exotic supercars and historic sportscars worth more than $20 million in a car rally along Tropical North Queensland’s spectacular drives.
TBC: The Tour of the Tropics event was so popular in 2018, it’ll be back this year on dates to be confirmed shortly. Commencing with a criterium race at Collins Avenue at Edge Hill, food and wine stalls and restaurants on the leafy street bring a fun festival atmosphere.
SEPTEMBER 7-8
Cairns Amateurs Racing Carnival celebrates fashion and fillies.
OCTOBER 6-12
WHEN: WHERE: Anglers from around the world descend on Lizard Island to target the game fish in the Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic. TBC: Starting on Four Mile Beach at Port Douglas, the Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival is hailed by Olympian Steve Moneghetti as the world’s best marathon adventure course.