TNQ Writer
Watch a live music show and get your groove on during your holiday to Cairns. With an incredible line-up of musical acts over the summer, you’re guaranteed to be tapping your toes, singing at the top of your voice, and dancing like no one is watching!
Start in the city at the Cairns Art Gallery, a nod to the region’s history. The heritage-listed building was repurposed in 1995 and offers free entry to incredible, local, and travelling exhibitions. December features a touring exhibition by JamFactory. New Exuberance – Contemporary Australian Textile Design takes you on a journey through more than 30 textile pieces including furniture and streetwear exhibits.
The Court House Gallery and Mulgrave Gallery come alive over Summer. Standing as testaments to the region’s sustainability commitment to ‘repurpose for purpose’ the Court House Gallery heard many a case within its walls, before being transformed into a space to hear music and see contemporary art. This summer, check out free live music at Art Sounds, a curated live music program offering an immersive experience for the senses while you enjoy incredible exhibitions from photojournalist Brian Cassey and emerging local youth photographers.
The newest gallery on the block, Mulgrave Gallery, was fully restored in 2024, and still features many of its original construction materials from 1912 including stunning timber floors and plaster cornices. Over Summer, get your Aussie film fix with their Mulgrave Twilight Films sessions on the lawn. The bar opens at 6.00pm with films beginning at 7.00pm and don’t forget to bring a beanbag!
Take a break from the urban jungle and spend a day at the Cairns Botanic Gardens. Widely regarded as one of Australia’s best exhibitions of Australia’s tropical plants,, the Gardens feature unique collections and gardens including a bamboo collection, rainforest boardwalk and amorphophallus collection in the Conservatory. Spend the afternoon checking out the exhibitions at Tanks Art Centre. The line up for summer includes visual art inspired by film, photographic and art canvases bring the reef to life and pencil and digital contemporary artworks. With your artists soul satiated and connection with nature fulfilled, wander a little further along to Edge Hill and relax with a cocktail at Cairns’ newest cocktail bar The Hound.
Seeing out summer with a bang, February 15 celebrates the conclusion of Chinese New Year. The 2025 Year of the Snake Lantern Festival is a feast for the senses. Fill your culture tank at the Chinese market before feasting at food stalls and marvelling at the sounds and colour of traditional lion and dragon dances before casting your eyes to the sky over the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon for a spectacular fireworks finale.
So that’s summer in the tropics – next stop, Autumn!