Tropic Weekender: Our curated guide to the best upcoming events around Cairns
The weekend's here already, and we're quite happy about it.
Local AFL has its first round this weekend, while Northern Pride enter their third round and the Taipans take on the Hawks down south.
There's a stack of markets and school holiday activities for kids, plus a comedy show at Laneway and a few new bars, cafes and restaurants for the adults to indulge in.
We can expect sunny, partly cloudy weather ahead with only a slight chance of showers.
Friday 9 April
TAFE Queensland is currently hosting the Re-Constructing Concepts Art Exhibition, in the Banggu Minjaany Gallery, R Block of the Cairns campus. The exhibition features continuing diploma students and their process of incubating, planning, refining and delivering concept-based artworks.
Fancy a bit of Friday night jazz? Silver Fox Jazz Band is playing at Elixir Music Bar, delivering smooth, sassy and fun New Orleans Dixieland jazz straight to your soul. Show starts 6pm, $5 cover charge.
Saturday 10 April
The Mareeba Markets are on again, packed full with handcrafted items, locally grown produce, food stalls and much more. 7:30am start.
Round 1 of the local AFL is here! We'll be barracking for the Cairns North Tigers as they take on the Cairns City Lions at Watsons Oval. Find the full fixture here.
Northern Pride is set to face the Wynnum Manly Seagulls this Saturday at Barlow Park. The first of three matches kicks off at 2:30pm. Entry’s free for under 15yo, other tickets range from $5 to $10.
Laneway is launching a new regular event, Off The Dome Comedy, featuring a different crew of Cairns comedians every month. Hosted by Ty Thomas Off, tonight’s show will bring comics Chris Auld, Mick Crawford and Macca Melody to the Westcourt bar. Free event. 6pm start.
There’s a few new bars, restaurants and cafes popping up around Cairns. Inka Coffee Lounge in Cairns North is celebrating its opening today with live Latino music, while High Tide Coffee in Mooroobool is entering its third week of trade. Flynn’s Italian opened on Friday, following Guerrilla in Edge Hill’s opening earlier this week. You can find more about both restaurants on our Instagram.
Sunday 11 April
With slightly cooler weather comes the return of road races, including the annual Copperlode Cup. The 15km run winds up Lake Morris Road, with a BBQ at the finish line. Arrive around 6am for a 7am start, register here.
For a cruisier Sunday morning head to Holloways Beach Markets. There’s a stack of school holiday activities for the kids, plus plenty of nice things for adults to peruse through. 8am to 1pm.
Unseen Cinema is running the fun, thought-provoking film, Another Round, featuring Mads Mikkelsen as a high school teacher who tests the theory that the human body performs best under the influence of 0.05 BAC. Showing from 4:30pm at BCC Earlville.
Before they’re due back in Cairns next week, the Taipans are playing the Illawarra Hawks this Sunday down in Wollongong. Tune in on SBS On Demand from 5pm.
