Unique festival set to light up the Cairns CBD

The Illuminate Festival promises to deliver an inspiring experience mixing light, imagery, projections and local architecture.


The city centre will have a vibrant and enlightened feel early next month with a number of buildings and shopfronts set to be a sea of colour during the first ever Illuminate Cairns Light and Projection Art Festival.

Attendees will follow a path around the Cairns CBD and along the way see images, colours and pictures projected onto some of the city's most recognisable buildings.

“Illuminate Cairns is about showing the creative talents of Cairns,” event co-producer Paul Barron said.

“We also wanted to create an event which encouraged locals to enjoy the CBD by night again.

“The way it will work as follows… The festival trail will start on Abbott in front of the Post building. There you’ll be able to see a selection of colour-ins done by local children projected onto the building. 

"From the Post the walk moves on to the Pullman Hotel which will showcase a range of beautiful Reef and Rainforest images. After that it’s over to the corporate towers which will have more of a funky array of lighting.

“The last major illumination will be at Rydges. It will feature work from well-known local artists Hayley Gillespie and Caroline Mudge.”

In-between those major stopping points there will be 11 other sites along the route that will also feature in the festival.

“The idea to do something like Illuminate Cairns has been brewing for a couple of years,” Barron said.

“People love seeing colours on buildings. It’s a great chance for us to transform the city scape at night.

“illumination is the new fireworks. You can see by the big events in Sydney and Melbourne that illumination type shows are proving really popular.

“There really is something in it for everyone. Families love it and kids love it, so I really encourage locals and tourists alike to come into the CBD between November 11-13 and have a look.

“Along with showcasing local talent it really is about celebrating the heritage, architecture and natural beauty of Cairns.”


Illuminate Cairns

- November 11-13, between 7pm-12
- Participation is free
- Walkers will follow a route around the CBD to see the free sites. 15 separate sites will feature in the festival
- Main stopping points include the Cairns Post building, the Pullman International, Corporate Towers and Rydges Hotel
- The event was created to celebrate local artists and to bring more families to the Cairns CBD during the evenings
- Culture Mechanics is the local company behind Illuminate Cairns