Parade and fireworks to end festival
After more than 40 events and tens of thousands of smiles, this year's Festival Cairns draws to a huge finale tomorrow.
The final day's program will kick off at 10.30am with the Tropical Wave Festival at Fogarty Park and will end with a bang with fireworks on theEsplanade at 8pm.
Cairns' showcase event and largest street festival in the Far North, the Parade of Lights, starts at 6pm and will see this year's Love Cairns, Love the Environment theme shine through a big procession of floats.
Festival Cairns operations manager Narell Black said tourism operators had joined the parade this year, showing the strength and diversity of the festival.
"I really think we have engaged with a lot of people that we haven't touched before," she said.
Events Cairns chief executive Denis Keeffe said the three-week festival had brought more than $20 million of economic benefit for the region and an estimated 175,000 people had taken part in this year's events.
He and Cairns Festival organisers have been approached by Townsville events organisers, including Townsville Enterprise Ltd, to find out how to run a successful festival on a similar budget.
Ms Black said there was no doubt the festival was the best Cairns has seen, showcasing small and large events including the timeOUT concert, Reggaetown, Festival of Sport and Swing by the Lagoon.
HIGHLIGHTS TODAY
11am - Ergon Energy Busking Festival at Esplanade and City Place from noon.
Noon - Harbour Lights Wine & Dine Lunch.
4pm - Ergon Energy Busking Festival Amateur competition at Esplanade.
Tonight - the Audreys at Tanks Arts Centre. Doors open 6.30pm.
TOMORROW
10.30am - Tropical Wave Festival, Fogarty Park.
11am - International busker Patrick McCullagh, Esplanade.
1pm - Busking with The Pogo Dudes from New York.
1pm - Rotary duck events, lagoon.
2.30pm - World's Greatest Grill, Pelican BBQ Site, Esplanade.
6pm - RACQ Insurance Parade of Lights, Esplanade.
8pm - Cairns Ports Explosion of Lights, Esplanade.
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Parade and fireworks will end Festival Cairns 2008.
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