My kids love Cairns for a few reasons – they love spending time in the water every day, they love the tropical nature play and they love the wildlife interactions. Last week they found one more reason to love Cairns, the Cairns Children’s Festival.
As a regional city Cairns punched above its weight in the delivery of the fabulous Children’s Festival. The festival was ideally located at the Tanks Arts Centre (a collection of World War II era fuel tanks that now house act as community arts spaces) and adjacent to the Cairns Flecker Botanic Gardens. The key to the Cairns Children’s Festival’s success was a winning combination of local, grassroots community performances and outside talent. Creative play was the phrase of the day with ample opportunity for the kids to learn and discover.
Tanks Art Centre
Highlights for my own children were:
An interactive journey on the Red Ruby Pirate Ship led by performers from Arc Disability Services. Children scrubbed the decks, hoisted the main sails and battled it out on the high seas alongside a joyous crew of pirate actors. The pirate journey was unique, professionally delivered, and, most importantly fun for all concerned.
Arc Disability Services actors on the Red Ruby Pirate Ship
A newsreader’s lesson courtesy of Channel 7 with their performances projected on screen.
Reading the channel 7 news
A rocket themed maze made entirely out of recycled goods.
The Rocket Maze made entirely from recycled goods
This particular mum was impressed by the relative lack of crowds – if the Cairns Children’s Festival had been held in a major Australian city you would expect thousands and thousands of people attending. I also loved the mix of:
Science – the kids engaged in a scientific study of fleas for example.
Music – the kids had the opportunity to conduct a virtual orchestra projected on a screen in one of the Tanks which responded to the touch of a button on a control panel.
Performance – These included a Bollywood dance class, a machine shaped like a bubble that blew bubbles as it drove around and circus performers.
Food – Lots of food trucks!
The moral of this post – if you are lucky enough to live in Cairns don’t miss the Cairns Children’s Festival next year. If you are thinking of visiting Cairns next year, consider coinciding your trip with Mother’s Day as this is when the Cairns Children’s Festival is held.
Bubs on the Move provides tips and advice for parents traveling with small children including attraction and accommodation reviews. I’d love for ya’ll to join us on our adventures by either signing up for the newsletter, joining us on Facebook, Twitter,Pinterest and Instagram to receive updates.
