Gin and whisky juggling act

l CAIRNS CBD

| Nick Dalton

A FAR North Queensland’s Festival of Spirits mixes gin with a vintage-style circus tomorrow (June 10).

The festival at Hemingway’s Brewery will highlight the region’s array of gins, whiskies, rums and more from Wolf Lane (Cairns), Distil on the Hill (Kuranda), Mt Uncle Distillery (Walkamin), Narrow Track Distillery (Stratford), Wild River Mountain Distillery (Wondecla) and Devils Thumb (Port Douglas).

Brewery head of hospitality Roman Haslinger said the festival, which coincided with World Gin Day, was an opportunity to experience the unique tastes and flavours of spirits made by the Far North’s distilleries.

“Along with a strong appreciation for quality and enviable access to the abundant range of botanicals and natural ingredients, our region’s distillers are pushing boundaries and setting the bar high on a global stage for creating distinct and sophisticated flavours,” he said.

“The Festival of Spirits collectively recognises the region’s distillers and all the clever and talented people who are innovating and making products that capture the vibrant spirit of the tropics.” Taking cue from the vintage circus theme, there is a high-voltage line-up of fun and entertainment including circus performances, juggling competitions, sea shanties from The Secret Men, Cairns’

5-piece men’s choir and a folk music showcase from Keesha McLean’s Cairns Voice Studio.

Known for his juggling skill at work and at play, brewery functions coordinator Brendan

Dennis has issued a call out to anyone who can juggle to get along to the festival and show their flair in the air with a chance to snag the major prize of a Great Barrier Reef cruise

TAFE art exhibition

l

Manunda

TALENTED TAFE Queensland visual arts students will host a free public exhibition from June 9-21.

A TAFE Cairns spokeswoman said art lovers were invited to attend the exhibition’s opening night from 6-8pm at the TAFE Queensland Cairns campus tonight (June 9).

“A selection of paintings, drawings, printmaking, ceramics and sculptures will be on display and for sale at the Banggu Minjaany Gallery,” she said.

The gallery is open to the public from Monday to Friday between 9am-4pm until the exhibition closes on June 21.

from Down Under Cruise and Dive.

Festival of Spirits is a free and family-friendly event tomorrow from noon until late at Hemingway’s Brewery, Wharf St

Eligible students can study a Certificate III in Visual Arts via Fee-Free TAFE, meaning some or all of the course costs will be covered by the Australian and Queensland Governments.

Beaches Festival Trinity Beach

l FRI JUNE 9, 5:00PM

A FREE family event celebrating community – food & market stalls, licensed bar, live music, children’s castles and slides, face painting and more. The event will be emceed by The Festival Guy and entertainment and performances including Buenos Nachos Production (fire show), Cairns Taiko Drumming Group, TAS School Band, and more live music. A giant RAFFLE will be run by the Lions Club of Marlin Coast.