TimeOut Spicy Italian in the tropics Lots to see and do at the second annual cultural, food and entertainment festival

l CAIRNS CBD | Gail Sedorkin

IT’S Italy in the Tropics with the best of Italian food, culture and history for everyone to enjoy at the 2023 Cairns Italian Festival.

Seven more days have been added after the resounding success of last year’s inaugural festival, with the 17-day program running from July 21 to August 6.

Launched last week, organisers are excited and can’t wait for the festivities to begin.

Festival president Steve Cordenos said the festival was enormous last year and it was really exciting to be able to offer the extra days and events this year.

“Just to see the public enjoying it last year – how can you not bring it back?,” he said.

“We have also gone regional where there are large Italian populations such as in Innisfail and Mareeba.”

The program now includes the Innisfail Pasta & Sugo Festa on July 23, the Mareeba Moriconi/ Bomben Soccer Cup on August 5, and Mareeba Salami and Sausage Festa on August 6.

A free family night complete with fireworks and La Festa launch will be held from 6pm to 8.30pm on July 28 at Fogarty Park.

The next day, La Festa Day will be at Fogarty Park again, but in a bigger area with double the amount of food stalls. The number of Italian food vendors is edging towards 35 for the day.

Festival food coordinator Angelo Aurelio said the food vendors were amazing local restaurants and chefs showcasing their food.

Mr Cordenos said he highly recommended buying tickets now to avoid queues for events such as La Festa Day, which promised to be a great day with entertainment from 10am to 11.30pm.

At this year’s festival there is a chance to win a trip for two to Italy, as well as big prizes for eating pasta and for making pasta, sugo (sauce), sausages and salami.

At the launch, also attended by the Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch and major sponsor and festival ambassador

John Piccone on Monday, Mr Piccone said the response to last year was amazing and he was “proud to be a major sponsor”.

“It’s a credit to all of the hours put in by festival president Steve, vice-president Lou Garrozzo, committee members and volunteers who have organised and coordinated so many amazing events,” he said.

“Since moving here almost 100 years ago we have always been invested in our local community and we’re proud to do this by supporting this great event.”

Other events include four celebrations of the diverse food and wines of the Amalfi Coast, Central Italy, Northern Italy and Southern Italy, and the Gala Ball and Hall of Fame Awards. For more information and all tickets visit www.cairnsitalianfestival.com.au Committee

The Importance Of Being Earnest The Rondo Theatre

l FRI 14 – SAT 15 JULY

The Importance of Being Earnest, is the bestknown work of world-famous playwright, Oscar Wilde. Set in the delightful aristocratic world of bustles & parasols and top hats & canes, the Victorian Comedy will introduce you to John Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, two young men who have invented alter egos to escape their everyday lives. Gather your friends and prepare to laugh yourselves silly.

Book your tickets through The Rondo Theatre.

Art Of Solomon Islands Australia Gallery

l FRI 14 – SAT 22 JULY, 10AM-4PM

Solomon Islands Artists Association (SIAA) for the first time in Australia is proud to be exhibiting a large collection of their art works at Australia Gallery. SIAA is a grassroots organisation made up of respected and long-standing visual artists from Solomon Islands. This exhibition is anticipated to be the first of regular exhibitions in Australia by the SIAA Solomon artists collective. For more information visit the Australia.Gallery website.

Fnq Relay For Life 2023 Barlow Park

l SAT JULY 15, 2PM-11PM

Relay For Life raises vital funds for the Cancer Council Queensland’s research, prevention, and patient support services. Relay is a chance for the Far North Queensland community to support those going through a cancer experience, recognise and celebrate cancer survivors, and to honour and remember loved ones lost. Theme: This year’s Relay for Life theme is Circus!

See the Far North Queensland Relay Facebook Group to keep up-to-date.

7 Cairns Marathon Festival Fogarty Park

l SUN JULY 16, 5AM-12PM

The fast, flat, multi loop course takes in the best of the picture-perfect Cairns Esplanade, the streets of Cairns and the memorable run down the epic finish chute alongside Fogarty Park. There is an event for all ages and abilities, from the 5km walk, the marathon relay, the 2km Mini Marathoner dash, or the full marathon, lace up, grab a friend and get that Cairns finish line feeling in 2023.

For more info visit the Cairns Marathon website.

FRIDAY

Amber Farnan – Dunwoody’s, 4:00pm Wind and Wood – Ten06, 5:30pm

Starry Night Cinema Cairns Botanical Gardens

l SAT JULY 15, 7:00PM

Join us for an unforgettable evening under the stars at the Cairns Botanic Gardens, as we pay tribute to the timeless classic that captured hearts around the world. In honour of the legendary Olivia Newton-John, we proudly present “Grease” on the big screen. Grab your leather jackets and poodle skirts and join us at the Cairns Botanic Gardens for an evening of love, laughter, and rock ‘n’ roll! Book your tickets through trybooking.

Barbary Coasters – O’Donnells Irish Bar & Grill, 6:00pm

Janna Mercedes – The Crown Hotel Cairns, 6:00pm

Sax Man – Chill Café Palm Cove, 6:00pm

Vivien Aisi – The Benson Hotel, 6:00pm

Kim Settle – Mountain View Hotel, 6:00pm

FingerPrint – Cazalys Cairns, 6:30pm

Infinity Duo – Atherton International Club, 6:30pm

Wasabi Barbie – Elixir Music House, 7:00pm

Big Pups – Lakeland Hotel, 7:00pm

Good Morning Vietnam – CPAC, 7:30pm

Carinda Christie – Babinda Taverna, 8:00pm

Billy Joel & Elton John – Bar36 at the Reef Hotel Casino, 9:00pm Waiting for Alice – The Jack, 9:00pm

SATURDAY

Vivien Aisi – Bluewater Trinity Park, 1:00pm

Two Dogs Music – Ten06, 5:30pm

Sax Man – Coral Beach Lodge Port Douglas, 6:00pm

Russell Harris – Cazaly’s Cairns, 6:15pm

CIAF Music in the Park – Munro Martin Parklands, 6:30pm

Kaweyova – The Pier Bar, 8:00pm

Big Noise – Rattle n Hum Cairns, 8:30pm

Billy Joel & Elton John – Bar36 at the Reef Hotel Casino,9:00pm

YEAR 6/7 PIVOT PROGRAM PEACE LUTHERAN COLLEGE

l TUE JULY 18, 6:45PM

Do you have a child moving into Year 6 or Year 7 in 2024? We invite you to come along to our Principal’s Forum and learn how our PIVOT team of dedicated staff works solely with our Year 6 and 7 classes to implement an explicit teaching approach for individual learners, including tailored intervention and acceleration strategies. For more information or to register: www.plc.qld.edu.au/enrolments/pivot-program

SUNDAY

Andy Brassett & Lady Valiant – Ellis Beach Bar & Grill, 1:00pm No More No Less – Red Beret Hotel, 1:00pm

DjGlennW – Dundees at the Aquarium, 2:00pm

Lunar Solarmoon – Dunwoody’s, 2:00pm

Russell Harris – Edge Hill Memorial Bowls Club, 2:30pm

Bad Boys of Uke – Beach Almond Palm Cove, 2:30pm

Barbary Coasters – Yorkeys Knob Boating Club, 3:00pm

Lady Valiant – Ellis Beach Bar & Grill, 3:00pm

Billy Joel & Elton John – Bar36 at the Reef Hotel Casino,5:00pm