Events

The Biggest Island Party In Australia, at Townsville - Queensland. For the last five years, Full Moon Down Under has become one of Queensland's, and Australia's most iconic events. Full Moon is staged monthly and set on the ridiculously beautiful Magnetic Island's Nelly Beach. They hand pick the artists, bringing the biggest acts Australia and the world has to offer so they can commit to delivering an explosive night full of entertainment. With up to 3,000 people from different parts of the world travelling to experience their unique island party, you can expect nothing less then fire twirlers, body paint, plenty of colour and good times! From sunset to sunrise, it is a night you may or may not remember.

Dinosaur Discovery: Lost Creatures of the Cretaceous gives you a chance to experience life on earth 145 million years ago. Featuring more than 20 animated, life-size dinosaur models, including the fearsome T-Rex, and Queensland’s very own Muttaburrasaurus, the Dinosaur Discovery: Lost Creatures of the Cretaceous exhibition will transport you back millions of years to when dinosaurs ruled the earth.

The Townsville Cultural Festival is a not-for-profit community festival organised by the Townsville Intercultural Centre. The festival showcases the diversity of Australian music, food, arts and culture, bringing tens of thousand of people together each year in celebration of life itself. Over 150 performing groups will offering everything from folk, blues, hip-hop and punk, to Indigenous Australian music and dance, drum circles, fireshows, cabaret, poetry, theatre and traditional dance groups from around the world. This year the JCU sponsored Centre of Learning will host workshops, lectures, discussion panels, theatre shows and the Townsville heat of the National Poetry Slam competition. The Wonky Queenslander will host DJ sets, solo sets as well as workshops and yoga classes. Over 100 food and market stalls from around the world, will offer arts and crafts, cuisines, fashion and produce, and around the grounds you will find art features, interactive games, roving performers, show rides, yarning circle, henna tattoo stalls and gypsy fortune tellers. Join them in this celebration of Unity in Diversity. Tickets on sale 1 May.

Set in a city overrun by bureaucracy, Shaun Tan’s picture book The Lost Thing tells the story of a boy who befriends a strange creature that doesn’t appear to fit in any of the available pigeon holes. Melbourne-based production company Passion Pictures Australia invited Shaun to direct an animated version of The Lost Thing. Several years later, the Oscar®-winning short film emerged. This exhibition features Shaun’s exquisite original drawings and working sketches alongside exclusive footage of the animators and sound artists demonstrating how the drawings were brought to life on screen with movement, sound effects, music and narration.

The collaborative artworks in Strata: Faraway Nearby are not simply an illustration of the experience of place. Rather, they are a layering of similar and diverse experiences from and of different places and spaces that bring varied parts of both Barbara Cheshire and Deborah Cavanagh together to work in concert. Although the sense of a place can be unique, the conception behind each artwork was experienced as more than the sum of parts. Each painting has overarching characteristics from both macro and micro experiences that are identified and described as they understand they are their places and not separate from them.

Ever since the 15th century, when European cartographers began including the contour of Terra Australis Incognita (‘the unknown land of the south’) in their speculative maps of the globe, the continent of Australia has been thought of as an exotic place. For many of the artists in this exhibition, this European vision is something that needs to be subverted and critiqued. For others, the idea of living in an eccentric environment, with surreal undertows, continues to inform a distinctively Australian sense of place.

It's legendary and it's live. Direct from another off-Broadway season in New York and an appearance on the Colbert show, the Umbies' most beloved show is back. The Sydney Morning Herald described it as "Marcel Marceau on really good drugs". 'Nuff said. The Umbilical Brothers are an international comedy phenomenon who have so far won a couple of BAFTAs, an Emmy, the Critics' Choice at Edinburgh Fringe and the Helpmann Award for Best Comedy Performers, They have performed in 37 countries with five different shows. Now they are returning home with one of their most beloved ones, Speedmouse. Full of the stuff you love best, Speedmouse is a live action, fast paced, rewind, slow motion, frame-by-frame adventure where two men create the impossible out of a microphone and a unique physical ability that has no equal. Speedmouse has earned a bevy of five star reviews and numerous awards including best stage production and best international show, along with a multi-platinum DVD that is sold in every corner of the world. Join them in celebrating the return of Speedmouse with a limited live theatrical run. If you haven't seen this show live, you should. Really.

Join TheatreiNQ for a madcap adventure down the rabbit hole with Alice and all the crazy characters from Lewis Carroll's enduring classic including the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts and many many more. "I want a clean cup, let's all move one place down. Clean cup!! Clean cup!!! All move round!" Directed by Terri Brabon, Alice in Wonderland will feature members of the TheatreiNQ ensemble including their youngest actress, Emma Smith in the title role. This TheatreiNQ Original Production will thrill audiences of all ages as Alice and the White Rabbit lead the audience on a hilarious journey through beautiful Anderson Gardens. The performance concludes with a very special Tea Party including photo opportunities with the cast. Tickets are limited to each session so bookings are essential. So grab the kids, pack a picnic and enjoy a Townsville winter with Alice and her friends.

Witness first-hand the thrilling atmosphere of a North Queensland Toyota Cowboys home game at 1300SMILES Stadium in 2017! Leading the charge is four-time Dally M winner Johnathan Thurston and Australian and Queensland representative Matt Scott, backed up by reigning dual Dally M winner Jason Taumalolo and an outstanding lineup of state and international representatives and NRL talent, assembled by head coach Paul Green. The Cowboys won an NRL record of 11 out of 12 regular season home games in 2016, delighting passionate members and fans and delivering the exciting brand of attacking football they’re known for. Secure your tickets now to see these 12 action-packed match days full of live entertainment, on-field competitions and rugby league at its best!

Welcome to Spartan Australia’s first Winter Escape event. By the end of June most people are over the cold and wet, dreaming of warm summer sunshine. In 2017 you’ll be able to escape it all to tropical Townsville where June temps will be in the mid 20s to soak up the sun, race an all new Spartan course on a stunning property is less than 15 minutes from the central business district. This Townsville winter escape will be much more than just a race weekend, they are partnering some of the best locations in Townsville to bring you amazing travel/accommodation package options. The weekend will include a four hour Hurricane Heat on the Friday evening up and around the iconic Castle Hill; Spartan Sprint, Beast and Ultra race on the Saturday, a post-race street party on Saturday night with live music, food and drink, and a free group hike around stunning Magnetic Island on Sunday finishing back at Peppers Blue on Blue Resort for a poolside barbie.

The Townsville Billy Cart Dash for Variety will be held at Jezzine Barracks, Kissing Point, North Ward. The annual Townsville Billy Cart Dash raises money for Variety - the Children's Charity of Queensland, a national non-profit organisation supporting kids who are sick, disadvantaged or who have special needs. To date, they have raised more than AUD50,000 for Variety, and look forward to continuing to raise funds for such a worthwhile charity while providing a fantastic community event. This event, now in its sixth year, has proved a huge success, with teams entering every type of billy cart you can imagine, from the old-fashioned wood and rope soap-box style through to sleek welded machines complete with air brakes, parachutes, air horns and sub-woofers. They get some amazing cart designs, from dinosaurs to pirate ships to outdoor dunnies on wheels! Enter your own cart this year, and come down for a fantastic family day out, with billy cart racing, a fun obstacle course, face painting, balloon artists, food stalls, a jumping castle and an outside broadcast with 4TO radio personality and V8 race-caller Minty.

Somewhere between a yoga retreat and a tropical island holiday – a sweet escape from daily routine to explore your potential on the yoga mat and the rugged beauty of Magnetic Island. They invite you to join them in a place where you can challenge yourself and relax completely, seek insight or escape, flirt with adventure or hang at the beach. Join them for an experience of yoga practice that spans all its offerings, from dynamic to soft asana practice, pranayama, guided relaxation and meditation, to lively discussions of yoga philosophy, and more. There will be time to walk the unique island tracks, explore the nearshore coral reefs, and time for the beach. We offer healthy meals or the alternative of self-catering, simple group accommodation or the alternative of seeking your own space, and gaps in the program for precious time to yourself. The program is adaptable to different weather conditions and the yoga sessions will be modified to suit most levels of ability. Book now, and let us take care of the rest.

You will come away from the workshop with the knowledge and skills to make your own longbow. You will learn how to make a bowstring that perfectly complements your own bow and understand the art of tillering, the process of carefully removing wood to cause the bows to bend in optimal arcs. Students will learn how to tiller their bows to precise measurements of draw length and draw weight depending on the archer. After the bow is functionally finished, it comes time to bring the bows to an aesthetically pleasing finish with fine sanding and oiling. During the second day afternoon the bows are ready for students to take to the shooting range to learn how to shoot. You will get your introduction to the instinctive shooting method. This workshop offers much more than making a longbow. It shows you ways to reconnect, to ground with the Earth, to get in touch with your true self by exploring the art of making a longbow and learning the skills to use it; to play with your conscious awareness to allow essential aspects of your being to be/unfold/shine or hide.

Riding your bike is an ad for cycling…so do it in style! Style Over Speed is a traffic-stopping black-tie affair. Over 80 cyclists parade through town along The Strand, out to the casino and back finishing with live music, a bar and a fashion parade by participants with their bikes. Have fun and get dressed up in your fanciest formal gear, match your handbag or manbag to your bicycle and come along! The ride is designed to encourage spectators to smile and cheer at their display because cycling is something to celebrate.

Adventurethon is a multi-sport outdoor activity incorporating paddling, mountain biking and trail running. Each event offers five exciting off-road courses to suit all types of fitness levels including pain seekers, the casual trainers to parents, family members and even juniors! Routes can range from one to eight hours, depending on what the competitor believes they can achieve. Their courses are off road, frequenting areas like national parklands, beaches and hiking trails to enjoy the spectacular sceneries and to experience the alfresco of each location. Any Adventurethon challenge can be done as an individual, tag team or side by side team to gain a different experience for the day. They want you to step out of your comfort zone and try something new!

North Queensland’s loudest weekend is coming for the Virgin Australian Supercars Watpac Townsville 400. Featuring high octane Supercars racing through the streets of Townsville and exciting on and off track entertainment. The heart and the soul of Australian rock and roll Jimmy Barnes and James Reyne will be performing under the SuperTop on Saturday night. Children 12 and under receive free Trackside Admission with a paying adult.

Landscape with Monsters is a bold new acrobatic work, a physical symphony to the joyous complexity of being human. Created in response to evolving industrial landscapes, it inhabits the emotional highs and lows of a place faced with uncertainty.

Townsville is blessed by beautiful wetlands. In 2014 artist Pamela Griffith visited Clevedon / Cromarty protected wetlands 30 kilometres south of Townsville. Some of the most extensive water-bird habitat in Australia occurs between Giru and Cleveland Bay. This area, with Wongaloo Regional Park at the core is seen by many thousands of travellers passing along the Bruce Highway that runs beside the Mt Elliot range. This is the subject of Pamela Griffith’s exhibition.

Mozart’s brilliant opera The Marriage of Figaro follows the adventures of a household over one crazy day. Masters are lusting over their servants, servants are outwitting their masters – Figaro is the Downton Abbey of opera – but a whole lot more fun!

Hermia and Lysander are madly in love and wish to marry. But Hermia’s father, Theseus, wants her to marry Demetrius, who is keen to marry her. Her father threatens Hermia with a future in a nunnery or death if she does not obey him. Hermia’s childhood friend, Helena is in love with Demetrius and his romantic feelings are not returned. Lysander and Hermia run away together into the forest, and Demetrious and Helena follow after. Oberon, the King of the fairies, sees Demetrious and Helena and wants to give her the man of her dreams, with a little help from a love potion. Whilst a person is sleeping, the potion can be poured over their eyes and they will fall in love with the first person he or she sees. He asks his fairy friend, Puck, to help him with the task. But something goes wrong. Falling in love can make fools of us all…

Witness first-hand the thrilling atmosphere of a North Queensland Toyota Cowboys home game at 1300SMILES Stadium in 2017! Leading the charge is four-time Dally M winner Johnathan Thurston and Australian and Queensland representative Matt Scott, backed up by reigning dual Dally M winner Jason Taumalolo and an outstanding lineup of state and international representatives and NRL talent, assembled by head coach Paul Green. The Cowboys won an NRL record of 11 out of 12 regular season home games in 2016, delighting passionate members and fans and delivering the exciting brand of attacking football they’re known for. Secure your tickets now to see these 12 action-packed match days full of live entertainment, on-field competitions and rugby league at its best!

This national touring exhibition project commemorates the 60th anniversary of the British atomic test series at Maralinga. The exhibition visits the events and its location through the artworks by Indigenous and non-Indigenous contemporary artists across the mediums of painting, print-making, sculpture, installation, photography and new media.

Experience Townsville's tropics transformed into a bustling hub of creativity at the Pop Up North Queensland Festival. They've worked with landlords and businesses in the main city street to offer space to artists and other creatives to take them over for nine days. Visit an exhibition or take part in a workshop while you're there to get the most from your experience. Drop in to see an artist work in an open studio, or hear them speak about their work in an artist talk. The Pop Up festival features local, national and international artists - something for everyone. Participants include Laura Castell, Mini Graff, Jo Lankester, Janet Parker Smith, Rosie Deacon, Toby Cedar and international guest artist Piyali Ghosh.

Beginning in 2001, ‘Strand Ephemera’ has developed to be a locally loved, nationally significant outdoor sculpture festival. The event has grown from within the community, with the support of collaborating partners, and in 2015 attracted over 138,000 visitors. ‘Strand Ephemera’ is a free event and presents a spectrum of work from the popular to the conceptually demanding, and attracts national and international works, while also providing opportunities for regional artists. 2017 will be the biggest and best 'Strand Ephemera' in the history of the event, featuring an exhibition of site-specific works chosen from a nation-wide call for artists; a curated selection of contemporary works by leading Australian and international artists; and a range of musical and theatre performances. Visitors can engage with 'Strand Ephemera' in a range of ways that go beyond viewing the range of artworks on display, including a range of art workshops, guided tours, and taking part in the photographic competitions.

The Australian Festival of Chamber Music presents the finest musicians from around the world in a wonderfully unique and innovative nine day program of 30 concerts set in the tropical warmth of Townsville, North Queensland. The Festival has been delighting audiences for 26 years and has earned a reputation for the quality of its programming and performances along with its friendly, intimate and relaxed atmosphere. There is truly nothing else like it in the world - the unique combination of music, warmth and tropical location create a special atmosphere that entices audiences and artists back year after year.

Tectonic exists within shifts: Shifts in land, sea, time, space and thought. Dancenorth join forces with the Urab Dancers from Poruma Island, Torres Strait for the creation of this bold new collaboration. Measuring 1.1 kilometres long and 400 metres wide, Poruma is home to 180 residents and is about as close to paradise as you can get. However as global sea levels begin to rise, Poruma is slowly sinking. Performed along a beautiful stretch of the Townsville Strand, Tectonic unites sculpture, movement and sound in a dazzling site specific performance presented as part of the 2017 Strand Ephemera. With the Coral Sea and Magnetic Island as the backdrop, and featuring 180 fit balls buried in the sand; Tectonic is unlike any dance show you have seen before. These micro-trampolines ignite the performance and the dancers as they run, bounce, flip, soar and ricochet across the stage. The fits balls remain buried for the duration of the festival, providing a large-scale interactive installation for the public. Choreographed by Kyle Page and Amber Haines, with guest artists from Poruma Island.

Co-presented by Townsville City Council and the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, this free outdoor music concert is proving to be an incredibly popular event in the calendars of music lovers. Located in the beautiful Queens Gardens this is a perfect Sunday afternoon of classical music, showcasing local talent alongside some of the featured artists from the festival. Further details to follow. *Strictly no bring your own alcohol.

Jennifer Ward-Lealand pays tribute to the iconic Marlene Dietrich with songs by Cole Porter, Edith Piaf, Frederic Hollander and Pete Seeger. Beautifully lit and featuring an exquisite recreation of one of Dietrich’s famous gowns, this critically acclaimed cabaret show vividly captures her timeless style and glamour. With Grant Winterburn, piano and Aaron Coddel, bass. Presented by Andrew McKinnon Presentations.

Witness first-hand the thrilling atmosphere of a North Queensland Toyota Cowboys home game at 1300SMILES Stadium in 2017! Leading the charge is four-time Dally M winner Johnathan Thurston and Australian and Queensland representative Matt Scott, backed up by reigning dual Dally M winner Jason Taumalolo and an outstanding lineup of state and international representatives and NRL talent, assembled by head coach Paul Green. The Cowboys won an NRL record of 11 out of 12 regular season home games in 2016, delighting passionate members and fans and delivering the exciting brand of attacking football they’re known for. Secure your tickets now to see these 12 action-packed match days full of live entertainment, on-field competitions and rugby league at its best!

Three massive days dedicated to health, fitness, wellbeing and nutrition - Fantasea Destination Adventure in conjunction with The McDonald’s® Townsville Running Festival is now offering an exclusive package to not only give you the opportunity to achieve your goals in a running festival, but to indulge in meaningful workshops, complementary yoga relaxation mornings, and beautiful new friendships at the same time. This is your time!

The McDonald's Townsville Running Festival includes a Marathon (42.2 kilometres) Half Marathon (21.1 kilometres), 10K Classic, adult and junior 5 k Run/Walk, 5 kilometre Corporate Challenge and Hero Run. Their AIMS accredited courses are fast, flat and hug the coastline as well as feature the 43rd Townsville Marathon - Australia's second oldest race. All runners experience spectacular views of the Coral Sea, Magnetic Island and the Marina as they follow their tropical blue line and vie for AUD23,000 prize money. With a predawn start marathoners experience a breath taking sunrise over Cleveland Bay as they run along Townsville's award-winning Strand Beach. Arrive early for the pre-race dinner, take in a Cowboys NRL home game and stay for the famous after-party. Treat yourself to a tropical winter getaway this August. Run Townsville and Explore the region. An event Run by Runners for Runners.

Since their sell-out season in 2014, #FirstWorldWhiteGirls have been making audiences squirm with delight with their hilariously narcissistic brand of slick comedy and catchy vocals. And now they are back with #FirstWorldWhiteGirls: Botox Party! - that further satirises first world entitlement and the self-obsessed “me” generation. #FirstWorldWhiteGirls are throwing the most exclusive party in town and you’re invited. Grab a botox cocktail and join the girls for an outrageous hour of confessions, makeovers, celebrity worship and backstabbing in this hilarious celebration of first world vanity. Take a peek into the lifestyles of the rich and heinous, set to a soundtrack of original comic songs exposing the struggles of our age - quinoa enemas, Snapchat filters, accidental sexting, foetus facials and the Refugee Diet. Don’t miss this chance to see just how offensive privilege can be.

In Garry Stewart’s Be Your Self (Redux), audiences are engaged in a complex dialogue in which they are compelled to explore what makes you ‘you’. The athletic dancers of Australian Dance Theatre (ADT) are transformed into erupting, powerful, and emotional entities, projecting startling physical images. Arising from conversations with a Buddhist monk, neurologist, physiologist and literary academic, Stewart situates the body at the centre of his inquiry and reveals that despite our civilising cultural influences, the body is still a force to be reckoned with. A distilled version of the original Be Your Self, Be Your Self Redux fuses Stewart’s audacious choreography with spoken word to create an exciting dance work that leaves audiences questioning the underpinnings of who they are.

Witness first-hand the thrilling atmosphere of a North Queensland Toyota Cowboys home game at 1300SMILES Stadium in 2017! Leading the charge is four-time Dally M winner Johnathan Thurston and Australian and Queensland representative Matt Scott, backed up by reigning dual Dally M winner Jason Taumalolo and an outstanding lineup of state and international representatives and NRL talent, assembled by head coach Paul Green. The Cowboys won an NRL record of 11 out of 12 regular season home games in 2016, delighting passionate members and fans and delivering the exciting brand of attacking football they’re known for. Secure your tickets now to see these 12 action-packed match days full of live entertainment, on-field competitions and rugby league at its best!

The Townsville Triathlon Festival is entering its fifteenth year and is now the "Big Weekend" with nine events over three massive days. Catering for any fitness level aged seven to 70, The Big Weekend has something for everyone, also now the proud home of the Club Championships North Queensland, bringing Triathlon Clubs from Harvey Bay to Mount Isa and north of Cairns to the region to compete for the title. Challenge yourself at the 2017 Intersport Townsville Triathlon Festival, and give yourself the greatest sense of achievement for getting involved. The Festival also offers a number of packages including an unlimited race pass for just AUD150. The Festival kicks off in style every year with the Carbs with the Stars Dinner, an event not to be missed.

In collaboration with Seniors Week, the Seniors Lifestyle Expo is a fantastic opportunity for residents aged 60 years and over to gain information relative to their needs. This free event showcases products and services from approximately 100 exhibitors with information, activities and giveaways especially for seniors. Come along and learn more about what Townsville has to offer their valued senior residents.

The Seniors Luncheon is a free event as part of National Seniors Week. This celebratory luncheon is designed to honour the lives, achievements and valuable contributions made to the community by their older residents. Includes a catered lunch, entertainment program and presentation of the 2017 Seniors Awards (presented on Thursday 24 August). Registrations are essential and open to those aged 60 years and over who are a resident of Townsville and its surrounds (up to Northern Beaches, Paluma, Alligator Creek, Major’s Creek). Carers/support workers are permitted to be under 60 years of age. Free transport to and from the event is available to those aged 70 years and over.

The high altitude tropical cloud forests of the Atherton Tablelands are the focus of an exhibition of new works by Ben Trupperbäumer, June Tupicoff and Ron McBurnie. Each artist has created a body of work that is reflective of their different relationships to this unique landscape. Head in the Clouds aptly highlights the friendship that exists between these three artists and their different approach to rainforest, which is at the heart of the exhibition.

Over 200 people ride 18 kilometres (or four kilometre option leaving from the Bicycle Pedlar) through the main streets of Townsville with a green wave through all lights thanks to Transport Main Roads. In a spectacular show of symbolism all wear red Operating hats supplied by Queensland Health over their helmets. The Townsville BUG runs The Ride for Road Safety annually in order to highlight the need to improve conditions for cycling in order to get more people riding as part of their everyday. The event began in 2013 as the Sue Bell Memorial ride. With blessing of her family and of Jeff Ashby's the annual event is designed to attract attention of politicians, the media and the general community. Mrs Bell’s death and the community’s response to it contributed towards the push for the introduction of the laws to protect cyclists where motorists are now required to give at least a metre distance when passing cyclists, and a metre-and-a-half where the speed limit is higher than 60km/h. By being part of this ride you are making the impact needed to sustain the push for safer conditions conducive to increased cycling.

Witness first-hand the thrilling atmosphere of a North Queensland Toyota Cowboys home game at 1300SMILES Stadium in 2017! Leading the charge is four-time Dally M winner Johnathan Thurston and Australian and Queensland representative Matt Scott, backed up by reigning dual Dally M winner Jason Taumalolo and an outstanding lineup of state and international representatives and NRL talent, assembled by head coach Paul Green. The Cowboys won an NRL record of 11 out of 12 regular season home games in 2016, delighting passionate members and fans and delivering the exciting brand of attacking football they’re known for. Secure your tickets now to see these 12 action-packed match days full of live entertainment, on-field competitions and rugby league at its best!