Hopefully you have your programs for the Cairns Festival  and became involved with last weekend's events.

The multi-cultural festival, parade, fireworks and concert by Kamerunga on Saturday involved thousands of people; the Esplanade was abuzz and the restaurants and hotels all full. The second Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) at the Tanks was a highlight of the weekend; bigger and better than last year and the Sustainable Living Expo at TAFE went well.

There's so much on over the next two weeks - free and ticketed events - that it's hard to decide what to go to. This week I'm checking out: Blackbird at CoCA on Tuesday; Ego Lemos at the Tanks on Wednesday; When the Wheels Fall Off The World at the Botanic Gardens on Thursday; and the Carnival of the Animals at the Civic Theatre on Sunday night.