Esplanade Activities & Events

Esplanade Events for this Month

Each month you can download What's On and Happening on the Esplanade as a PDF document from the Cairns City Council. You may also see this same document as posters up around the Esplanade.

• Download this month's Esplanade Events (PDF)

Weekend Markets

Now bigger and better, the new Esplanade markets get into full swing on the promenade (just by the lagoon) every Saturday between 8am - 4pm. Look for the colourful Cairns Esplanade tents.

The markets feautre only locally made arts & crafts as well as specialty clothing, and live entertainment from interesting musicians is always playing. There are also crazy street characters like the butterfly man here on the right.

If you are a local producer of interesting products, crafts or art, call Bernadette Davies on (07) 4044 3787 to ask about having a stall at the Esplanade Markets.

Free Weekly Fitness

Active Health Clubs currently run free weekly fitness activities four days a week in and around the Esplanade Lagoon.

All activities are 1h long, and are free of charge. At 6:30am in Summer and 7:00am in Winter, participants meet their Active Team Member Instructor directly in front of the change rooms before moving into the lagoon, or elsewhere for the class.

• Tuesday - Yoga: Bring a towel or mat to sit on and wear comfortable clothes. Yoga can be done in all weather, as the sound shell is used during the rain.
  
  
• Wednesday - Walking Club: Bring good comfortable walking shoes, comfortable clothes and some water.
  
  
• Thursday - Pilates: Bring a towel or mat to sit on and wear comfortable clothes. Pilates can be done in all weather, as the sound shell is used during the rain.
  
  
• Friday - Aqua Aerobics: Lifeguards and a fully qualified instructor oversee the Aqua Aerobics, and can be done in most weather. During very heavy rain, the lagoon will be vacated.
  
  
• Saturday - Sahaja Yoga Meditation: This operates at 7:30am all year round.

Recent Events

What has just happened on the Esplanade and what's coming up? Read the monthly Esplanade newsletter, The Nard. (PDF, 184K)

Locals affectionately refer to the Esplanade as The Nard, which is how the newsletter acquired its name.

Friday 11th June 2004 - Monday 14th June 2004

Sportsfest weekend started with a spectacular dinner the Radisson at the Pier.

The sports activities began on Saturday with the ocean swim in Trinity Inlet followed by the Kid's Tryathlon which takes place at the Esplanade lagoon. There was a beach volleyball competition and the spectacular Cairns Bicycle Works Criterium.

For the runners there's the Coast Roast Coffee Tropics 10,000. If you are not quite up to the 10k, join in the 5km fun run. Saturday will see a bright and colourful Sports Expo in Fogarty Park, and lots of entertainment on the Esplanade stage.

The feature event will be the running of the 23rd Qantas Coral Coast Triathlon which is hosting the Queensland Olympic Distance Championships on the Sunday morning. It will be followed by the Qantas Junior Aquathlon, Mountain Bikes and a second Bicycle Criterium. There will also be aquatic sports demonstrations, entertainment and of course the big Pier Shopping Sportsfest Party to wrap things up.

Queensland Day: Sunday, June 6th 2004

Queensland Day, saw the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon open for a Barbie Day along the foreshore.

Events and activities included a barbecue, beach volleyball, surf wear fashion parades, free snorkelling lessons and local bands playing for a beach themed concert.