Cairns Festival 2025 Grand Parade Float Application

Celebrating life in the tropics with Cairns’ biggest street party

Get ready to party in a swirl of flashing hues and smashing tunes!

This year’s Grand Parade is turning up the volume on celebration, with a vibrant tapestry of colours, cultures, beliefs and traditions coming together in a joyous kaleidoscope of diversity.

Raise your flags, crank up the music, and dance the night away as we revel in the spirit of our tropical city.

Think dazzling costumes, cultural pride, mesmerising performances, and a burst of tropical flora and fauna.

However you choose to represent your community, bring your best vibes and energy to Cairns’ most spectacular street party on Saturday 30 August 2025 at 5:30pm.

Let’s make this a night to celebrate what makes Cairns so special – the unity in our diversity and the spirit of our incredible community.

It’s free to enter and parade participants are in the running to win:

First Prize: $3,000

Second Prize: $2,000

Third Prize: $1,000

Best Eco-float: $1,000

Judges will look at the following criteria:

Colour
Creativity
Vibrancy
Uniqueness
Enthusiasm
Use of natural or re-cycled materials
Low or zero emissions transport
Creating a party atmosphere

Code of Conduct:

To enter the Cairns Festival 2025 Grand Parade all participants must adhere to the following code of conduct:

The parade is a festive occasion to celebrate the lifestyle and community of Cairns and is not to be used to promote any political agenda or as a ground for protest.
The parade is a fun family event and no discriminating, insulting, offensive or vulgar comments or displays may be presented. Entrants that give offence will not be accepted and risk expulsion from future parades.
Cairns Festival reserves the right not to accept any presentations that could be damaging to the spirit of the parade.

You can lodge your application to enter a float using this form. You will find a link at the end of the form to the Cairns Festival 2025 Grand Parade Participation Agreement which includes Terms of Agreement and Parade Rules. Please ensure you read these carefully.

Please submit your complete application form by Friday 25 July. Late entries will not be accepted.

Tell us about your float

Application contact

Business or group name: *

Contact person for application: *

Email address: *

Preferred contact phone number: *Mobile number preferred

Postal address: *

Parade day contact

Contact person on parade day: *

Parade day contact mobile phone number: *

Float details

Float name: *

Float type: *

Motorised entry Non-Motorised entry

List details for all vehicles (motorised and non-motorised) used as part of your float: *NB: no semi-trailers

Float participants

Number of adults participating: *

Number of children participating: *

Float guide

The Grand Parade asks that each float provides a minimum of one guide to lead your entry along the parade route. The size of your float will determine the amount of guides you will need. This will be discussed with the Parade Coordinator upon your application.

Name of float guide: *

Float guide email address: *

Float guide mobile phone number: *

Float size

Float height: *Must be under 4.3m high

Float width: *Must be less than 3m wide

Float length: *Must be less than 20m long

Float description

Describe your float: *E.g. large decorated truck with giant paper flowers and fairy lights with a group of 30 costumed flower dancers walking behind

Please note: Float entries are not permitted to stop unless instructed by a Parade Marshal. This includes choreographed movement and sporting demonstrations.

Will you be playing pre-recorded music? *

YesNo

Please name the style/genre of music or major artists you will be playing: *

Will you play live music? *

YesNo

Please list instruments and style of music: *

Will you play a voice-over or similar message? *

YesNo

What will the message be: *

Will you be handing out promotional material, or similar items? *

YesNo

Please list all material you plan to hand out: *NB: Lollies are not permitted. Please note that the Parade Coordinator will need a complete list and will need to grant approval before the parade.

Will you have a fuel-powered generator on your float? *

YesNo

Will your float have lights (other than vehicle lights)? *

YesNo

Describe your lights: *

Upload an image of what your float will look like: *

Browse

You will need to sketch, photograph or electronically draw your float. Scan or save your drawing and upload it here.

Float information for judging

Please be aware that your written descriptions below will be passed on to the Cairns Festival Grand Parade Judges to help them best understand your float entry.

How does your float celebrate Cairns Festival's Grand Parade theme of celebrating life in the tropics? *

Please provide any other information that can help us understand your float and present it in the best position within the parade: *

Terms & Conditions

Please take the time to read the following items. It is important you understand the rules and safety requirements in order to participate.

On Parade day below document will be printed and ready to sign on arrival at the registration booth.

To read and/or download the Terms & Conditions CLICK HERE

I confirm I have read 4. Float Safety of the Grand Parade Participation Agreement.

*

I confirm I have read 6. Wet Weather of the Grand Parade Participation Agreement.

*

Please submit your complete application form by Friday 25 July. Late entries will not be accepted.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Jan Aird, the Parade Coordinator on 4032 6656 or festival@cairns.qld.gov.au

Cairns Regional Council – Information Privacy Statement

Your personal information has been collected for the purpose of assessing your application. The collection of your information is authorised under the Local Government Act 2009. You are providing personal information which will be used for the purpose of delivering services and carrying out Council business. Your personal information is handled in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009 and will be accessed by persons who have been authorised to do so. Your information will not be given to any other person or agency unless you have given Council permission to or the disclosure is required by law.

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