Cairns Children's Festival 2025

Jessica Munro

Updated Tue 22 Apr 2025

The annual Cairns Children’s Festival is just around the corner, and preparations are well underway for a jam-packed weekend of kiddie fun. Hosted on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th of May 2025 at three arts venues across Cairns, a series of interactive workshops, activities and performances aim to celebrate and engage in the spirit of fun and imaginative creativity that is appreciated in children. 

If your looking for something to do with the kids in Cairns, this article is your guide to what’s on and when, so you can plan ahead for the lively two-day event! 

Photo: Cairns Children's Festival

A Guide To Cairns Children’s Festival

Unfolding across three vibrant venues; the Tanks Art Centre, Cairns Performing Arts Centre (CPAC), and the Cairns Courthouse Gallery, each space offers a unique display of free and paid events designed to captivate and inspire young minds to dream big. 

Below you’ll find a schedule of all the activities happening over the weekend including times, venues and entry fees.

Photo: Cairns Children's Festival

About Cairns Children's Festival Events

Saturday Events

Garden Party: A Bee Story Adventure: Marvel at the exhilarating physical theatre performances that incorpoates acrobatics, magic, music, and dance. 

Ratburger: A hilarious stage performance featuring colourful sets, creative minds, and funny puppets. 

The Playable Plants: Combine music and nature with these unique, hand-crafted instruments made of plants. Just touch them to hear the magnificent sounds!

The Quiet Riot Roving Disco: Experience the fun of a silent disco as you boogie with the provided headphones. 

Star Weaver Pavilion: Explore the world of weaving with a community-made tapestry made with sustainable materials. 

Tomorrowland Exhibition: See artwork created by kids all over Queensland, as they display their vision of the future. 

The Art Cases: National Gallery of Australia: These different art cases travel all over Australia to teach art-making and storytelling. 

Sunday Events

Brick Mania: Watch a LEGO Master create an incredible display, followed by quiet time where kids and play with LEGO in a relaxing environment. 

Zindi & the Zillionaires: A hip-hop inspired performance that inspires joy and confidence in little ones. 

Story Walk: Where is the Green Sheep?: Explore the Cairns Botanic Gardens on a guided story walk inspired by Mem Fox’s beloved book. 

The Scaredy Gardener's Quest: A fun mystery show put on by Box Jelly Theatre that involves nature and problem-solving. 

Tinkering Tank, the Great Airventure: Interactive activities that teach the physics of wind and aerodynamics.

Creation Stations: All focus on creafting unique pieces of art in a lighthearted, social environment. 

Little Sprouts: Nurture little green thumbs in this hands-on space for kids to get their hands dirty and sow their own seeds.  

5 Minutes of Fame Stage: If you're a dancer, musician, actor, or any sort of performer, show us your talents and steal the limelight for 5 minutes on the stage.

ScreenPLAY: Chill out and relax into a comfy bean bag to watch an immersive display of junior filmmakers on the big screen. 

Photo: Cairns Children's Festival

Why attend Cairns Children's Festival?

Cairns Children’s Festival is a great opportunity to foster the upcoming generation's wild and imaginative sides, feed their unique personalities and allow them to freely express themselves in a safe, fun and encouraging environment.

Mark the event on your calendar and inspire the next wave of talented young artists, thinkers, tinkerers and performers to come.

Visiting Cairns during the weekend of Cairns Children's Festival? Our team of online travel experts can help you make the most of your trip! Call +61 7 4082 7470 or chat with us online 24/7.