Shine On Gimuy Set To Light Up Cairns
Shine on Gimuy Artstory Light Walk. Photo by Mitch Lowe.
Lighting up the Gimuy Boulevard along Cairns Esplanade from Thursday 16 to Sunday 26 October, 2025, the third annual Shine On Gimuy festival will illuminate the city’s waterfront in a dazzling display of light installations, art sculptures, animations, and soundscapes.
Led by Artistic Director, Rhoda Roberts AO, under the guidance of a dedicated committee of Cultural Guides, Shine on Gimuy will deliver an invigorating and immersive line-up of music performances, cultural dance, comedy, and conversations in a celebration of First Nations peoples, arts and cultures.
While Shine On Gimuy’s main program of events will run from Thursday 16 to Sunday 26 October the KINSHIP themed Artstory Light Walk on Gimuy Boulevard will remain in-situ until festival close on Sunday 26 October.
“Our thematic for this year is Kinship. Our First Peoples have operated under sacred kinship systems for thousands of years. These systems not only show how we are deeply connected to Country and family, but they also lay the foundations for life balance, through the key pillars of kindness, generosity, and humility. Kinship reminds us that we are all interconnected—it guides our stewardship, from our totemic relationships to the care of Country, waterways, and Sky Country. This year’s Shine carries that theme, inviting all to connect and gain a deeper understanding of who we are. We hope you will join us in honouring these enduring connections, “ said Rhoda Roberts AO.
From 16 to 26 October, the Cairns Esplanade will transform into a Festival Hub on the Eastern Events Lawn and Gimuy Boulevard will come alive with an array of multi-arts activations which the entire family, attendees of all backgrounds, the Bama community, and visitors to Tropical North Queensland, alike, will find entertaining, immersive and informative. Crystalbrook Collection, a major supporter of the event will also be host to special deals for local families and visitors to the region to stay and dine and take in the festivities.
Artstory Light Walk. Photo by Mitch Lowe.
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Fiona Simpson said the Crisafulli Government was proud to support Shine On Gimuy.
“The festival on the on the Cairns waterfront amplifies the voices of our First Peoples by celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander storytelling, whether that be through music, spoken word, artwork, or performance,” Minister Simpson said.
“The Crisafulli Government’s support of Shine On Gimuy and the Queensland Music Trails’ Tropics Trail highlights our commitment to showcasing our state’s unique stories and cultural identity, but also to deliver valuable social and economic outcomes for all Queenslanders, particularly those working in the Arts sector.”
Cairns Mayor, Cr Amy Eden, said Shine On Gimuy is a powerful expression of the cultural heartbeat that defines Gimuy/Cairns as northern Australia's arts and culture capital.
“This festival doesn’t just spotlight the extraordinary creativity of our First Nations communities - it invites the whole nation to witness the stories, spirit, and strength that shape who we are.”
“It fills me with pride to see our city light up the national stage, sharing the deep cultural roots and rich connection to Country that make Gimuy/Cairns unlike anywhere else,” Mayor Eden said.
Shine On Gimuy is produced by Queensland-based events company, Shine On Productions.
The Shine On Gimuy festival will be FREE ENTRY for all to attend and is the cornerstone First Nations element of The Tropics Trail, presented by QLD Music Trails.
Shine On Gimuy is proud to be a Presenting Partner of Dream Aloud (a ticketed event)— this program will shine a light on musical artists and singer-songwriters from the region, as well as headlining major talent: https://qldmusictrails.com/events/dream-aloud/
Stay tuned to Shineonproductions.au/gimuy (as well as Shine On Gimuy’s Facebook and Instagram profiles) for full program information.