TNQ Writer
Head “up the hill” from Cairns for an abundance of action-packed events in the Atherton Tablelands. From music festivals to wheelbarrow races, here are the Atherton Tablelands events to add to your annual calendar.
Savannah in the Round
Grab your cowboy boots and camping gear and make way to the Mareeba Rodeo Grounds for Savannah in the Round. Entry to the three day festival includes camping, facilities, your designated seating area and access to the main stage and support stages. Boogie the weekend away to iconic country music acts including Brad Paisley, Adam Brand and Jon Stevens.
When: 30 September – 2 October 2022
Where: Mareeba Rodeo Grounds
Tableland Hardware Tinaroo Barra Bash
Challenge yourself to catching a giant barramundi at the Tinaroo Barra Bash, which has attracted keen fishermen since 1987. The Catch & Release competition has big prizes up for grabs and features market and food stalls and entertainment from DJ Feel the Music. Registrations open from 3pm on Friday September 9th.
When: 27 – 29 October 2023
Where: Lake Tinaroo
Tablelands Folk Festival
Embrace your artistic side and toe-tap your way to the Tablelands Folk Festival in Yungaburra. The annual two day event features live music from some of Australia’s best emerging folk artists, workshops, art and culture.
When: 21 – 23 October 2022
Where: Yungaburra
Ravenshoe Torimba Festival
Up your altitude and climb to Queensland’s highest town, Ravenshoe, to celebrate tourism and timber at the annual Torimba Festival. The festival runs for a full fortnight in October. This year’s theme is “your favourite TV show.”
When: 1 – 18 October 2022
Where: Ravenshoe
Yungaburra Triathlon
Swim, bike and run your way through Yungaburra on this action-packed weekend which brings around 600 participants and more than 1,000 spectators to the Atherton Tablelands.
When: 2023 dates to be confirmed
Where: Yungaburra
Rotary FNQ Field Days
Point your gears towards Mareeba for the largest field day in northern Australia, which has gained iconic status since its inception in the 1980s. Enjoy three action-packed days of country fun, including tractor pulls, workshops and cattle displays. All money made is donated to charities and organisations in the Atherton Tablelands area.
When: 24- 26 May 2023
Where: Mareeba Rodeo Grounds
The Great Wheelbarrow Race
Grab your wheelbarrow and get a team together for a race along the aptly named Wheelbarrow Way. The trip from Mareeba to Chillagoe may be a wheely long way, 130km to be exact, but the race is broken up into three laps over three days. The event pays homage to the pioneer era, when miners carried their belongings in wheelbarrows due to lack of transportation.
When: 12 – 14 May 2023
Where: The Wheelbarrow Way
Historic Village Herberton Pioneer Weekend
Take a step back in time at Historic Village Herberton’s Pioneer Weekend. Don your best pioneer-era outfits for a chance to win “fashions on the field”, or watch one of the many demonstrations, including wood chopping, tin panning and small engines.
When: 2023 event date to be confirmed, normally in May
Where: Historic Village Herberton
