Shine on Gimuy

The Tropics Trail

All Ages

DATE

Thursday 3 - Sunday 13 October, 2024

TIMES

Program info coming soon!

LOCATION

Cairns Esplanade & Salt House, 52/54 Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870

DEALS

Save 20% with the Trail Traveller Pass

Discounts for First Nations peoples with MobTix

TICKETS

Full Event Pass (Fri-Sun) Adult 18+

$65

Full Event Pass (Fri-Sun) Concession

$60

Full Event Pass (Fri-Sun) Youth 12-17

$35

Full Event Pass (Fri-Sun) Kid Under 12

FREE

Single Day Pass (Fri-Sun) Adult 18+

$25

Single Day Pass (Fri-Sun) Concession

$20

Single Day Pass (Fri-Sun) Youth 12-17

$15

Single Day Pass (Fri-Sun) Kid Under 12

FREE

Book Now

PRESENTED BY SHINE ON PRODUCTIONS AND QLD MUSIC TRAILS

SHINE ON GIMUY

Shine On Gimuy is an immersive First Nations light and multi-arts festival which showcases the wealth of Indigenous arts and culture in Tropical North Queensland. Held along the glistening foreshore of tropical Gimuy (Cairns), the 2024 festival will bring the Esplanade and Salt House Festival Hub to life from Thu 3 - Sun 13 October.

Hosted by the Yidinji Nation, on their homelands, the festival is a celebration of all forms of First Nations storytelling, showcasing innovative arts and cultural practices, as well as illuminating insights into science and industry. Country—and First Nations peoples' connections to Country—are integral to our festival.

The Theme

Theme: ENTWINED

“2024's thematic is ENTWINED. This year's public art installations will be based on our intrinsic social ecology as First Nations peoples, the spatial perceptions of the Indigenous realm–the philosophy, language–and our Cultural customs and nuances. All of which are being embraced by society.

Shine's program will highlight stories of intergenerational practices... Who First Nations peoples and our Cultures are, are all ENTWINED. We'll celebrate conversations and ideas, visual arts, music and dance! Shine On Gimuy, as a multi-disciplinary festival, offers many opportunities to creative participants, our communities and attendees alike. I hope, in 2024, our festival will also offer the healing we all need".

– Rhoda Roberts AO, Artistic Director.

2024 Program

Calling Country Ceremony

Heralding the start of Shine On Gimuy Festival each year is the Calling Country Ceremony–a coming together of First Nations (and clan groups) to the Gimuy/Cairns area and surrounding region, hosted by the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji peoples.

2023's opening event attracted hundreds of spectators and included 90 dancers, each performing traditional dances which speak to their shared and respective songlines and stories. The ceremony hadn't been performed for close to a century until last year!

“As the message stick is gifted—through language and welcome—this performance is a call and response ritual, featuring dance and song cycles that uniquely honour totemic, ancestral, country, and cultural expressions. It’s about new visibility for the age-old traditions and ceremonies, relevant to Tropical North Queensland and rainforest Bama”,

- Rhoda Roberts AO, Artistic Director.

Be there on Thursday 3 October, 2024 from 5:30pm for Calling Country and the official launch of Shine On Gimuy 2024 at the Cairns Esplanade, Eastern Event Lawn.

Artstory Light Walk (free)

In 2024, the Artstory Light Walk will be a mesmerising and entrancing installation of public art, light sculptures and soundscapes which reflects the colours and beauty of Tropical North Queensland, through the eyes and imaginations of First Nations artists!

From Thursday 3 - Sunday 13 October, the Art Story Walk will be free for families and the general public to attend, from 5pm daily. It will be situated alongside the 'Gimuy Boulevard' of fig trees, adjacent to the Cairns Lagoon, The Pier Shopping Centre and Eastern Events Lawn.

Music Makers (ticketed)

Celebrating 2024’s NAIDOC theme of ‘Blak! Loud! Proud!’ Shine On Gimuy's Music Makers program presents a number of performances by national and local, established and emerging performers. Each day from Friday 4 - Sunday 6 October, 2024, the Salt House Festival Hub will be filled with song and the voices of First Nations musical talents, with performances in the afternoons and night.

Deep Wisdom Conversations (ticketed)

First Nations Cultures have survived for over 65,000 years due to the oral traditions of storytelling and education. Talking and holding conversations is key to First Nations peoples and to the diplomacy and ideas of the world today. In fact, the hard times of the 20th and 21st Centuries can only be addressed through powerful oration, ideas and philosophies–as well as sciences–all beckoning a new era of Truth-Telling!

Topics for this year's conversations range from:

Music industry and music-making,
Truth-Telling & Treaty,
Resource Sovereignty (Cultural, social, economic, political, environmental),
Food Security & First Nations’ supply-chain,
First Nations Leadership (Youth Perspective)

Blak Markets (free)

Shine On Gimuy will see a return to the outdoor Blak Markets. Running from Thursday 3 - Sunday 6 October, 2024, Blak Markets will showcase an eclectic range of First Nations artisans, craftspeople and businesses. These markets will run daily, from 5pm - late, situated alongside Eastern Events Lawn of Cairns Esplanade, between Salt House Festival Hub and The Pier Shopping Centre. Holding a stall will appeal to tens of thousands of attendees and general public.

Shine On Gimuy places great importance on authentic First Nations art and economic opportunities for First Nations creative practioners. #FakeArtHarmsCulture so when you visit tropical Gimuy/Cairns, be sure to buy your keepsakes, souvenirs and gifts direct from our artists!

If you're interested in being part of our Art Market, register your early interest via:
Communityshineon@gmail.com

MobFest Youth Program (free)

New Unplugged (Open Mic) — Sign up now!

Shining a light on the First Nations talent across the region with the new Unplugged (Open Mic) program at the Shine On Gimuy’s Salt House Festival Hub! Register your interest to be in the running for a spot.

Are you a new talent or an old soul who has a story? It doesn’t matter whether you’re a comedian, a musician, a singer or rapper, dancer, or poet, anything goes with 15-30 minutes slots available.

It’s easy to register, to experience being a part of Shine On Gimuy and performing in front of a live audience.

The most popular act will get the opportunity to be one of our performing artists in the 2025 program line up.

Registrations close Friday 20 September, 5pm (AEST).

Mixed First Nations and non-Indigenous collaborative acts/groups are welcome.

Register by completing this online form!

* Performance times may vary

Learn more about Shine on Gimuy Festival

Learn More

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Score An Epic Deal

GET 20% OFF WITH A TRAIL TRAVELLER PASS

Score a great deal with a Trail Traveller Pass! Each pass unlocks access to a curated collection of our premier Trail events at an unbeatable 20% discount.

Discover the perfect pass for your journey along The Tropics Trail, with three distinct options tailored to suit your preferences.

Become a Trail Traveller

MobTix

We're committed to working closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to celebrate and elevate First Nations culture. The MobTix program provides enhanced access to our events for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as well as Māori, Pasifika, and other Global First Nations communities, through discounted or complimentary tickets.

Shine on Gimuy is included in the MobTix program. To sign up for MobTix and learn more, click the button below.

Learn More about MobTix

Accessibility

Our team work hard to ensure access needs are taken into account from the moment we dream up an event to the moment you leave the site. Learn all about accessibility at Qld Music Trails and ask our team any questions you might have below.

All Accessibility Information

QMF respectfully acknowledges the Djabugay, Yirrganydji, Buluwai, Gimuy Walubara Yidinji, Mandingalbay Yidinji, Gunggandji, Dulabed and Malanbara Yidinji, Bundabarra and Wadjanbarra Yidinji, Wanyurr Majay, Mamu and NgadjonJii Peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, waters and skies where The Tropics Trail unfolds. We extend our respects for their enduring connection to the remarkable terrain, where creative works take place, performances resonate, and celebrations come to life. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and to all First Nations peoples of all communities who also work and live on this land. We recognise the importance of First Nations leadership and collaboration, and QMF commits to walking together on a journey of shared learning and cultures.