The 2022 Cooktown Discovery Festival lived up to its name this weekend, as community members, special guests, visitors and stakeholders came together to celebrate, discover – and rediscover – some of what makes Cooktown and life on the Cape so great.
21 June 2022 – 10:27AM
The weekend even attracted a surprise visit from Her Excellency, the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland and her husband, Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD.
“It was an honour to welcome Her Excellency and Professor Nimmo to this year’s Cooktown Discovery Festival,” said Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott.
“We are so incredibly proud of how the town, council teams, and our whole community really came together to showcase and celebrate the festival’s themes of history, adventure and culture,” he added.
Festivities officially opened with a bang on Friday with market stalls, Roaming Wild Animal Encounters, a moving re-enactment of the first recorded act of Reconciliation, followed by the firing of the muskets at Lions Park, and the sold-out Banks Banquet dinner event.
From ballet to bicycle stunts, Saturday saw a packed schedule of workshops, entertainment and arts and crafts taking place across town. At the Regional Street Parade – in her swansong festival appearance – outgoing Cook Shire CEO Linda Cardew made a costumed cameo on the Council’s ride-on mower donned in a fuchsia pink dress and a blonde wig. Other highlights included the Sunset Soiree with performances from the Hope Vale Ballerinas followed by the big band sounds of the 1RAR Rising Sun Band and a fireworks display.
Festival crowds eased into Sunday with more market stalls, a Laughing Yoga session and the re-enactment of Cook’s landing in 1770 – a tradition that’s taken place for more than 60 years – followed by Hats & High Tea event at Nature’s Powerhouse.
“Council would like to formally thank the National Recovery and Resilience Agency, Hazelmere and Essential Air Solutions. Without their generosity and commitment to our community, crowd favourites including the fireworks display, children’s entertainers and the Street Parade simply wouldn’t have been possible,” said Mayor Scott.
We are already looking ahead to next year’s event. With the success of last year’s Cooktown and Cape York Expo still fresh in our memories, plus the fact that 2023 is the 150 year anniversary of Cooktown being founded, there is so much to consider,” hinted Mayor Scott.
Community members are encouraged to email their feedback on this year’s events, and suggestions for future events to mail@cook.qld.gov.au
For more information contact Cook Shire Council via email to mail@cook.qld.gov.au or by phoning 4082 0500.