Cooktown Discovery Festival add special guest, Brian Nankervis to an exciting event line-up

Cook Shire Council is excited to announce the Cooktown Discovery Festival, taking place from 14-16 June 2024. An annual festival celebrating the history, adventure, and culture that Cooktown and Cape York Peninsula are known for, this year's festival theme is ‘Bounce Back,’ chosen to showcase and thank the community for their incredible strength and resilience demonstrated during and after the TC Jasper floods that impacted more than 150 homes in Cooktown and the surrounding areas late last year.

As part of the celebrations, this year’s festival features special guest Brian Nankervis. Renowned for his work on TV and radio, and as co-host of ‘RocKwiz’ since 2004, Brian brings his comedic wit, skilful satire and musical wisdom to host Sunday’s program, that includes a special audience participation show to find Cooktown’s biggest rock-n-roll know-it-all!

Mayor Robyn Holmes shared her enthusiasm: "The Cooktown Discovery Festival is a wonderful celebration of our community's history and diversity. We are honoured to have Brian Nankervis with us this year, and I'm confident that the festival will offer something memorable for everyone."

 "The Cooktown Discovery Festival is a wonderful celebration of our community's history and diversity. We are honoured to have Brian Nankervis with us this year, and I'm confident that the festival will offer something memorable for everyone."
                                                                                                    - Mayor Robyn Holmes

Music enthusiasts will be thrilled with performances by visiting musos: The Pad Boys, Karl S. Williams, Tessa Devine, 8-Ball Aitken and Cameron Cusack, as well as local talents Mixup and the TNTs, and HighTide. We are also delighted to welcome back Amber Farnan, fresh from her gig supporting Missy Higgins in Cairns.

Sally Eales, Council's Tourism and Events Manager, added: "With an incredible line-up of performers, new activities, and returning favourites, this year's festival is set to be our best yet. We invite everyone to join us in celebrating the unique charm
and culture of Cooktown."

Fun for the whole family, the Crack up Sisters guarantee plenty of laughter for everyone. There will also be free bouncy castles for the kids all weekend, food vans, market stalls and a special, Friday night performance from the winner of Cook Shire’s Got Talent, Youth talent competition.   

The packed program features a number of festival favourites, including the Street Parade, the Gold Delivery, the Cape York Automotive Muster and the Warrma, a spectacular Indigenous storytelling performance, returns this year taking to the stage on Saturday evening, just before the fireworks lights up the skies above Cooktown.

Attendees can also look forward to the return of the Unfenced Asylum Challenge and the Big Run for Little Athletics Fun Run, as well as re-enactments of the first recorded act of Reconciliation between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians on Friday evening, followed by the re-enactment of Cook's Landing on Sunday morning.

The festival program also includes:

• Mural painting
• Botanic drawing workshop
• Belly dancing and burlesque performances
• Paranormal tours of the Cooktown Museum
• Guided tours of the Cooktown Botanic Gardens
• The Hope Vale Barefoot Ballerinas
• Lakeland Cultural Dancers
• Boat cruises
• Roving entertainment
• An epic fireworks display on Saturday night
• Combined Church service on Sunday morning
• …and more.

Most events are free to attend, making this an ideal opportunity for families and visitors to explore Cooktown's rich heritage and vibrant culture.

For more information and a detailed program, visit www.cooktowndiscovery.com.au 

 For media and press enquiries, please contact Cook Shire Council via email to mail@cook.qld.gov.au or by phoning 4082 0500.