Tin Can Bay Foreshore Carnival

To thank Tin Can Bay and Cooloola Cove residents for the patronage during 2012 and to welcome holiday makers, the Tin Can Bay Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is again providing three days of family fun and entertainment (29th, 30th 31st Dec.). 

Loads of carnival rides every day from 4.00pm until 9.00pm on the Foreshore Parkland. Bring a rug or chair and enjoy this beautiful outlook across the waterways of Tin Can Bay.

New Year’s Eve stage entertainment starts at 7pm until 12pm with the main firework display at 10.00pm and then a few big bangs to welcome in 2013 at midnight.

An Elfish Christmas

"An Elfish Christmas" Kids show Wednesday December 19, 11:00am & 1:00pm (2 shows) at Majestic Theater  Pomona. 

Come and meet Santa Claus and his Christmas Elves. 

Tickets: $10 per person (Children under 2 free) Available at the door.

Light refreshments, drinks and snacks available.​ 

Flavour Fest 2012

Visit the Pavilion at Gympie Showgrounds on 17th November to enjoy the wonderful variety of gourmet food and wine from the entire region. This "Taste" event is offering samples, tastings and sales and also exhibitors who are willing to share their tips and hints for the best uses of their products.  Join in the evening of an epicureans menu prepared by local award winning chefs using regions outstanding produce.

This annual taste event will not only showcase the best of the region but visitors will also have the opportunity to meet My Kitchen Rules Celebrity Chefs Nic & Rocco. The boys will be cooking up a storm throughout the day and will be available to chat to the local residents about all things food. Live entertainment, face painting and a relaxed atmosphere will ensure that you and your friends and family will enjoy a great day out.

Gold Rush Art Competition

It all began when James Nash discovered gold in a creek subsidiary of the Mary River in 1867 and Gympie grew into a small prosperous town during the gold rush. This event is celebrated every year over a 10 day period during October at what is now called the Gold Rush Festival.

The Gold Rush Art Competition was begun by the Cooloola Art Society Incorporated in 1973 as an art competition for their members and artists in the local area with sections mainly for painting, drawing and works on paper. It was decided to coincide the competition with the Gold Rush Festival, hence the name.

The Open Award for a painting with any subject or any medium attracts a $3000 cash prize sponsored by the Gympie Regional Council and the Friends of the Gympie Regional Gallery. The Great Art Debate is a highlight event, held during the second week of the exhibition, within the gallery space surrounded by all the artwork. This very funny, light-hearted debate always attracts a great crowd with this year’s topic being “Art is for Everyone”.

Tin Can Bay Seafood, Boat and Camping Show

Food, fun, entertainment and plenty more for the whole family all on the beautiful foreshore parklands overlooking Tin Can Bay. The Tin Can Bay Seafood, Boat & Camping Show is a great way to spend the day!

The festival program is jam packed with entertainment for everyone. Kids are guaranteed to be grinning from ear to ear when they see the myriad of fun activities at their disposal.

There will be crazy clowns, tricky jugglers, rugged rock climbing walls, casual camel rides and a whole section filled with amusement rides. With a lot of the activities being free, Mums and Dads will also be smiling, as unlike most family outings... this won't break the budget!

For the ladies, there's bellydancing demonstrations, yummy seafood cooking demonstrations and loads of retail stalls... for the guys, enjoy great food, wine tasting, beer tent, show cars and motorbikes.

There's lots of arts and crafts stalls, the ever popular prawn eating competition and the entertaining mullet throwing competition! Don't miss out on the 'Waiters Race' and BMX/Skateboard and Kids Fish Toss competitions! Watch as the world renowned sand sculptor creates a masterpiece, or take a helicopter ride over Tin Can Bay inlet after viewing the caravans, boats and camping trailers, 4 x 4 vehicles and marine displays.

Cycle Queensland 2012 - Citrus to Sea

Pedal away from the everyday on Cycle Queensland 2012. This two-wheel adventure holiday will take you through citrus fruit groves along some of Queensland's most spectacular coastline, and gives you the chance to meet some of Hervey Bay's world famous whales.

You don't need to worry about cooking meals, transporting luggage or navigating from town to town because all your needs are taken care of by our support crew. Each day we dish up three delicious, cyclist-sized meals and provide hot showers, entertainment, a place to relax, and much more. Cycle Queensland is all about having a good time – after all, you're on holidays.

Why do it? For some it's a challenge, for others it's an adventure but for many it&'s simple – life is better on a bike. Ride begins on Saturday 8th September and ends on Sunday 16th.

Curra Arts Festival 2012

Curra Arts Festival is a community event held bi-annually. This year it will be with a medieval theme so everybody is encouraged to join in the fun day and come dressed in style.

There will be stalls, displays and demonstrations by an experienced Medieval visiting Group and the Curra Art Group will have an art display. Raffles and a variety of food and drinks will be available. 

It is all happening on Saturday, 11th August 2012 from 10am to 3pm stalls close but other activities till late. FREE ENTRY.

Rainbow Beach Family Fishing Classic 2012

If you want an extraordinary fishing experience that you will treasure forever, then you can't miss this annual event. The 2012 event kicks off in on Friday the 20th July to Saturday the 28th July.

Rainbow Beach Family Fishing Classic has prizes galore for everyone, in fact over AUD100,000 in cash and fantastic prizes. This event just bursts at the seams with a full program of fishing, activities, entertainment, great food, wine & a whole lot of family fun. The event is open to all ages and gender, from the angler/pro to the whole family.

What an excuse for a holiday in one of the most pristine places on earth and anyone can participate! All people who would like to try, or already enjoy, the basic pleasures of salt water fishing, in particular families that want an excuse to holiday and enjoy their favourite family recreational activity. It includes a holiday program containing live entertainment, sporting activities, a carnival atmosphere and things to do regardless of weather conditions. 

Koolewong Cup 2012

The Annual Koolewong Cup will be held on the 23rd June. Keep this day free and come along and join in on the fun at  the Mary Valley Koolewong Par 3 Golf Course.

Teams of four on a four ball Ambrose format, with a nearest to the pin.  Includes a wide variety of team and individual prizes, along with the coveted trophy for the top player on the day. There will be prizes up for grabs as well as a set of Golf Clubs for somebody if they are luck enough to score a hole in one on the day. 

First tee off is at 7:30am so head down  for a great day on the green.

Queensland Week Rainbow Beach Festival of Living

Rainbow Beach Festival of living is a celebration of QLD spirit and an opportunity to commemorate local heroes, lifestyle and just what makes Rainbow Beach what it is; the unique tropical lifestyle, pristine environment, community spirit, the quality and diversity of fresh produce array from the sea to the mountains. 

It is a full day of FREE entertainment that starts at 8:00am in the morning and is held in the grounds of the Rainbow Beach Sports Club. 

Live music, dancing, dream time stories and recognition of local hero's are on main stage during the day.  Local fresh food suppliers will be set up so you can grab something wonderful for lunch. 

Jumping castles & face painting will be on for the kids.

Goomeri Pumpkin Festival

The Goomeri Pumpkin Festival is well known for its wonderful country atmosphere and novelty pumpkin fun which includes the Pumpkin Pageant, Pumpkin Bowls, Pumpkin Power Shot Put, Pumpkin Pull, Decorated Pumpkins and Giant Pumpkin competitions.

Highlight of the festival will be the Great Australian Pumpkin Roll where competitors test their pumpkin rolling skills. The streets of Goomeri will be lined with over 200 market stalls, a street parade, live entertainment, demonstrations and displays including Guy McLean, the Horseman from Susan River, Dreamtime Reptiles, Memphis Movers, camel rides, children's entertainment, delicious pumpkin food and much, much more.

International Rally of Queensland 2012

The International Rally of Queensland, featuring the fastest rally competitors from Australia and the Asia Pacific, will return to the Sunshine Coast from the Friday the 25th to Sunday the 27th of May 2012.

This action fueled event attracts rally enthusiasts from Asia, New Zealand and Australia. Competitors race through the forests of Imbil in the Mary Valley. Get roadside for the gravel spilling, hair-pin action!

Gympie District Show

Each and every year the members and employees of the Gympie District Show Society strive to put on one of the largest regional Shows in Queensland.

From all over Australia people come to exhibit and experience everything great within the Gympie District and beyond. There is always a diverse range of entertainment for all ages to enjoy and an overwhelming amount of things to encounter.

Gympie District Show will be held this year from 17 - 19 May, and it has evolved into a great family event and a yearly ritual. With the Peoples Day and the Grand Parade there is always something to enjoy. The Gympie District Show will as always have jam packed program of entertainment for all ages. 

SCIC 2012 Charity Bike Ride

Every year SCIC (Supporting Chemotherapy in Cooloola) run a charity bike ride to raise money for the building and running of units for people who are going through chemotherapy and other cancer treatments.

This year the bike ride will be held from 3-6 May:

Day 1 - Murgon to Kilkivan
Day 2 - Kilkivan to Gympie
Day 3 - Gympie to Kin Kin
Day 4 - Kin Kin to Tin Can Bay

The ride is approx 50 to 60km per day. Raffle and prizes will be running.

Earth Hour 2012

At 8.30pm local time on Saturday 31 March, Earth Hour 2012 will see hundreds of millions of people around the world cross borders of race, religion, culture, geography and society to unite in a single moment of contemplation for the planet and celebration of their year-round commitment to protect it.

Now in its sixth year, the annual lights out event has grown from a single-city initiative in 2007 to become the world’s largest display of environmental action, with citizens of 135 countries and territories across every continent coming together for Earth Hour 2011 indicating a growing global movement of positive change in environmental attitudes.

Kilkivan Great Horse Race

The Kilkivan Great Horse Ride, held annually in March is a spectacular event, attracting over 1,000 riders to it's trek along parts of the Bicentennial National Trail. Riders start from several diverse locations and enjoy a leisurely day of bush riding before parading through Kilkivan's main street - truly a magnificent sight. Their arrival in Kilkivan is celebrated with street entertainment and markets. 

The fun continues with a campfire concert at the Kilkivan Showgrounds. The weekend features The Ride, Kilkivan Street Markets, Campfire Concert and Horse Sports. Join over a thousand horses and riders as they travel through picturesque countryside to Kilkivan for the grand parade. 

Clean Up Australia Day 2012

In 1989 an 'average Australian bloke' had a simple idea to make a difference in his own backyard - Clean Up Sydney Harbour. The event received an enormous public response with more than 40,000 Sydneysiders donating their time and energy to clean up the harbour.

The next year Clean Up Australia Day was born. Ian and his committee believed that if a capital city could be mobilised into action, then so could the whole nation. Almost 300,000 volunteers turned out on the first Clean Up Australia Day in 1990 and that involvement has steadily increased ever since. 

This simple idea has now become the nation's largest community-based environmental event. Now in its 21st year, the event attracts hundreds of thousands of volunteers from the community, schools and businesses to help clean up, fix up and conserve their environment. So come out on 4th of March and Clean Up Australia.

Valentine’s Train

Back by popular demand, The Valley Rattler’s Romancing the Rails theme train offers lovers an evening of romance and wonder sure to make your Valentine’s celebration an unforgettable one.

This year the team at The Valley Rattler has put together a tempting new program for Romancing the Rails which will be held on Saturday 11 February 2012. Sure to delight romantics far and wide, the evening takes full advantage of the inherent romance of Old Gympie Station which upholds the beautiful workmanship of by-gone era when the station was built in 1913.

Champagne will be served as you board the train at 5.30 pm, before the newly restored DH 45 departs Gympie for a romantic twilight train ride to Dagun in the former Kuranda heritage carriages. En route, be serenaded as the train meanders its way through the scenic Mary Valley. At Dagun enjoy an eloquent entrée at the charming country station which was established in 1914.

Take advantage of the opportunity to converse with your loved one as the train makes a leisurely return to Old Gympie Station for the main course and a dreamy dessert. After dinner enjoy dancing along the platform under the moonlight.

At only $65.00 per person, tickets for Romancing the Rails offer fantastic value and includes the train fare, pre-dinner drinks, a three course meal and live music.

Rainbow Beach Art Festival "Brushes by the Sea"

Be inspired and take part in the 4th annual Art Festival "Brushes by the Sea". The festival will take place at the Rainbow Beach Sports Club on the weekend of the 28 & 29th January, 2012.

In celebration of the local talent on Sunday the 29th there will be Art & Craft markets, live entertainment, goose club raffles, cheese and wine tasting. The Mayor, honorable Ron Dyne will be presenting awards at the prize presentation starting at 2pm.

ATTENTION: ART & CRAFT TRADERS REQ FOR MARKET STALLS 29/01/12. 

$5.00 no power $10.00 powered site. 7:00am set up for 8:00am start. 

Pirates of the Valley Treasure Hunt

Calling all pirates who want to go on a Treasure Hunt down the Mary Valley! Pirates should join Capt Rattlebones at old Gympie Station to board the “Blueskellies Diesel Express” – the heritage train with a big blue diesel locomotive to go and explore the Mary Valley with the Captain’s stolen maps to try and find the hidden treasure.

The ticket price includes the train ride, treasure hunt and sausage sizzle.

Cost: Adult - $30 per Adult and $20 per Child
Depart: 10:00am
Return: 2:30pm