IT’S time to start planning your Cooktown Discovery Festival weekend, with bookings open and tickets flying out the door.
Organisers are urging attendees to pre-register or pre-purchase before events book out.
“Some free events on our program you will need to pre-register and other paid events you need to book a ticket for,” a Cook Shire spokesperson said.
“There will be no tickets available during the festival, so make sure you book now for the events you don’t want to miss.”
Free events which require registration are the street parade and Cape York Automotive Muster, and paid events which need a ticket are the paranormal investigations tour at the Cooktown Museum, Riverbend Tours river cruises, the Friday night bush dance, Banks and Solander guided walk, fun run, tug of war and unfenced asylum challenge.
The street parade is one of the longest running and most popular parts of the festival, with colourful floats ranging from giant trucks to stilt-walkers and everything in between filling the main street with colour, noise and excitement.
This year’s theme is ‘our backyard’, with cash prizes for best in parade, best community group, best school, best family and most creative individual.
The parade will also be pumped up again this year with the shine, revving and excitement of the Cape York Automotive Muster entrants.
Organiser Lauren Bowyer said she was expecting bumper entry numbers again, with new categories added for the Muster’s second year.
“There is something for everyone, from the sexy standards category which is just a good-looking car that hasn’t had many modifications done, to the other end of the spectrum with the roughest rig,” Ms Bowyer said.
The new unfenced asylum challenge will see teams of three race through an obstacle course, which includes drinking a beer and scoffing a pie, vying for honour and cash prizes.
Visit www.cooktownexpo.com.au/events for more information or to book tickets.