Port Douglas hosts a number of annual events that encourage tourists to learn about colonial and Aboriginal heritage. There are several opportunities for visitors to get involved. The Reef and Rainforest Carnivale is Port Douglas’ premier annual event, with many of the other festivities taking place in Cairns or further abroad in Queensland. Parades, concerts and markets are common ways in which locals celebrate holidays.

Yacht Club Regatta: this annual event takes place nearby in Cairns, and is one of the region’s first big events of the new year. Sailing enthusiasts have the opportunity to take part in the Yacht Club’s monthly activities and races.

Anzac Day: during WWII, vast numbers of Australians and New Zealanders volunteered to serve the Allied forces in their distant struggle. Casualties were high however Australia emerged with a renewed sense of patriotism. Today, locals in Port Douglas come together on 25 April to honour these veterans. Two parades are held in Cairns, and there are also a few events held at Port Douglas in Anzac Park.

Reef and Rainforest Carnivale: a 10-day festival is held across Port Douglas, Mossman, Cape Tribulation and Daintree. Games and colourful events are enjoyed at multiple venues, and a variety of reef and rainforest centred artwork and handicrafts are available. This vibrant and raucous event begins with a rowdy parade in Port Douglas city centre.

Food, Wine and a Taste of Port: late in May, Quicksilver hosts this event at Rex Smeal Park. An evening of epicurean delight, guests are treated to food and wine from across the region. Live music and other staged performances are held as well.

The Dreaming: farther afield in Queensland, The Dreaming takes place near Brisbane and lasts four days. Visitors are invited to join in cultural events that stem from local Aboriginal heritage. Religious ceremonies are performed; artistic pieces and handicrafts are put on display; and Dreamtime stories are told around a bonfire. Vendors at The Dreaming sell food, handicrafts and memorabilia.

Didgeridoo Festival: a new Queensland event, this popular festival was first held in 2007. Aboriginal dances, local handicrafts and indigenous art are all displayed, and there is also a boomerang-throwing contest that visitors can participate in. Of course, the didgeridoo is the centrepiece of this event, and there are numerous workshops and performances that promote understanding of this musical instrument and the diverse group of people that it represents.

Festival Cairns: next-door to Port Douglas is Cairns, host to this fun three-week festival that begins late in August. The Cairns Esplanade is transformed as numerous organisations set up booths and launch events related to the festival. Theatre and musical performances are regularly held, and the Sportsfest is intensely popular with locals. Virtually all of these events can be reached within a short walk of the Esplanade.

Cairns Amateur Racing Carnival: yet another specialised festival held in Cairns, this one sees thoroughbred racing fans gathering for two days of competition. When the horses aren’t on the track, you’ll find the fans mixing at classy, well-dressed banquets and dances.

Lizard Island Black Marlin Class: for one week in October, avid fishermen take to the seas in hopes of brining home the biggest marlin. This is one of many marlin fishing events held in this season, and travel agencies are happy to help visiting fishermen charter a boat and register for the competition.

Port Shorts Film Festival: is held in an outdoor amphitheatre that seats 120 people. Intermittent entertainment acts are held alongside a number of feature films, and the audience is incorporated into the judging process. Films are assigned a theme and the final production is only three minutes long.

Woodford Folk Festival: held in distant Brisbane, the Woodford Folk Festival is still a part of Queensland’s list of annual events. The Queensland Folk Federation hosts a series of dance, theatre and musical productions in a peaceful wooded setting. The performances continue for several days until New Year’s Eve, when an enormous bonfire is lit to usher in the new year.

Christmas: the citizens of Port Douglas go out of their way to make this a special time for both locals and visitors. The quaint, laid-back atmosphere is perfect for a relaxing end-of-year holiday. Just don’t expect a white Christmas, as this is the peak of Port Douglas’ summer season.