General News
3 September, 2025
Harvest festival fires up
THE 2025 Babinda Harvest Festival kicks off on Saturday after the princesses were front and centre at last Saturday night’s cabaret.
Princess hopefuls Olivia Quabba, Allanah Morris, Bailey Quabba, Shaylee McCulloch and Eva Munro were under the spotlight at the cabaret and the Harvest Queen won’t be revealed until after the street parade Saturday.
Behind the scenes, a new committee has taken the reins, led by president Tricia Wiles, with Jenna Alley and Peter Carnsew as vice-presidents, Chevelle Kingwill and Tahlia West as secretaries, and Antoinette Russell as treasurer.
This year’s theme, ‘Babinda Goes Country’, promises plenty of Outback flair, from the grand street parade and displays to live entertainment and markets.
Festival stalwart Tracey Watkins, famed for the Gordonvale Cottage Markets, has come aboard to coordinate vendors.
Activities start at 9am with the first round of the tractor pull and go through to nearly midnight
There are live performances, games, face painting, jumping castles and so much more throughout the day.
The Harvest Queen and runners-up will go on to represent Babinda at community events and parades, continuing a tradition that has celebrated the region’s rich agricultural heritage since the festival began in 1962.
The full program:
9am – 12pm: NQ Tractor Pull Competition (round 1) at Bill Wakeham Park
1pm – 2.30pm: NQ Tractor Pull Competition (round 2) at Bill Wakeham Park
2pm: Opening at Bill Wakeham Park, music and markets start
3pm: Grand street parade, ‘Babinda Goes Country’ is the theme, Munro St, Babinda
4pm - 5pm: NQ Tractor Pull Competition (round 2 continues)
4.10pm-4.50pm: Innisfail Community Band, main stage
4.50pm: Dance Works Academy, main stage
5pm: Crowning of the Babinda Harvest Festival Queen
5.20pm: Dance Works Academy, main stage
5.30 - 6pm: The Bradleys
5.30pm: Lolly drop
6pm: Tractor pull and garden tractor display, main stage
6.15pm – 6.45pm: Dusk, main stage
6.45pm: Babinda Dance Studio, main stage
7pm -7.45pm: Tootin’ Boots
7.30pm: Gumboot Toss
8pm- 8.45pm: Cameron Cusack Band, main stage
8m- 8.30pm: Tug-O-War
8.45pm: Fire show, main stage
9pm: Fireworks
9.10pm: Cover band Beerbody
11.45pm: Festival closes.
For the latest program details, visit https://bit.ly/45N737O
You can also follow the Babinda Harvest Festival on Facebook.
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