A free music festival, local Indigenous culture and historical re-enactments are part of 10 days and nights of entertainment, business and cultural events at Cooktown & Cape York Expo 2021 – The Rising Tide on 11-20 June.
Cooktown & Cape York Expo 2021 will kick off with the free Reconciliation Rocks Music Festival on 11-13 June featuring Busby Marou and Troy Cassar-Daley, followed by the Cape York Business Showcase on 14-16 June and finishing with the popular Cooktown Discovery Festival weekend on 18-20 June.
Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott said the event would have a tent city and RV ground to cater for extra visitors wanting to experience the rich culture of historical Cooktown.
“Cooktown & Cape York Expo 2021 will be a celebration of reconciliation with the Rising Tide tagline paying homage to local Indigenous culture as the rising tide brings new life and offers the best time to hunt and gather,” he said.
“The rising tide also helped Cook float the HMS Endeavour off the reef and into Waalumbaal Birri (the Endeavour River) 251 years ago.
“Both James Cook and Joseph Banks recorded the first act of reconciliation between Europeans and Australia’s First Nations people in their journals after interacting with the Guugu Yimithirr people during their seven weeks in Waymburr, now known as Cooktown.” 
Cooktown & Cape York Expo 2021 is 10 days of free events including Ngutha Ngutha, a showcase of the local Indigenous communities; Warrma, the Endeavour River creation story told with traditional dance and modern visual effects; the Sails of Light Lantern Parade; a children’s fun fair; and the beloved annual re-enactment of Cook’s landing.
Cooktown & Cape York Expo 2021 is proudly supported by the Commonwealth and Queensland Government and Cook Shire Council. Sponsors include Westpac Indigenous Banking, NBN, Ergon Energy, PCYC, Essential Air Services, Skytrans, Apunipima, Cornetts IGA Cooktown, Cairns Hardware Cooktown and Reel Planning.
For more information go to cooktownexpo.com.au.
