Priors Creek opening weekend program released as Tablelands prepares for bumper July weekend

The Tablelands is set for an unprecedented bumper weekend on 10 and 11 July, with major events, celebrations and attractions across the region giving locals and visitors alike every reason to make a weekend of it.

From the opening of Priors Creek Parklands in Atherton to the Gillies Centenary in Yungaburra, the Mareeba Rodeo, the Herberton Iron and Steam Fair and a range of other local events and attractions, the weekend will offer one of the strongest combinations of community activity, entertainment and visitor appeal seen across the Tablelands in recent memory.

As part of that broader regional weekend, Tablelands Regional Council has now released the full program for the opening weekend of Priors Creek Parklands, giving the community a complete picture of what is planned across Friday 10 and Saturday 11 July.

The newly released program shows the scale and variety of the Priors Creek opening, with live entertainment, markets, food, fitness, family activities and community celebration across the two days, alongside the official opening ceremony and major evening entertainment on both Friday and Saturday.

Tablelands Regional Council General Manager Placemaking Greg Bowden said the weekend would be a remarkable showcase of the region and will deliver upon what Priors Creek Parklands intended for all Tablelands residents, visitors and businesses.

“This is set to be an extraordinary weekend for our region, with major events and attractions happening across the Tablelands, giving people every reason to come visit, stay a while and enjoy all the things our communities have to offer,” Mr Bowden said.

“The release of our full Priors Creek opening weekend program is an important part of that. It not only details what we’ve planned for the precinct across those two days, but the event highlights the potential of the precinct and puts Priors Creek Parklands into a much bigger and positive regional story”.

“Priors Creek Parklands is not just opening as a new parkland. It is a place for social connection. It is beginning life as an active, welcoming and regularly used community space. Opening weekend is the first major demonstration and offers a free &/or affordable program for all residents and visitors.”

Mr Bowden said the Priors Creek opening would also help point to the future of the precinct, with Priors Creek Live intended to continue promoting ongoing Friday night markets, free family movie nights, more live concerts, Fitness in the Parklands, Storytime in the Park and more.

Saturday’s Priors Creek daytime program will pause at 1.00pm to allow people the opportunity to head to Yungaburra for the Gillies Centenary, a 100-year celebration of Gillies Range Road and its enduring significance to the Tablelands.

The weekend will also include the Mareeba Rodeo, the Herberton Iron and Steam Fair, and a range of other local events that together make 10 and 11 July a standout weekend on the Tablelands calendar.

The full printable Priors Creek opening weekend program is now available and can be viewed online.

For more information and to download the program, visit https://www.trc.qld.gov.au/priors-creek-live.

Tablelands Regional Council would like to acknowledge the support from the state and federal governments for their funding support for the parklands, the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government & Planning, the Department of Transport and Main Roads, the Minor Infrastructure and Inclusive Facilities Fund and from the federal government the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.