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Far North Queensland plans to deliver the state’s newest country music festival in 2020, with Savannah in the Round to debut at Mareeba after the event was secured by the Queensland Government this month.

The festival will be staged through a partnership between the Queensland Government, via Tourism and Events Queensland, Tourism Tropical North Queensland and event management company Sound Australia.

Advising the festival will be part of 2020’s Year of Indigenous Tourism, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk explained “Year of Outback Tourism brought more than a million tourists spending $750 million to our regional and remote communities.

“The Year of Indigenous Tourism gives us a focus to promote the Far North in the same way.”

Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Mark Olsen noted the festival was a welcome addition to the region’s event calendar, noting “it is an incredible opportunity to showcase local and internationally renowned talent, including First Nations artists, in the spectacular setting of the Tablelands, an Outback experience just 60km from Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef.”

Queensland Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones added  “over the last five years, we’ve more than doubled the value of Queensland’s major events calendar which will generate $880 million for our state in 2020.”

The new festival, to be held over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in October, is expected to attract more than 15,000 tourists to the Far North with some of the leading the best country music acts from across Australia.

Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said Savannah in the Round was a win for the Far North’s tourism industry commenting “Far North Queensland has a rich history and culture. This event will showcase these attributes to the world.

“Savannah in the Round will have a strong focus on First Nations culture, which makes it a perfect fit for 2020 – recently announced by the Premier as the Year of Indigenous Tourism.

“Far North Queensland is the best place in the world to visit and live. Events like this help us prove that to thousands of people each year.”

Sound Australia Chief Executive James Dein advised Kerribee Park Rodeo Grounds at Mareeba would make the perfect home for the festival, concluding “the Mareeba festival site is as good as I have seen in the country.

“With such great infrastructure and the incredible reef and rainforest experiences on their doorstep, I can’t imagine any international artist not wanting to put this great new event on their calendar.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for Tropical North Queensland and shows the state is again leading the way.”

For more information, visit www.savannahintheround.com.au

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