Community
4 March, 2025
It’s music to town’s ears
THE team behind Savannah in the Round and Savannah Sounds on the Reef are adding their touches of musical flair to this year’s Port Douglas Carnivale.
Dubbed the Savannah Sounds Port Douglas and presented by Douglas Shire Council, it will run from May 23-25.
The event will kick off with a Friday night party, followed by a headline music event on Saturday, before wrapping up with a locals’ day on Sunday.
Just who will be performing has yet to be confirmed.
Sound Australia chief executive officer James Dein said he was “extremely excited” to see Savannah Sounds make its way to Port Douglas and be a headline of the event.
He said the genres expected were “country, rock and pop”.
“Artists for the event are yet to be released just yet but will be announced shortly,” Mr Dein said.
He said Savannah Sounds would be involved exclusively with the concerts at Rex Smeal Park.
“For this year our involvement will be isolated to Rex Smeal Park and all our concerts.
“It’s definitely going in our long-term plan. Moving forward we’d definitely love to be a part of Carnivale.”
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the collaboration with Sound Australia was a great opportunity for Port Douglas Carnivale and the region.
“We are delighted to be partnering with the Sound Australia team to deliver this program in what we hope will become a Carnivale highlight for years to come,” she said.
“We know the success of Savannah in the Round, the quality of what they do and the acts they attract is a great fit for Carnivale and the future of event tourism in the region.
“Savannah in the Round has proven to be a major economic driver, generating over $9.4 million in direct and incremental expenditure for Queensland in 2024.
“With the introduction of Savannah Sounds, Port Douglas Carnivale is set to benefit from the same high-quality music experience that draws visitors and boosts local economies.”
Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Mark Olsen said Savannah Sounds Port Douglas would give interstate visitors another exciting reason to visit Tropical North Queensland in May.
“This nationally visible event will reinforce the region’s back in business messaging to bring visitors to Port Douglas during the shoulder season when they can experience the festivities of Port Douglas Carnivale,” he said.
In 2024, Port Douglas Carnivale delivered a significant economic boost, generating over $5.7m in direct and incremental expenditure across Queensland, with $5.09m spent in the Douglas Shire. The event attracted strong intrastate and interstate visitation, reinforcing its value as a key tourism and economic driver for the region.
Savannah Sounds joins a packed Carnivale weekend, which includes The Longest Lunch at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas, the iconic Street Parade, Beach Day and Maho Magic Bar, with more events to come.
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