Coral Sea Marina Resort Lantern Parade
Date: 31/07/2026Time: 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: Coral Sea Marina, Airlie Beach, QLD, 4802
Lanterns lighting the way – from the Marina to the foreshore
A much-loved highlight of the Great Barrier Reef Festival, the Lantern Parade brings a magical glow to Airlie Beach as families and children light up the evening with their colourful, hand-made lanterns.
The parade will begin at The Garden Bar Bistro at Coral Sea Marina, winding its way along the Bicentennial Boardwalk, past Sorrento’s Restaurant and Bar, and into the Fairy Tree Park to join the foreshore festivities, finishing at the Movie Screen where the Welcome to Country and Traditional Dance will take place.
In the lead-up to the event, lantern-making workshops will be hosted by the festival and marina teams, giving kids a chance to create their own glowing masterpiece. Dates and locations will be announced soon—stay tuned!
Continue your evening on the foreshore with live entertainment, cultural experiences and festival activations.
Event Schedule
5:30 pm – Meet at The Garden Bar, Coral Sea Marina Resort
5:45 pm – Lantern judging and prize presentation
6:00 pm – Parade departs, travelling through the marina and along the boardwalk to the foreshore
8:30 pm – Fireworks on the Foreshore
Lantern Prizes
Prizes will be awarded on the night for the most colourful and most creative lanterns – so bring your brightest ideas and light the way in style!
Spectator Information
The map below shows the Parade route for those wanting to watch the lights go past
Getting Involved
There’s no need to register — simply come along to the meeting point with your lantern and join in. Everyone is welcome!