CARNIVAL OF JOY VISITS THE CAPRICORN COAST...

 The Carnival of Joy is a state-wide community event which includes a parade in July, August and September 2021 with a giant talking cockatoo, a giant laughing koookaburra and a giant koala which will travel from Brisbane to Cairns and back again.

 I had seen on social media that it would be at Bell Park in Emu Park from 3-4pm and then move down towards Fisherman's Beach at Emu Park around 4pm. 

As I had been down sewing at Jannett's for the day, I figured it would be worth ducking down to the Bell Park to check out this amazing display.  Jannett was keen to come with me once all her guests had left.

 The Carnival of Joy is a natural progression from the popularity of Dr Farvardin Daliri OAM's Giant Laughing Kookaburra.  In 2020 after a difficult period of social isolation and distancing, thanks to the Pandemic, Dr Daliri took the giant laughing Kookaburra (which he sculptured during the pandemic lockdown) on the road with the intent of bringing communities back together again and put a smile on everyone's faces.

The response was overwhelming and even attracted international media attention.  The benefits to those communities that were lucky enough to receive a visit were obvious and the demand for future visit was so great that the "Carnival of Joy" was born..

 Dr Daliri has added to his very spectacular giant laughing kookaburra with a giant koala and this year , the leader of the parade, the giant talking cockatoo. His family of Aussie icons has been travelling through Queensland since early July this year with the goal of visiting as many regional and remote communities between Brisbane and Cairns that they can, bringing people together and sharing messages of joy and.  The parade's arrival in Townsville will coincide with the Cultural Festival on 14-15 August where the Carnival of Joy will help the region celebrate diversity and Australia.

The Carnival of Joy is free to attend and for it to be free to the general public,  but it does cost quite a bit of money to tranport these giant sculptures around the State.  As it is a non for profit organisation it relies on businesses and the community for contributions. 

From Bell Park the parade took off to where the boaties launch their boats at Emu Park and parked up there for folks to come and check them out...

I just wish I had all our grandsons here to enjoy it.  Max's favourite animal is the Cockatoo and I know that Theo would have enjoyed seeing them also...