City Centre set to come to life with lights, music and food 

Published on 21 July 2025

Mackay's City Centre is set to light up in spectacular fashion as Daly Bay Illuminate takes over the city.

For four nights from Thursday, July 24 to Sunday, July 27, the city will be transformed with amazing giant amphibian inflatables and large-scale projections featuring First Nations and community artwork.

Each evening from 6pm to 9pm, visitors can immerse themselves in this dazzling display, all part of the 2025 Mackay Festival of Arts.

Mayor Greg Williamson said Daly Bay Illuminate was a tremendous spectacle for the whole family and this year would not disappoint.

“This year, there is no start or finish point – your route is completely up to you,” Mayor Williamson said.

“With eight giant inflatable amphibians, called Night Walkers, and four spectacular large-scale projections on some of our most iconic buildings, you can take a self-guided tour through the City Centre,” he said.

“One of the projections, on the side of the old Pioneer Shire building, has been created by artist Donna Maree Robinson, whose beautiful artwork features on the front cover of this year’s Mackay Festival of Arts program.

“Why not book in for dinner in a City Centre restaurant, enjoy some live music and then do some late-night shopping as you stroll from artwork to artwork?”

MECC Festival Coordinator Phoebe Short said Whitsunday Wealth Festival Hub would be on at the same time as Daly Bay Illuminate at Caneland Park.

“Whitsunday Wealth Festival Hub will this year offer a blend of music, culinary delights and fun for the whole family,” Ms Short said.

“As well as some Night Walkers, a special feature at the Whitsunday Wealth Festival Hub will be Shimmer – a glowing, dreamlike world inspired by tropical pond life created by the Mackay community and students,” she said.

“We’ve also got different live music playing each night, and a fantastic selection of food vendors coming to the event, offering delicious dumplings, barbecue ribs, gourmet sausages, waffles, ice cream and so much more,” she said.

“This is going to be a fantastic night out for the family and the team are excited to be able to share this wonderland of vivid colours and lights with our community and visitors to the region,” she said.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts Festivals Australia Program.

For more information on these events and the 2025 Mackay Festival of Arts, visit themecc.com.au/festivals.

Mackay Festival partners:

Let the Children Play 
MADEC 
DeckaDice 
Gallivanter Travel Mackay
The Real Korean Restaurant
The Crystal Kingdom 
Harper Bee
Wild Arrow Boutique 
Gypsy and the Bowerbird
Aligned Corporate Residences 
Ban Na Thai Restaurant 
M’Lady’s Shoes
Bing’s Nomiya 
Artspace Mackay
Foodspace Mackay
Little Espresso Bar
Groove Moover
The Deli Nook
Saige & Sohl
9^th Lane Grind

Additional Entertainment within the city

Face Painting – Carlie's Fascinating Faces Face Painting

A map shows the locations of the Night Walkers and the large-scale projections as part of Daly Bay Illuminate.