Townsville residents are being encouraged to get behind one of the city’s hallmark tourism events – Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week – and its bumper calendar of social events.

Water activities, markets, food vendors, kids rides, live music and the famous Beer Can Regatta are all part of what promises to be a full day of family fun at this year’s Townsville Airport Father’s Day event at Picnic Bay.  

The festivities, on September 1, are presented by Townsville Airport through its partnership with Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week, which has been in place since 2015.  

Townsville Airport Chief Operating Officer Kevin Gill said the day had become a much-loved fixture in the race week’s social calendar, which was a key tourism event for the city.  

“This is a wonderful way to spend the day together as a family, enjoying one of North Queensland’s prized natural assets, Magnetic Island,” he said.

“The island is one of Townsville’s major tourism drawcards, so we’re encouraging everyone to get right behind race week and its many social events.

“Skippers, their families and spectators come from across Australia to compete in this event, and many come to Townsville through the airport, so our partnership is an opportunity to recognise the impact the event has on local tourism.”

Artisan markets will run from 9am to 2pm in the Picnic Bay Mall, and the 2019 Rotary Magnetic Island Beer Can Regatta will be back from 10.30am to noon.

From midday, Picnic Bay Surf Lifesaving Club will play host to live music from Godfathers of Funk, with live mud crab races and a barbecue also on offer.

Sealink will run additional ferry services to Magnetic Island on the day with specials available ($50 family and $25 adult return tickets), while the Port of Townsville will run free shuttle buses directly to Picnic Bay.

The airport’s parent company, Queensland Airports Limited, supports more than 30 community, business, environment and tourism initiatives across northern and western Queensland each year – including the North Queensland Tourism Awards, Townsville Running Festival, Glendi Festival, Magnetic Island Race Week, Legacy Townsville, Mount Isa Rodeo and the Outback Food, Wine and Music Festival in Longreach.

For more information and to see the full Magnetic Island Race Week social program, visit www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au.

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