2017 It's Live! In Queensland Events JULY

GOLD COAST AIRPORT MARATHON

1 – 2 July
Pitted as Australia's premier road race, and the first marathon in the country to hold an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Road Race Gold Label, it's hard to beat this course based on pure scenery alone. They say if you want to post your personal best, the flat, fast course which hugs the Gold Coast's beaches and Broadwater, is the place to do it. Held annually on the first weekend of July, more than 27,000 participants compete in a variety of races including the Gold Coast Airport Marathon itself, Wheelchair Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon, Wheelchair 15km, Southern Cross University 10km Run, Suncorp Bank 5.7km Challenge, and Zespri Junior Dash 4km and 2km races. So esteemed and established is this event, 2017 will mark its 39th year. www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au

BIRDSVILLE BIG RED BASH

4 – 6 July
Sure, Paris may have the Eiffel Tower, but Birdsville has Big Red. Smack bang in the middle of the Simpson Desert in Queensland's Outback, the Big Red sand dune is home to this annual camping and concert gig. Travelers have added this authentic event firmly onto their bucket list to experience the thrill of a rock concert under the biggest star-studded skies in the world. The 2016 Big Red Bash attracted the likes of Jimmy Barnes and Paul Kelly, so expect plenty of Australian music royalty. And there's loads for the kids to do too, with around 600 children attending the bash and using the steep sand dunes to practice sand surfing on boogie boards, cardboard or esky lids. Staged between two other exciting nearby Outback events – the Bedourie Gymkhana and Rodeo and the Bedourie Pig and Camel Races – the Birdsville Big Red Bash provides plenty of reason to head Outback on an exciting adventure covering all three events. www.bigredbash.com.au

ABBEY MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL

8 – 9 July
It doesn't cost a King's ransom to step back in time to the medieval era at Brisbane's Abbey Medieval Festival. Enjoy historical re-enactments, cheer jousting and falconry, gorge on sizzling meats and fine mead and leave with a taste of history on your lips. A combination of Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, this two-week festival includes The Medieval Banquet; authentic medieval costumes, swords and shields; puppet shows; gypsy dancing; and Turkish oil wrestling. Re-enactments feature Viking raiders and traders; Middle-Eastern warriors and nomads; and nobles and peasants from the Great European households. www.abbeymedievalfestival.com

TOWNSVILLE 400

7 – 9 July
If yoU like your tropical Queensland destination infused with some extra revs, the Virgin Australia Supercars Townsville 400 is the event for you. Watch powerful Supercars roar their way through Reid Park (just south of Townsville's CBD) on specially constructed roads which form 70 percent of the circuit, with top speeds clocking 260km/h. Adding to the excitement, it's anyone's race with six different drivers snatching the last six Virgin Australia Supercar pole positions on this circuit. Townsville in July, you're going to hear it roar. www.supercars.com

[*NEW] VELOTHON SUNSHINE COAST

13 – 16 July
Saddle up! Winter racing just got bigger, with Queensland's endurance whizz-kid, the Sunshine Coast, landing the first Velothon Series event in the Southern Hemisphere. Billed as 'the ultimate winter cycling escape to the sun', organisers are transplanting the best elements of the European-style race into the perfect riding climate of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Don't miss this epic Union Cycliste Internationale-sanctioned event (a one or three-day Velo challenge), tipped to draw thousands of competitors to the best new cycling event on the planet! www.velothonsunshinecoast.com

CAIRNS INDIGENOUS ART FAIR

14 – 16 July
The Tropical North Queensland city of Cairns is an ideal setting for this culturally important and vibrant art market. It's considered to be the only art fair in Australia to welcome commercial art galleries and Indigenous art centres to sell and showcase works by Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Held at the Cairns Cruise Liner terminal, the event is framed by the waters of the Cairns Trinity Inlet, and rolling mountains and land of the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people. The four-day fair features a vibrant program of events, exhibitions, dance and theatre. www.ciaf.com.au

JUMPERS & JAZZ IN JULY FESTIVAL

20 – 30 July
You've all heard of photo bombing, but what about yarn bombing? In this quirky Queensland festival, you'll find they have a way with wool turning it into creative art forms around the city. Staged in Warwick in Southern Queensland Country, Jumpers & Jazz celebrates everything cool about this region every July, a time when the trees are decorated in colourful knits by local schools and community groups. The jazz component of the festival takes place around the district in a number of venues in Warwick, Goomburra and Killarney with musicians performing Dixieland, Swing and mainstream. There's art workshops, artist talks and the opportunity for visitors to knit their own tree creation at this fun festival which is the epitome of cool in every sense of the word. www.jumpersandjazz.com

AUSTRALIAN FESTIVAL OF CHAMBER MUSIC

28 July – 5 August
Townsville sets the stage for this terrific nine-day festival in which 25 to 30 chamber musicians appear in more than 25 concerts in this Tropical North Queensland destination. Held every July and August, 2017 marks the 27th year of this event in which internationally-acclaimed musicians entertain audiences from Australia and overseas. Expect everything from pianists, quartets, quintets, to bands, orchestras, accordions and violins here. www.afcm.com.au