This year's Miss Carnivale will likely be elegantly seated in a vintage car when she leads the way in the Macrossan Street Parade procession on Friday 21st May.Organisers are tipping a retro night, announcing the theme of this years street parade will be 'Vintage Port'.  

Chamber of Commerce president and Port Douglas Carnivale chairman Ken Dobbs said a tie-in with the regions vintage car club will add an extra dimension to the event. “We're hoping to have around a dozen of the region's finest vintage marques from the Cairns & District Historic Vehicle Club Inc. to feature in the parade,” he said.

Mr Dobbs said the Vintage Port theme centered around the eras of the 1920s to 1950s and had been chosen because it had a broad appeal. “It will appeal to ladies because there's a strong call to dress up in frocks and dance within the vintage era theme. We are encouraging people to think back to when things were simple, to the style of the era of Bugsy Malone with spats and taps, when there were classy dames and sassy broads, when debonair dandies wore pin stripe suits and carried a violin case, and the music of the day was the Cha Cha Cha or a swing band,” he said.

“Last year was the biggest street parade ever with 53 entries ranging from full scale vehicle floats to community-based groups walking parties, dancers, cyclists and horse riders. Such a diverse range of entries made for a fantastic array of visual creativity and fun, and we want to make this year's even better. We believe that Vintage Port is a highly adaptable theme for people to create their floats around,” said Mr Dobbs.

Rob White of the Cairns & District Historic Vehicle Club Inc said there was great interest among members in attending the parade, and he was looking forward to taking 'Henry', a mint 1929 “A” Model Ford Pick-up.

“My wife Julie and I have been in the parade over the years in many other guises, but this will be Henry's first time and we are really looking forward to showing him off,” he said.

The Chamber will again be offering a $1,000 cash prize for the float judged best all round, and entry into the street parade is FREE. Entry forms are available at www.carnivale.com.au or from the Chamber office at 6 Grant Street.