High on the Tablelands of North Queensland, the township of Ravenshoe has been celebrating the “Torimba Festival” since 1969. This community event is a celebration of Tourism and Timber with events running over two weeks in October each year.
Here we go...We are just 1 week out from the first Torimba event
Miss N Master Torimba and the 2023 Queen Entrant’s Meet N Greet and Fashion show at the Ravenshoe Bowls Club Saturday 16th 3pm – 5pm
Our little Torimba Ambassadors are selected today from this year’s brightest as we announce the Miss and Master Torimba after they face their first public speaking with a panel of judges.
The official Meet N Greet to introduce this year’s 2023 Queen entrants that will be hostesses to the community through a whirlwind 14 events across 2 weeks.
To get these ladies into the swing of the festival…The Barn will be showcasing the latest fashion and accessories to arrive in time for a fresh spring presented by our Queen’s in this year’s parade.
The lovely team at the Ravenshoe Memorial bowls club always put on a smashing Hi Tea amongst the proceedings for everyone to enjoy.
The Torimba Festival has an exciting array of events that will be happening around the feature
woodworking exhibition the Festival of the Forest and the highlight for lots of our families…Mardi Gras Street Parade day with stalls, dodgems and announcing…Melville’s Animal farm will be paying us a visit bringing all their cuddly animals big and small and their crazy DUCK races! Woodchops all day and and make sure you rustle up a mixed team of 10 for the $1000 prize money on offer at the Kidner sponsored truck pull before the fireworks to send everyone home with fantastic memories.
Golf ambrose, Themed Quiz Night, Barefoot bowls, Hoedown, Queen Entrant’s Cake stalls, poetry reading, bingo and so much more.
The behind the scenes work for this year’s Torimba Festival has officially kicked up a notch and is now full steam ahead. This year’s theme is
When I grow Up
We are now seeking Queen entrants, Miss Torimba and Master Torimba entrants and local businesses who would like to support their journey as sponsors.
This is a fantastic opportunity for local (be located 4888, 4872) young ladies aged between 17-24 (born between the years of 2006-1999) to lead from the front in front raising for the Torimba festival and gain confidence. Every year these young ladies join the festival not really knowing what they’ve gotten themselves in for…and come out the other side of 2 weeks of events with new found confidence and life long friends. Local business people and the wider community rally around them as we see them become leaders amongst there peers…and have lots of hard working fun…of course there’s the glamour and prizes as a reward for their efforts. It is an experience they will cherish.
And right alongside the Queens for the journey, are Ravenshoe’s littlest ambassadors… The Torimba Miss and Masters.
This is a special opportunity to live like a Prince or Princess for the festival. A great confidence booster and lots of fun for our little ones with some lovely prizes up for grabs!
Download the nomination forms here: Torimba Queen Entrant ….. Miss N Master
Two Weeks of Festivities
The Torimba Festival has an exciting array of events from a golf ambrose, barefoot bowls, hoedown, cake stalls, poetry reading, bingo and so much more. There really is something for everyone! Check out our program of events and book yourself in for some fun in the Queensland’s highest town, Ravenshoe.
All the entry forms are now up on the website!
We are fast approaching the opening day of Torimba…and the Torimba team are very excited to deliver this year’s program to the community!
We have now released all forms that require submission for the final preparations. These include all stall holders and parade floats so space can be coordinated.
Parade Floats are in the running for cash prize money split over the top 3 floats! A great way to promote your business, club or cause…and lets face it get into the fun of this year’s theme…When I Grow Up
If you would like to show your support for QLD’s longest running festival – you can download your sponsorship form and nominate what support you can offer which can be any combinations of funds to pay for events, vouchers, prizes or services. We ask that these be completed as soon as possible to support the upcoming requirements of the festival.
Miss N Master Meet n Greet at Ravenshoe Bowls Club 2022
Torimba Mardi Gras Parade 2022
A highlight of the Festival! Locals and visitors alike celebrate and participate in old fashioned games and activities, Truck Pull, Wood chops, amusement rides, and market stalls all on the Main Street of Ravenshoe. The excitement of the street parade fosters community spirit that unites the town and district.
And this year we have some exciting additions to the theme park end of town…with DODGEMS!!! Shane Knuth has already booked himself to take on Bob Katter…get amongst it!
Check out last year’s crazy collection at the parade here
Torimba Quiz Night 2022
A great family night in the town hall to test your knowledge in teams of 6 and 8. 2022 was a huge event packed with colourful costumes. For this event the hall was delightfully turned into a mixture of favourite TV programs to honour the festival’s theme. And the crowd didn’t disappoint with almost every team dressed in their chosen TV show. This is an event which needs young AND old to win! You can see all the photos here in the gallery
Torimba Ball 2022
The culmination of the festival, this is the night of nights to celebrate all the hard work of the Torimba Queen, with her support crew of Miss and Master Torimba…and all the hard work of the Torimba Committee . It is a great opportunity for Queens, volunteers and locals to glam up and party the night away to live music and dancing, which once again brings the community together. In 2022 we also hosted the epic charity auction as part of the event.
You can see all the photos from the night here.
Festival of the Forest
Timber craft exhibition is held during the Torimba Festival. Talented craftsmen from around the nation enter their best work to be judged and viewed by festival goers. This woodwork exhibition is recognised as one of the nation’s oldest…held in various forms for almost a century.
The Festival of the Forest showcases Ravenshoe’s heritage as a former timber town as well as putting Ravenshoe on the map for tourists as a ‘must see’ destination.
Torimba Ambrose Golf Day
The Queens and their teams spend a day each Torimba out at the Ravenshoe Millstream Country Club which has the title of Far North Qld’s first golf club founded in 1922. Always a fun day with teams teeing off their next shot from the best shot of the group in a game of ambrose golf.
Some take it seriously but most are out there for fun day in the sun, with a few bevvies with their mates, tunes cranked on the buggies and a lovely spread at the end thanks to the kitchen crew at the club house. Enjoy the pictures from last year here.
Our Story in the Street — Commemorating 50 years of Torimba’s history and the community roots of our forest timbers.
On Saturday 2nd of October2021, Ravenshoe community gathered to unveil 2 large photographic murals that beautifully capture the timber history of Qld highest town. The commemorative book was launched that details the story behind the last 50 years of Torimba Festival oand will be available for purchase at Festival Hall,
Torimba Festival is a community event – the valued support of volunteers and sponsors makes this event possible!
The Torimba Festival Committee is made up of a dedicated team of locals who generously put in 100% to create memorable festivals year after year. We welcome and encourage new members to join the festival committee and encourage their input and fresh ideas. There is a place and a job available for anybody who is interested; from setup and packup, to administration, promotions and running of the Queen Entrants program.
Our Major Sponsors
