The iconic Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas came alive on Saturday 29 May from about 8.30am as stall holders, event managers and organisers started putting up the market stalls along the Esplanade, preparing the cricket pitch for the annual Court House Hotel Beach Cricket competition, raising the nets and marking out the courts for the inaugural Volleyball comp and getting the positioning ready for a full day of family fun at the 2010 Carnivale Family Beach Day.

By 10am the whole beach was humming with thousands of people.  Some had come to have-a-go, some had come to sit and watch while everyone else got hot and sweaty on this glorious 'blue sky' day.

For the first time for many years, the camels were giving rides to anyone brave enough to try.  The Clipper Cup sailing competition was just off shore, the yachts showing off their glorious multi coloured sails as they raced for final honours.

The outriggers were competing just off shore as well, intermixed with all the catamarans and super yachts that had come to spectate in the shallows.  Bree & her team of merry Bop Stars were having great fun running their dedicated Kids Fun Zone on the beach, jam-packed with games, contests, prizes and non-stop activities.  The sandcastle competition was in full swing by 10am with mums, dads and children all getting their creative hats on in an effort to win the coveted annual prize for best sandcastle.  The treasure Hunt was a fantastic success from about 1.30pm.

Skysafari treated us to an exhibition of parachuting from their distinctive yellow helicopter piloted by Chief Pilot Bradley King.    First the parachutists gave a demonstration of precision landings and then the helicopter itself visited the beach.   Very exciting indeed being that close to the helicopter especially with landing chief Za making sure everything went off without a hitch.  Even the Beach Cricket stopped for a good look at the parachutists !

The Beach Cricket was completed by about 1.30pm, having started at 10am ish and produced a fairy tale ending with 2009 last place team, the Douglas United Dads or 'DUDs' as they had become known, scooped the prestigious 2010 competition by beating The Mudcrab Wannabies in the Grand Final having beaten off fierce challenges in the early rounds from The Gazette and the aptly named 'The Wrong team with local Muddies superstar Darren Wall as skipper.

The Mudcrab Wannabies had arguably come through the 'group of death' having had to beat off Nick Carling's, Active Fitness stars and last years winners, The Muddies.

It was a superb tournament, played in the best of spirits and special thanks must go to LJ Hooker for the supply of their shady marquee which undoubtedly prevented the sun from claiming any victims from sun stroke on such a magnificent day. And of course the tournament sponsors, The Court House Hotel for supporting the day once again.

The Family Beach Day is a fantastic display of how to have some good old fashioned fun for all the family.   The crowds had a wonderful day either taking part or simply watching the activities.  Well done to the organisers and event managers, they are the unsung heroes of Carnivale.