Brisbane is a great time all year round.
But May is going to be an exciting month. The Brisbane Street Arts Festival is on and so is Australian Cocktail Month as well as BAD and a whole host of other plans, activities and things you can do. So, here are a few of our top recommendations on where to go, what to see, and what to look forward to this month in Brisbane. (Featured image: Michael)
1. Brisbane Street Art Festival
Returning to its roots in 2021 with its sixth edition, the Brisbane Street Art Festival kicked off on Saturday 1 May and will continue through until Sunday 16 May with live murals, workshops, special events and a few artist talks as well.
The sixteen-day festival also includes music with parties at Superordinary and Felons Beer Hall. The Within These Walls Exhibition also makes a grand return this year and so do the Street Art Cycling Tours, this time facilitated by Tervo. If you’re interested in picking up some new skills, head to one of the workshops where you can participate in Aerosol and Typography masterclasses as well as a Colour By Numbers session with Brisbane artist ShockJR.
2. Australian Cocktail Month
From 1 May to 31 May, participating bars in each city have put together an exclusive menu for Australian Cocktail Month ticket holders. The tickets, which are valid in all four cities and for the entire month of May, are just $20.
In Brisbane, there are 18 bars (out of the total 72) that will take part in the festival’s first edition. These include Blackbird, Cielo, Death & Taxes, Electric Avenue, Iris, Super Whatnot and Dawn. To see the full list of bars participating as well as the cocktails that they have concocted for the month of May, click here.
3. BAD
Brisbane Art Design is back this May with even more exhibitions, ideas, tours, experiences, and food offerings that will excite, entertain and enchant the public across four weekends.
More than 60 venues will participate in BAD, which is an initiative brought to us by the Museum of Brisbane. The curated program of events features international, national and local artists and designers in both outdoor and indoor spaces.
4. Dine in the Dark
An experience that’s been backed by psychologists as an ‘amplified’ way to enjoy food, the enticing ‘Dining In The Dark’ event has arrived in Brisbane and there are still tickets to select dates in May. Otherwise, grab your tickets now for another date.
5. Go crab and cray cray
The five-course lunch menu will set diners back just $69. However, you’re probably going to want to upgrade the Crab and Cray Cray lunch with a two-hour drinks package because, why not? For $99, you’ll be served either Bouchard Aîné & Fils Rosé or Hop & Pop Ale while you tuck into your tasty meal. It’s running every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout April and May (except Mother’s Day).
6. Adults Potions Class
Professor Snape is taking a break, but Potions class continues under the guidance and expertise of The Wizard’s Den pop-up school on Little Stanley Street, where apprentices are given robes and wands to act the part and will be battling against each other for fame and glory.
7. Candlelight
These Candlelight concerts invite everyone to relive the greatest works of classical music, from Vivaldi to Mozart to Bach, in an intimate atmosphere. So, calm your mind and prepare yourself to experience classical music in a new light with these sensational concerts by candlelight at Events on Oxlade in New Farm and The Lussh in Woolloongabba!
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8. Botanica — Contemporary Art Outside
From Friday 7 May to Sunday 16 May, the botanic gardens will be transformed into a wonderland for both children and adults alike. While the full program has not yet been revealed, expect to see artist workshops, sonic tours, spoken-word activities and a poetry-slam night as well as live-drawing events.
10. CLUEDO!
Tickets to Baedecker Wine Bar’s immersive CLUEDO! game are still available. Get the crew together to find out who can solve the murder mystery first. There’ll be 1950s big band music soundtracking the night as you discover brand new secrets and stories in your hunt for the truth.
11. Anywhere Festival
Exciting storytelling and performances don’t need to be confined to stuffy theatre spaces, which is why the Anywhere Festival takes shows out of their formal settings and puts them into local businesses and homes. In the past, there has been comedy in alleyways, circus in driveways, storytelling on waterways and everywhere else that isn’t a theatre. This year (May 6-23) will be no different. Check out the website for more info and tickets.
12. Brisbane Writers Festival
From Thursday 6 May to Sunday 9 May, the Brisbane Writers Festival will hear stories and see talks from across the literary spectrum. See the website for more info.
13. Melt: Festival Of Queer Arts And Culture
Taking over the Brisbane Powerhouse from 20–30 May, Brisbane’s celebration of queer arts and culture will not only see exciting events and sparkling performances from a mix of mediums including theatre, cabaret, music, visual arts and storytelling, but also talks and discussions that will surely give plenty of food for thought.
Don’t miss out and find out what’s on here.
14. Dine BNE City
Fifty of Brisbane City’s best dining and drinking locations are coming together under the Dine BNE banner to put on more than 80 exclusive offers and experiences over two weeks. You’ll be hard-pressed to miss this new kid on the block, but a fortnight can be over in a flash so you best check out the full program and book your tables now.
Happening from 13 May to 30 May. More info here.
15. International Cake Show
The Brisbane Showgrounds is gonna be paradise for sweet tooths across three days from May 14-16 as it hosts the International Cake Show. Expect to see more than 90 demonstrations happening every hour, more than 50 pop-up shops, sculpture shows, wedding cake wars, workshops and masterclasses and more.
16. The Time Travel Cafe
Theatre is best when it’s immersive. So, step into the Time Travel Cafe hiding behind a tailor shop in the heart of the Woolloongabba antique precinct where you will meet a cast of historical figures who, for some reason or another, are very keen on getting to know you. In this 60-minute immersive theatre experience, you will talk, connect, question, console, and explore the speakeasy bar by SpaceFold.
The show runs from 5 May to 23 May with three performances per night. See here for more info.