Getting excited for Brisbane Festival but worried about finding fun activities for the whole family, especially with the spring holidays coming up? We’ve got great news! The Festival has heaps of activities that were conceived of with young ones in mind, but will still be enjoyable for the young at heart! Read on for some of our suggestions.
Community Choir: The Musical
Follow the story of a quirky community choir finding themselves accidentally invited to Sydney’s prestigious National Choral Competition from September 3 to September 6. With catchy, toe-tapping original music, this equal parts heartwarming and hilarious story is sure to be a family-pleaser!
Duration: 75 minutes
Price: $49
Venue: Thomas Dixon Centre
Afterglow
Get ready to be captivated by this dreamscape of flickering flames and dancing shadows that is Afterglow from September 5 to September 27. Live performances will bring the nocturnal wonderland to life along a 1.4km fire trail lined with world renowned fire artists and animated by a carefully curated ambient soundtrack that’ll spark wonder, reflection, and awe in the whole family.
Book your spots here!
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes, approximately
Price: $26-$32 per adult, $20-$26 per child, $88-$112 per family
Venue: City Botanic Gardens
Festitalia
Experience la dolce vita right in the River City at Queensland’s official Italian festival on September 7, celebrating and immersing attendees in everything Italy! With mouth-watering food and hilarious competitions, it’s the perfect day for the whole family — and a great way to celebrate Father’s Day!
Get your tickets here!
Duration: from 10am to 6pm
Price: $45 per family, $20 per adult, $9 per child
Venue: Brisbane Showgrounds
Pop Art After Dark
The bright pop of Craig & Karl installations takes on new life on Thursday nights with a series of kid-friendly events featuring fireworks, laser light shows, roving entertainment, live music and DJs from September 11 to September 25!
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes, approximately
Price: $26-$32 per adult, $20-$26 per child, $88-$112 per family
Venue: Westfield Chermside
Moorooka Block Party
A family day can’t get much better than a true block party, so make sure you’re at Peggs Park on September 13 for the highly-anticipated Moorooka Block Party! An electrifying celebration of culture, music, and community, this blend of music and dance from all over will showcase an extraordinary line-up of Australia’s finest First Nations and globally influenced artists, alongside captivating dance performances!
Duration: from 3pm
Price: free!
Venue: Peggs Park
St Lucia Serenades
The St Lucia Serenades at the beautiful University of Queensland will present The Great First Nations Songbook on September 20, an all-ages concert with an incredible lineup of live music and performances. Headlining is Adam James and The Dreamtime Swing, who will take you on a journey back to the 60s with their imaginative covers of iconic First Nations musicians paired with the electrifying flair of big-band music, that’ll get young and young at heart grooving!
Duration: 3 hours (4pm to 7pm)
Price: free!
Venue: Dr Mary Mahoney AO Amphitheatre
Sea of Light
Queensland Museum Kurilpa will be home to this immersive exhibition made with young ones in mind from September 20 to October 5, where you can explore artworks by Aboriginal Contemporary Visual Artist Elizabeth Close painted in light across the sea floor, paired with a gentle soundscape, which creates a unique adventure for the whole family.
Get your tickets here!
Duration: 30 minutes
Price: $35 per child, accompanying adult gets in for free, $20 per extra adult
Venue: Queensland Museum Kurilpa
The People’s Dancefloor
Common People Dance Project is putting on the ultimate immersive dance party! From September 20 until October 6, The People’s Dancefloor Workshops for all ages will see twirling toddlers and grooving grandparents tearing up the dance floor, learning fun and easy-to-follow moves that guarantee a good time for all!
Duration: 60 minutes approximately
Price: free!
Venue: Museum of Brisbane
Lord Mayor’s Children’s Program — TheatreDome
TheatreDome! is Channel Nine’s new wacky improv comedy show. Aimed at kids, it features young drama students competing for ultimate theatrical glory under the watchful eye of the Great Overseer — ruler of the Dome — in a series of rapid-fire theatre and comedic games!
For an experience that’ll bring laughs to the whole family, commit to the bit on September 22 and register for free here.
Duration: 50-55 minutes
Price: free!
Venue: Brisbane City Hall
Elements of Freestyle
Most appropriate for kids and teens ages 12 and up, Elements of Freestyle sets the stage for Dutch ISH Dance Collective to put on an extreme, adrenaline-fuelled dance show from September 24 to 27 that young and not-so-young won’t forget any time soon.
Fusing breakdance, inline skating, skateboarding, freestyle basketball, BMX and freerunning in a breathtaking display of athleticism and artistry, the show will leave your heart pounding and your eyes wide open! Grab your tickets here.
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $79 per adult, $59 per child
Venue: Brisbane Powerhouse
Skylore — Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale
One of the Festival’s most anticipated highlights, Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale will illuminate Brisbane’s skyline every evening from September 25 to September 27, with hundreds of drones soaring above the River and lighting it up. This powerful story of Culture, Country, and connection to place, with original composition by Guy Webster will make for a lasting memory no matter your age!
Duration: 8 minutes, approximately
Price: free, with some ticketed options.
The Bogong’s Song: A Call to Country
From September 25 to October 4, the beloved Bagarra Dance Theatre presents a moving blend of storytelling, shadow puppetry, dance and song aimed at kids of around 4 to 12, but will undoubtedly entertain audiences of all ages. Follow a brother and sister whose Nan promises to tell them a story into an extraordinary dream world where the past speaks through stars, trees, grasses and even the smallest creatures.
Get your tickets here!
Duration: 45 minutes
Price: $35
Venue: QPAC