October feels like turning onto the home straight till the end of the year.
Flowers are blooming, the sun is out for longer and there’s so much to do and see this month that it’s looking like our October calendar is going to be chockers. Take a look below for some inspiration of what you can be doing this month.
1. A Midnight Visit
A Midnight Visit is finishing its Brisbane run in just over a week. If you haven’t experienced it yet, or even if you already have, then you’ve got to act fast before it packs up after the final show on 10 November.
Visitors inside the experience will choose their own path through the cavernous warehouse as they encounter actors and performances, sound worlds, surreal playgrounds and mysterious scenes.
Tickets2. Free Tacos
In celebration of International Taco Day on Monday, October 4, Taco Bell is doing a massive giveaway across the country with free Taco Supremes on offer.
3. Exclusive Piano Performance Of Disney Songs
While it’s too late to sign up for the cookie and cocktail pack to accompany this solo piano performance of Disney classics by Van-Anh, you can still tune in and hear some of your favourite songs from magical movies like Aladdin, Moana, Frozen, and Beauty & The Beast. The songs, all of which have been arranged for the piano by Van-Anh, include A Whole New World, Tale As Old As Time and hopefully Reflections from Mulan as well.
Tickets4. Fish Lane’s Rosé Month
The Fish Lane Rosé Month lineup includes brunches and lunches, more tasting flights, special cocktails, delectable dishes paired with rosés and specials deals to keep us blushing. Bars like Chu The Phat, Hello Please, Julius Pizzeria, Kiki and Bar Brutus are serving up some irresistible specials deals such as Friday rosé drink specials, Hervey Bay scallops and a set menu paired with drinks.
5. Brisbane Pride Fair Day
Brisbane Pride Fair Day is happening at New Farm Park on Saturday 2 October from 10am. Complete with live performances, exciting and enticing stalls and delicious street food, there’ll be fabulousness for everyone. More info
6. Day For It Music Festival
Flight Facilities (DJ set), Hot Dub Time Machine, Confidence Man, Choomba, Jordan Burns, Noy, Taleena and Doslyf will be taking over Eatons Hill Outdoors on Sunday 3 October (thank the lord for the Queens Birthday Long Weekend) for a day of tunes that will surely have you dancing, jumping and celebrating the beautiful spring weather long into the night.
7. Oktoberfest
Brisbane’s Oktoberfest is one of the world’s best and this October, the 13th edition will take place over six days across two weekends at the Brisbane Showgrounds, which will be converted into a Mini Bavaria.
More info8. Haunting Walking Tours
For many, October is just a lead up to Halloween. If that’s you, then get yourself onto one of these spooky walking tours from Ghost Tours Australia.
Jack Sim, the man behind Ghost Tours Australia, is a historian, writer, and speaker who has been polishing up his craft ever since he became hooked on seeking out the horrible histories and tales of Brisbane’s most infamous gaol, Boggo Road.
9. Spirits of the Red Sand
Halfway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast there is a model 19th Century Australian village. It is here where you will experience Spirits of the Red Sand—an award-winning theatrical production that is a cultural journey from beyond Dreamtime.
And there’s dinner too. A three-course feast including a tasting skewer of kangaroo, crocodile and emu to help fully immerse you in the evening that ends with a meet and greet with the actors.
Tickets10. MOSAIC Multicultural Festival
The MOSAIC Multicultural Festival is on this month on Sunday 10 Ocotber at the Roma Street Parkland.
Get on down for a day of festivities from around the world including world music and dance, drumming performances and workshops as well as cooking demos.
It’s free and on from 10-5pm.
More info11. Candlelight
Spring is blooming with more Candlelight concerts and we’ve caught the whiff of more than just classical concerts including a special open-air edition.
12. Visit The Pink Flamingo on the Gold Coast
Step inside the one-of-a-kind, 1920s Art Deco-inspired entertainment venue and you will be seduced. First by the decor and then by the talent of the international superstars that take to the stage for any one of The Pink Flamingo’s four intoxicating shows.
With a blend of cabaret, burlesque and cirque acts, they astound, provoke excitement and entertain from the moment the curtain rises until you walk back out and smell the sea breeze.
13. Chauffeured Tour of Mt Tamborine Wineries
Leave the car behind and enjoy the beautiful Mt Tamborine wineries and sights with a glass of wine.
Glasses of wine, actually, because on these chauffeured Mt Tamborine winery tours you will visit three family-run boutique wineries and be treated to guided tastings. Plus, you’ll get to stop off at scenic lookouts along the way so you can take in the wondrous beauty of the Scenic Rim, perhaps pour a little more wine from a bottle you bought, and not have to worry about getting behind the wheel of a car.
Half and full day tickets14. The Martini Trolley Experience
The Parlour in Fortitude Valley is known for its cocktails. Curated by the team at Sydney’s Maybe Sammy, the world’s 11th best bar, they are playful, multi-sensorial and a joy to watch and taste. They are, however, made on the other side of the bar. That is until the Martini Trolley pulls up at your table and you get to see the show up close.
Tickets15. Regional Flavours: Global Fiesta
The Instagram post says August, but if you remember correctly, Global Fiesta had to be postponed till late in the year. That later in the year is this month when cultures, flair and passion of six continents takes over South Bank Parklands for Regional Flavours’ second event.
Food and entertainment abound.
16. Magic Men
Magic Men are Australia’s best male dancers and their shows serve up a heart-racing and sweat-inducing spectacle. From the hunky stars in their eye-catching costumes to the gorgeous waiters, who will be serving you a glass of sparkling on arrival and carrying around complimentary finger food for you to bite down on in the case it all gets a bit much, this is one cheeky show that is not for the prudish.
Tickets17. Valley Fiesta
What: 150+ artists, 21 venues, three nights.
When: 28-30 October.
Where: Fortitude Valley
See the program and get your tickets18. Halloween Dining 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 returns to Brisbane so you can find out for yourself if it’s true.
Brisbane has a very special Halloween edition of Dining In The Dark coming up in October.
Tickets19. Lumber Punks Axe Throwing
The team at Lumber Punks are no slouches when it comes to hurling hatchets. They’ve got real axeperience nailing their targets and they’ll be on hand to help you spin the primaeval tool. Soon, you too will be hitting your target 100% of the time—hopefully.
Tickets20. Brisbane International Film Festival
The full program is not yet out for BIFF (at the time of writing) but if the numbers in the above post are anything to go by, then we’re in for a phenomenal film festival. Take a look here for all the movies
21. Van Gogh Alive
The vibrant colours and vivid details of Van Gogh’s technique and style will be made visible in never-before-seen detail and will also be accompanied by a classical soundtrack that helps interpret the thoughts, feelings and intentions of the master painter.
Visitors will get to explore the nooks and crannies of the exhibition no matter the venue. They will also be immersed in many of the sites of Van Gogh’s inspiration with fragrances specifically designed to evoke the setting of the paintings.
Experience Vincent Van Gogh, and art in general, in a way you never have before. Van Gogh Alive is so much more than what you have already seen online.
Van Gogh Alive opens on October 29 and ends on November 28.
22. Scenic Rim Farm Gate Trail
The Scenic Rim is home to heaps of local producers providing the state with plenty of food and drink that we love to taste at city restaurants and pick up from markets around town. However, the Farm Gate Trail, which launched just last week, will see many of us hit the road to and go to this foodie paradise ourselves.
Whether you’re looking to pick up wines, cheese, learn a thing or two from a cooking class or sit down to some fine dining, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Eat and explore from Saturday until October 23.
More info23. Turkish Mosaic Lamp Workshop
Turkish mosaic lamps are stunning. Their unique geometric patterns and designs and range of stunning colours and forms make them a superb addition to any space. But while an original lamp handcrafted in Turkey can set you back a pretty penny, Art Masterclass is teaching the ancient mosaic tradition here in Brisbane so you can create your own.
Tickets24. Imaginaria
Titled Imaginaria, this immersive pop-up play space is the work of Loose Collective, a group of designers, architects, audiovisual artists and electronic producers, who have teamed up with other creators, artists and producers to create a wonderland for the senses. And to be honest, we couldn’t be more excited about losing ourselves in what they have created. Over and over again.