The weather in Brisbane has been getting warmer in the lead-up to summer, and there are a whole stack of events, activities and foodie delights to put a spring in your step this November. Take a look through the list to find a bunch of things you can do during the week and on weekends.
Spot jacarandas around Brisbane
Flowering from October through to the end of November, the swathe of purple throughout the city welcomes the summer months and generally lifts our moods. So if you’re also in need of some flowering beauty, then lace up your shoes and head on out to these locations around town to see the jacarandas in full bloom.
Plunge into the classics at a Candlelight concert
Float away on the comforting glow of countless candles as professional musicians perform everything from gorgeous classical pieces to chart-topping hits like tributes to artists like Queen and Adele.
Enveloped by the touching music and surrounded by some of the most historic and imposing buildings in Brisbane, Candlelight is an experience not to be missed! Grab your tickets for this and all Candlelight concerts here!
Enter Prison Island, if you dare
Prison Island is an electrifying, immersive experience that fuses the excitement of escape rooms with the challenge of obstacle courses. This high-octane, 90-minute gameplay will put your team’s strategy, intelligence, and agility to the test. Brave Brisbane’s escape adventure, if you can handle it. There’ll be live actors, eerie lighting, and plenty of challenges!
Bask in nature at the Towri Growers Market
On the first Saturday of every month, the picturesque farm at Towri Sheep Cheeses just outside Brisbane, near Beaudesert in the Scenic Rim, transforms into an authentic farmer’s market. Spend a wholesome day with the family — including fur babies — meeting local farmers, having lunch and tasting local wines, enjoying live music and lawn games, and even watching a sheep milking demonstration!
Sashay your way to drag brunch
Drag Brunch Club, Australia’s most successful Drag Brunch, is bringing fierce entertainment to your mornings!
Hold on to your wig because every Sunday, you’ll be treated to a three-course brunch and three hours of free-flowing drinks and some show-stopping performances from Brisbane’s drag queen sensations. Get your tickets and don’t forget to serve your best lewk!
And celebrate the LGBTQ+ community at MELT
The cultural climax of LGBTQ+ art and culture has sailed into Brisbane from October 21 to November 8, and it’s unleashing a star-studded lineup on the River City. The program includes everything from burlesque, to interactive art to parties, and you won’t want to miss it, henny!
Dive into Bluey’s World
Recently named one of the top places in the world, the much-anticipated immersive experience Bluey’s World is a must-visit.
Based on the hit TV show, the attraction is decked out with a recreation of the iconic Heeler Queenslander home, where you can walk around and interact with life-size sets of Bluey and Bingo’s playroom and bedroom, the family lounge room, as well as the backyard with the poinciana tree in it. Get your tickets for the perfect outing for the whole family!
Try a new game show experience where you and your friends are the stars
At Quiz Room, you’ll be stepping onto a real game show set, complete with buzzers, dazzling lights, music, smoke effects, and the adrenaline rush of competition. Think Who Wants To Be A Millionaire meets Family Feud, but with you and your friends as the stars of the show. And the best part? You can get your tickets now and be among the first in Brisbane to experience it.
Get weird at The Oddities & Curiosities Expo
Get ready for the strangest and most exciting event of the year as The Oddities & Curiosities Expo, the ultimate celebration of all things peculiar and extraordinary, makes its highly anticipated comeback to Brisbane!
This one-of-a-kind traveling showcase brings together hundreds of vendors and artists of all kinds of knick-knacks and gizmos from across the country, creating a playground for the strange and unusual!
Hang out with The Fraggles
It’s time to raise the curtain on a show unlike any other. To celebrate 70 years of creativity, innovation, and beloved characters, the exclusive-to-Brisbane exhibition Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company is bringing the antics of the world’s most famous puppets to QAGOMA.
Uncork the summer at Twilight in the Vines
Family-owned winery situated at picturesque Mount Cotton, Sirromet is once again hosting a magical twilit night in their vineyard. Let yourself get swept away by the enchanting surroundings and glowing lights as you’re brought a gourmet tray filled with locally sourced charcuterie paired with a Sirromet bottle of wine for you and your +1 to enjoy. Secure your spot here.
Find some plant-based goodies at the QLD Vegan Market
Calling all plant-based pals and curious foodies. QLD Vegan Markets is bringing its amazing goodies back to Mt Gravatt on November 6. Join the buzzing market filled with delicious plant-based food, retail stalls and vegan vibes for its 10th anniversary! And don’t forget to bring your picnic mat and a lead for your furry friends.
Work out (for free!) with Feel Good Program
Until November 28, Brissy locals will be treated to no less than 13 free exercises classes every week led by expert Goodlife Health Club trainers. With a jam-packed program featuring yoga, pilates, zumba and aqua classes, there is truly something for everyone, no matter your age, fitness level or morning-person-level!
Take in some live music
In November, GRAMMY®-nominated, backflipping superstar Benson Boone will bring his Wanted Man Tour to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre for unforgettable performances. The concert will feature a carefully curated mix of new tracks alongside fan favourites!
Pick up new plant babies at the Tropical Foliage Festival
Taking place at the Belmont Shooting Complex, the Tropical Foliage Festival is bringing together a whole heap of tropical plant growers in one space. You’ll be able to buy as many beautiful foliage plants as you can carry, get advice, and see demos among a whole heap of other things going on.
Take a stroll through history
Make the most of the weather by doing your learning outdoors! Museum of Brisbane is offering 45-minute walking tours through The Star and Queens Wharf, exploring the art, history, and architecture within this fascinating cultural precinct. You can get your tickets here.
Test your knowledge with BuzzAttack
Step behind the podium and become a TV game-show star! BuzzAttack drops you into a fully decked-out TV studio, complete with flashing lights, giant buzzers, a live scoreboard and a massive spinning wheel!
Inspired by iconic quiz shows, it’s a mix of trivia, live entertainment and high-stakes competition, where every answer counts and anyone can end up the star of the show, and it all starts with getting your tickets.
Feast your eyes on a glow worm cave
If there’s any man-made spectacle that can beat nature, we have yet to find it. And only a 1.5 hour drive from Brisbane, you can catch one of the world’s most unique ones: a glow worm cave. Let yourself be mesmerized by this naturally occurring phenomenon and walk the breathtaking Mt Tamborine Skywalk, taking in the rainforest around you in this all-inclusive day trip to Springbrook National Park. Book here to make some unforgettable memories.
Grab some early gifts at a fabulously festive Christmas market
With Christmas fast approaching, our focus will soon shift toward gifts, good times and good food. And some of the best places to get these gifts, have a good time and get your hands on a huge array of good food is at one of Brisbane’s Christmas Markets, like the ever-magical Beenleigh Christmas Twilight Markets, starting on November 20.
With over 100 stalls plus kids activities and entertainment, yummy treats and free entry, you’d have to be a real Grinch to pass it up!
Celebrate at Melbourne Cup events
Whether you’re into horse racing or not, there’s no denying that the Melbourne Cup has a certain grip on Australia and Australians as a whole. The day is now also synonymous with fashion, friends and having a good time. Subsequently, Brisbane’s restaurants and bars put on an array of fabulous lunchtime events featuring oysters, champagne, and any number of bottomless drinks or food packages.
Nerd out at Supanova Comic Con & Gaming
Fandom, technology, and pop culture unite for a weekend to remember with all your favourite onscreen and off-screen heroes! From big-hitters like co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Kevin Eastman, to real-life superstars like Sean Astin and Alan Tudyk, we are saying you should meet your heroes. Grab tickets here!
Escape to a swimming hole near Brisbane
Summer is nearly here, and so is the humidity that comes with it. Near Brisbane, you’ll find some of the best swimming holes in Australia, perfect to cool off at. Only an hour’s drive from Brisbane, the Northbrook Gorge swimming hole in D’Aguilar National Park is perfect for adventurers, as it is a bit of a hike to reach it. But 6km is nothing when you’ve got crystalline waters to take a dip in waiting for you.
Or a hidden beach if you prefer saltwater
Fortunately here in Brisbane, we’re only a short drive to some of the Sunshine State’s most stunning beaches, from the Gold Coast to Moreton Bay, the Sunshine Coast and beyond. Some of the more popular beaches can get quite crowded, though, so finding a secret beach can feel like winning the lottery.
Case in point: Broken Head, only 2 hours away from Brisbane, is home to white-sand beaches and refreshing waters and is a perfect option for those wanting a bit more peace and quiet.
Go Into the Woods
Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning classic is coming to QPAC! Following iconic and well-loved characters like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and Rapunzel, this masterpiece of the stage turns fairytales worlds upside down, asking what happens when the story ends and “… everyone lives happily ever after.”
Tantalise your taste buds at ‘Dining In The Dark’
Forget about the outside world for an evening and let your taste buds take charge at C’est Bon. This unique blindfolded dining experience makes an extraordinary adventure out of every bite. Comprised of a secret three-course menu that includes appetiser, main, and dessert, this delightful culinary experience allows you to choose from a meat, seafood or vegetarian menu, to ensure you clear your plate, regardless of the blindfold. Tickets are selling fast, so don’t miss out!
Dust off your flippers and go snorkelling near Brisbane
As the weather gets warmer, the urge to take a break from the city becomes almost irresistible. What better way to live a long weekend to its fullest than a day trip to nearby gem, Moreton Island? Although its pristine beaches are ideal for a lazy day, this slice of paradise might be even better for adventurous travellers, with snorkelling, surfable waves and thrilling activities awaiting them. Book your day trip here!
Get your groove on at Friday Latin Nights
As the weather gets muy caliente, there is no better way to let off some steam than to move your body to the rhythm of salsa, merengue, cumbia and other Latin music. Every Friday, fuel up with tasty dishes from the food trucks starting at 5pm, take a dance class at 7pm if you’re feeling unsure of your moves, and kick off your heels for free dancing until 11pm! Buenísimo!
