18 Exciting Things To Do In Brisbane This Weekend
Brisbane, welcome to the weekend!
Here are a few of our top recommendations on where to go, what to see, and what to look forward to in Brisbane this weekend.
1. Christmas Markets
Brisbane has got three Christmas markets on the cards for this Saturday. And they’re all twilight markets! Take your pick from Vend in Virginia, Cribb Street’s Milton Market or hit up the BrisStyle Twilight Christmas Market in King George Square.
Brisbane Christmas Markets list
2. Tropical Foilage Festival
Taking place at the Belmont Shooting Complex on Saturday 27 November and Sunday 28 November, the Tropical Foilage Festival is bringing together a whole heap of tropical plant growers in one space. You’ll be able to buy as many beautiful foilage plants as you can carry, get advice and see demos among a whole heap of other things going on across the two days of the event.
3. Dracula by the Queensland Ballet
True love never dies with Bram Stoker’s dark love story, which after spending two sell-out seasons in WA is now taking to the stage at QPAC’s Lyric Theatre.
The seductive and dark love story will be on stage from 24 November to 4 December, and those who attend will be captivated by the neo-classical production complete with a jaw-dropping set and costume design.
Dracula by the Queensland Ballet
4. Lighting of the Christmas Tree
From 6:30pm on Friday 26 November, the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Tree lighting ceremony takes place and you can gather round to see it sparkle and dazzle in all of its 22-metre-tall glory. The tree in King George Square will be accompanied by a stunning visual and audio display of The Night Before Christmas lighting up City Hall.
5. The Michelangelo Sistine Chapel Exhibition
Thanks to digital technology and the LA-based SEE Global Entertainment (SEE™), a family of companies that specialise in global touring exhibitions, this new stunning spectacle will showcase the awe and wonder of one of mankind’s greatest artistic feats by allowing visitors to experience it from never-before-seen perspectives.
It opens Friday 26 November in West Village.
The Michelangelo Sistine Chapel Exhibition
6. Horror Maze
Start your Saturday night with a fright and make it out alive of Evilcorp’s Haunted Horror Maze.
Evilcorp has resurrected and this time they’re back with a subterranean maze full of horrors and haunts that will test your nerves and strike fear into even the bravest among us.
7. Big Summer Block Party
Non-stop music, food trucks, pop-up bars, local DJs and more are closing off Fortitude Valley’s Warner Street for a whole five hours for the BIG SUMMER BLOCK PARTY. QMusic and BIGSOUND have teamed up to put on a massive gathering of 21 artists across seven venues. And, the event is free, so there are few excuses valid enough to not hit up this ultimate shindig.
It’s going down on Sunday 28 November from 4-9pm.
8. Sip on Spritzes
Eagle Street Pier has got an Aperol Spritz pop-up bar perfect for summer hangs and refreshing cooldowns, which is definitely what we’ll be in the mood for on Friday and Saturday—sorry, Sunday, it looks like rain.
COPPA is behind the Aperol cocktails and bar snacks as well, so you can drink and dine while you lounge. Other Eagle Street Pier restaurants are also getting in on the fun and will be dishing up plenty more food too.
Eagle Street Pier9. Van Gogh Alive
The two-month-long digital exhibition has begun welcoming thousands of visitors in Brisbane.
The vibrant colours and vivid details of Van Gogh’s technique and style are made visible in never-before-seen detail. Accompanied by a classical soundtrack that helps interpret the thoughts, feelings and intentions of the master painter, visitors will be immersed in many of the sites of Van Gogh’s inspiration with fragrances specifically designed to evoke the setting of the paintings. There’s even an immersive sunflower room you can take pictures in.
10. A Midnight Visit
A Midnight Visit was supposed to finish its run last weekend, but it hasn’t. So, if you haven’t experienced it yet, or even if you already have, then you’ve got more time and another chance to see what all the fuss is about.
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.
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11. Christmas Putt Putt
Victoria Park Mini Golf has taken down its Halloween decorations and replaced them with more festive and fitting ornaments. Launching on Friday 5 November, the Christmas Putt Putt will see Santa and his reindeer on full display as well as the gingerbread man, a candy cane garden and more snow-covered Christmas trees than you can count.
The Putt Putt course is fully licensed and tickets range from $16 for children to $22 for adults.
12. Ghost Stories at GOMA
With Halloween awakening, ‘Ghost Stories: Spirits, Hauntings and Worlds Beyond’ explores the cinematic world of haunted houses and ethereal encounters to romantic apparitions and irrepressible poltergeists with a program that is loaded with films from the ages as well as many recent flicks.
The films that form part of Ghost Stories are free to attend but seating is limited.
13. One Fish Two Fish set lunch
One Fish Two Fish’s Fish and Spritz is available for order on Friday, Saturday and Sunday lunches all the way through to Christmas Eve. The four-course menu begins with a kingfish ceviche before an Asian-style crab omelette arrives as your second. Then it’s onto the grilled snapper with Tuscan salad and for dessert, you get a chocolate gelato trio.
For $69, you’ll get all this plus a spritz on arrival. Or, you could opt for the two-hour bottomless spritz package for just $99 and knockback spritzes until lunch is well and truly eaten.
14. Eat Your Art Out High Tea
The Living Room Bar and QAGOMA have joined forces to present to the people an artsy high tea. There’s a panna cotta, which you can paint before eating, as well as cherry chocolate profiteroles, chocolate mousse tarts, mousse and lemon myrtle scones plus confit duck pie, lobster tarts, creamy truffle eggs, vegan scallops, and wagyu beef with pumpernickel and cream avocado for those who prefer a more savoury flavour.
Obviously, there’s tea as well, and if you like, champagne and cocktails.
It’s on offer every Friday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
15. Chandon Garden
Riverbar & Kitchen’s Spring Chandon Garden has not only brought a touch of lush greenery and plenty of floral delights to the riverside, but it’s also brought with it plenty of spritzes to add a hint of effervescence to the warmer weather. There’s even one that’s so big it’s made to share.
16. Imaginaria
The hour-long journey through light, sound, and scent has sold-out sessions when it opened in Melbourne and wowed visitors with its displays. But for Brisbane Festival, it’s turning up with eight brand-new rooms out of a total of 10.
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.
17. Spirits of the Red Sand
- Image: Supplied
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.
More info18. Magic Men
- Image: Supplied
Magic Mike Live has been cancelled halfway through its Melbourne run of shows and announced that it is no longer coming to Brisbane (or anywhere else in Australia for that matter) anytime soon.
If you’re still keen on a cheeky night out, you’re in luck as Australia’s best male dancers are serving 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.