From springtime sundown sessions to cracking live shows, we've rounded up the top things to do on the Gold Coast this weekend. Here's a snapshot of what's on from Thursday September 23 to Sunday September 26. more
With the weather outlook warm and breezy and our hunger for a weekend getaway more apparent than ever, we think it's time for a dose of cultural goodness. For a substantial helping of eye-catching art and picturesque scenery, take a roadtrip north for Noosa Open Studios, an annual art trail where gifted local artists open the doors to their studios so you can get a behind-the-scenes look into their work – and maybe even find a piece (or two) to take home. more
It's one of the coast's favourite arts festivals and this week the pristine shores of Currumbin Beach will again transform into an open-air art gallery when this year’s SWELL Sculpture Festival kicks off on Friday September 10. The festival is celebrating 19 years of unmissable art and will create a spectacle on the beachfront with a jam-packed line-up of seaside installations, events, art workshops and live music. more
There's no finer way to welcome in spring than with a trip to the vibrant city of Toowoomba for the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, which continues to bloom in its 72nd year. Fabulous flora, foodie fun and fantastic tours line this year's carnival, which will be taking over The Garden City from September 1–30. So you know what to pack your calendar with, we have curated our top five events to check out – from dog-friendly dates and food-and-wine fiestas to grand floral parades and pub tours. more
Ready your glad rags – BLEACH* Festival is back and she's ready to party! This year, the city's pre-eminent multi-day arts and cultural event is celebrating its impressive ten-year milestone with a jam-packed program of art, live music, cabaret, theatre, dance and stories across three main hubs including Burleigh Heads, Southport and Mudgeeraba. As an extra-special treat, there will also be performances in the cultural corridors of HOTA and Dust Temple in Currumbin. This year's festival runs from August 12–22 and whilst we firmly believe the entire festival program is well and truly worthy of the spotlight (you can check that out here), we’ve cherry-picked some of our must-see events for your viewing pleasure. more
Unless you’re new to the coast or you’ve been living under a rock, you’re probably well familiar with BLEACH* Festival. For those who aren’t, well, allow us – BLEACH* Festival is our premier arts and cultural festival that is proudly and passionately Gold Coast. In 2021, BLEACH* Festival will not only celebrate its ten-year milestone but will once again transform the city's esplanades, vacant blocks and hinterland hideaways into backdrops for awe-inspiring, thought-provoking, and exhilarating experiences from August 12–22. Intrigued? You should be! Here's what BLEACH* Festival 2021 has in store ... more
When life deals you a drought, grow sunflowers and they will come. This is what a farming family in Kalbar has done, and the result is a one-day celebration of flowers and family-friendly fun. Gather your gang and get ready to go road-tripping on Saturday March 27, and make sure to stop and smell the, uh, sunflowers at the inaugural Sunshine & Sunflower Day. more
Get set for lion dancers, red lanterns and Peking duck – Lunar New Year is upon us! The vibrant festivities celebrate the turn of the lunar calendar, and this time around it's the Year of the Ox. There are plenty of events happening across the Gold Coast throughout the month of February, so if you're keen to get in on the Lunar New Year action, here are a few top picks. more
Whether you're loved-up long-term, going steady or think cupid is stupid – Valentine’s Day is upon us (Sunday February 14, in case you missed the memo). When it comes to the day of romance (or anti-romance), forget the tired cliches and check out these unexpected-yet-cute date ideas. more
The Gold Coast's picture-perfect beaches, scenic waterways and sandy stretches offer a wide variety of water-based activities. There's surfing, kayaking, swimming and for the folks that just like to relax, cat-napping in the sun. If you're searching for something a little bit different to get up to during your free time, we have found one recreational enterprise that will blow your socks off (quite literally, because you won't need them) – glow-in-the-dark SUP tours. more
Bid farewell to the 2020 blues and get your daypacks ready because we’ve hunted down some of the best upcoming live-music festivals to shake us out of our lethargy like a sweaty slap in the face. From the good old summer festival to postponed events, we’re ready to make up for lost time and get amongst it. more
If Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays weren’t enough to sate your appetite for live music and street food, the launch of a brand-spanking-new Thursday night event will surely do the trick. more
There's no feeling quite like bagging a bargain. It's a sense of smugness wrapped in satisfaction – you know what we're talking about. If you too love scoring a saving, go ahead and clear your calendar from Friday November 27 to Monday November 30 because the annual Black Friday sale is happening at Pacific Fair Shopping Centre and trust us when we say, it's going to be big. more
Imagine this – you enter a lush field where everywhere you look there are dogs frolicking with tails wagging and big smiles on their faces. You spot labradors, dachshunds, French bulldogs and cavalier king charles – the whole kit and cavoodle. Well this daydream can now be your reality, as Paws at the Park aka the largest dog market event of its kind in Australia is returning to Mudgeeraba Showgrounds. Mark Saturday November 7 in your calendar folks, as this is one adorable event you don't want to miss! more
HOTA is sending 2020 a live-entertainment lifeline with a cracking line-up of music, ballet, movies, art and more as part of the UPSPRING program. Welcome in the new season and farewell the winter blues with talented local performers and artists. more
BLEACH* is set to make a triumphant return to the Gold Coast – hurrah! Kicking off on Thursday November 12, the annual arts and cultural event will run for 11 action-packed days, with audiences invited to experience the best of the city through one-of-a-kind contemporary art, live music, cabaret, theatre, dance and storytelling, with the magic to unfold across three key precincts – Burleigh Heads, Chevron Island and the Botanic Gardens in Benowa. While the entire festival program is well and truly worthy of the spotlight, we’ve cherry-picked our top five events for your viewing pleasure. From parties at an abandoned block of houses to acrobatic archers – go ahead and clear your calendar because you definitely won't want to miss these. more
Get set to treat your ears, eyes and mind with powerful live music, sensory art, dance, soundscapes, circus and film at HOTA this October – the city's arts precinct has just announced a massive 11-day program of free and ticketed events, aptly named WONDER, which will run from October 1–11. more
If you're an up-and-coming writer, an avid bookworm or you've been in the field for years, the Independent Australian Authors Symposium is the perfect chance to mingle with some of the best and brightest in Australia's writing community. Rolling into Brisbane on Saturday November 14, the event will give you the chance to hear from expert speakers who will be discussing everything from their experiences in the writing and publishing world to what the future holds for the industry. With delectable eats, book signings, jam-packed goodie bags and lucky door prizes also on the cards, this literary event is not to be missed! more
Summer is right around the corner and we're going to safely assume that all of you are very ready for sun-kissed days, salty swims, long lunches and balmy nights with a spritz in hand – but, is your wardrobe ready? While the early part of 2020 didn't exactly warrant a clothing overhaul (apart from cute tracksuits and loungewear), it's time to embrace the sun-soaked months ahead and inject some new-season goodness into your wardrobe. You can thank the fashion gods because, as fate would have it, Pacific Fair's annual Summer Fashion Weekend is returning to help you do just that! more
The longest-running floral event of its kind in Australia and the premiere celebration of all things spring – Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers continues to bloom in its 71st year. Picture-perfect flora, plenty of family-friendly fun and local foodie adventures are all on offer over the course of the entertainment-filled festival from September 18–27. So you know what events to make the roadtrip for (there are more than 30 of them!), we have curated our top five picks of (horti)cultural adventures to get around – from dog-friendly activities and street-art walking tours to grand floral parades and Ferris-wheel rides. Read on to discover what to add to your calendar ... more
