We don’t want to alarm you, but the spring school holidays are just around the corner. If the thought of planning activities for your little ones has you feeling a bit stressed, don’t fret! The Strand at Coolangatta is bringing back its popular Kids Flicks event, where kids can enjoy supervised movie screenings while you enjoy a moment of peace. more
As smartphone technology continues to advance each year, capturing life's precious moments has become more convenient than ever. However, amidst the sea of digital snapshots, there's a timeless appeal to the art of capturing a single shot on film. In recent years, film photography has experienced a resurgence, and now, Love Street is joining forces with Surfolk and Pura Film Lab to celebrate this enduring craft with a film night to remember. more
We’d love nothing more than to jet off overseas somewhere to eat exceptional food and spend our day in spas or shopping, but the reality is that it's not always possible to escape from our busy lives. Fortunately for us Gold Coasters, there are pockets of paradise right on our doorstep. Nestled in the heart of Southport lies Queen Street Village, an unassuming oasis brimming with possibilities from dawn until dusk. Savour life's simple joys by taking a journey through this vibrant haunt. more
Film fanatics and cinephiles assemble! The city’s very own film festival is here this month with a fantastic line-up of Australian and international films to see, and a fun-filled program of panels and special events. Read on to see what’s on the big screen from April 17 to 28. more
Pumpkin-spiced drinks have made a comeback, ghoulish costumes are flying off the store shelves and you can even spot a decoration or two in suburban streets. We've either entered a John Carpenter movie or ... it's Halloween! Our favourite spooky time of the year makes October a little more festive yet frightening. If you're keen to get your freak on, then you should shimmy your spooky derrière to these Halloween events ahead of October 31. more
North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) is well known for being an oasis for sun-soaked summer adventures, snorkeling, surfing, whale watching and weekends away. Alongside its natural beauty, North Straddie also boasts a rich history of arts and culture, which is showcased in its talented local artists and makers. You can witness this talent in the flesh from August 11–14 with the return of the Straddie Arts Trail. Keep reading to discover all of the details ... more
Get ready to fill up on popcorn and choc-tops – the Gold Coast Film Festival is back with a bonanza program this April and is celebrating its 21st birthday! The annual flick fest has grown to become a marquee event on the Australian cinema circuit as well as a much-loved and celebrated local event. This year, the jam-packed showcase is brimming with 50 features and short films, red-carpet events and industry panels across 12 days and nights. Here's some cherry-picked events to get you excited ... more
By now, you're probably well aware that HOTA Gallery’s dazzling international blockbuster exhibition, Pop Masters: Art from the Mugrabi Collection, New York, has finally arrived – and boy, was it worth the wait. The mammoth showcase invites you into the world of iconic artists Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, with a collection of works never before seen in Australia. Accompanying the exhibition is a jam-packed calendar of events, including a Pop Masters Film Season that's running from March 4 to June 3. Here's what will be hitting the silver screen ... more
Unless you're new to the coast or have been living under a rock, you're probably well familiar with BLEACH* Festival. For those who aren't, well, allow us – BLEACH* is the Gold Coast's premier arts and cultural festival that proudly and passionately champions the incredible artists and performers that make up the tapestry of our shining city. BLEACH* has been no stranger to COVID-related cancellations and, much to the dismay of everyone on the Gold Coast, last year's festival took a hit. Luckily for us, BLEACH* is back, better than ever and is here to celebrate its 11-year milestone by transforming beachside esplanades, botanic gardens and hinterland hideaways into backdrops for spine-tingling and thought-provoking experiences from August 11-21. We recommend clearing your calendar because the 11-day program has just been released and is packed with a bounty of events and… more
Turning 20 is a pretty big deal. From humble beginnings as a sci-fi and fantasy film showcase, the Gold Coast Film Festival has grown to become a marquee event on the Australian cinema circuit as well as a much-loved and celebrated local event. This year, the team has gone and upped the ante once again to bring you a jam-packed showcase featuring more than 100 films, including world and Australian premiers, red-carpet events and panels spanning the length of the Gold Coast, from Coomera to Coolangatta – so get ready to break out the popcorn. 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
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
With social distancing measures to remain in place for the foreseeable future, the way we party will look a lot different from here on out. Bush doofs, festivals and clubbing nights may be off the cards for now, however, that doesn't mean some good ol' fashion fun has been removed from the equation. Enter The Parking Lot Social, a new drive-in party series from the team behind the world’s largest jumping castle, The Big Bounce. With live tunes, food trucks, stand-up comedy and car karaoke all part of this huge program of immersive and interactive entertainment, it's safe to say you're in for one wild ride (or park, rather). more
Going to the cinemas has been quite high on our list of 'things we have missed doing during the pandemic' – right up there with hugging our mates, touching our faces and being able to sit down at our favourite local restaurants and cafes. This weekend marks a very welcome milestone for local film buffs, with HOTA officially reopening the doors to its boutique cinema. The popcorn machine is back on, the reels are ready to roll and there are 20 seats waiting to be filled. more
If you've grown weary of Netflix constantly judging your viewing habits by asking if you're still watching – it's time to switch off the television, don your glad rags (or you know, clean tracksuit, same same) and pile into the car because Yatala Drive-In is reopening its doors this Labour Day long weekend (Saturday May 2 to Monday May 4) with some strict social distancing measures in place. more
Film buffs, strap yourselves in, ditch Netflix and get those snacks ready – organisers of the annual Gold Coast Film Festival are shaking things up and have moved the major event online for 2020. Despite the unfortunate cancellation of the festival's 18th year (which was due to feature more than 300 films in 12 days across 14 Gold Coast locations this April), two of the key events will still be going ahead virtually – and it's all kicking off this weekend! Consider your Easter in isolation, sorted. more
The joy of seeing a movie in a crowded cinema will not be felt for a little while, but that doesn't mean the cinema experience is no more. After not-for-profit film society, The Melbourne Cinémathèque had to cancel its weekly film program, the team knew that they wanted to keep the spirit of cinema alive. To make this happen, they teamed up with Australia’s national museum of all things creative, The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) to establish a dedicated weekly movie night that will be streamed right to your living room. Grab the microwave popcorn, nab yourself a blanket and get ready to watch some flicks – ACMI's Virtual Cinémathèque kicks off on Wednesday March 25. more
While HOTA – the Gold Coast's own Home of the Arts – may be temporarily closed, the team is still working tirelessly to help the city's arts industry and creative communities navigate their way through these challenging times. This week, HOTA CEO Criena Gehrke announced Rage Against The V(irus) Artist Fund – an initiative designed to turn downtime into a spark for innovation, using digital technology as the medium. more
UPDATE Tuesday March 24: Yatala Drive-In Theatre has temporarily closed until further notice. Stay up to date by following the theatre on Facebook. With many of us practising social distancing to help flatten the curve of COVID-19, finding some form of entertainment-based escape during these trying times has become somewhat of a challenge. Well fear not, leisure seekers! An evening of wholesome throwback fun in the form of a trip to the beloved Yalata Drive-In will cure your case of cabin fever. Located just off the M1 in Stapylton (between Brisbane and the Gold Coast), this well-loved theatre boasts three fields with huge outdoor screens showing everything from the latest blockbusters to retro classics – all to be enjoyed from the comfort of your cosy car. more
Those of us who aren't involved in the hands-on aspect of craft making probably rarely consider the human relationship between the maker and materials – more often than not, it's simply a process of identifying an appealing aesthetic, then making a purchase. Though, if you're interested in digging deeper into wonderful world of crafts and making, don't miss Murwillumbah's Real to Reel: The Craft Film Festival on Saturday March 21. more
