Seaside sculptures, boozy brunches and bangin’ local beats – must-do events on the Gold Coast this spring
Spring has sprung, the flowers are blooming and the days are getting longer and more balmy by the hour. What a wonderful time of year! While it’s been a rocky few months for Gold Coast events, there’s light at the end of the tunnel, with a bunch of smaller, COVID-safe events still forging ahead. So, we’ve hand-picked a fun cross-section of events happening across the city this spring, from seaside art exhibitions to boozy brunches, dog markets, race days and a reimagined Bleach* Festival. Pop these in your calendar, folks!
Swell Sculpture Festival, September 11–20: Come face to face with awe-inspiring sculptures by local, national and international artists at the 2020 edition of SWELL Sculpture Festival, running from September 11–20. The annual 10-day festival features a showcase of 50-plus artworks set amongst the picturesque natural landscape of Currumbin Beach. You can soak up the spring sunshine and explore the SWELL wonderland at your own pace, or join in on the exhibition’s various events including pop-up artist talks and guided twilight walks along the sculpture trail with guest curators. This year, the beachside gallery will also be joined by pop-up exhibitions at The Village Green in Mudgeeraba, Helensvale’s Cultural Precinct and at Dust Temple in Currumbin Valley. You can check out the full program here.
Pink Ribbon Cup Raceday, Saturday September 19: Spring racing is back, baby! This pink-themed race day kicks off the coast’s spring-racing calendar with a bunch of options to suit – from a pink-gin party in The Dome to a glittering feast in the Event Centre. You can even ditch the heels for a chilled trackside picnic! Get all of the details and ticketing info in our Event Guide listing.
Cheap Fakes do Pulp Fiction at Miami Marketta, Sunday September 20: Featuring a jam-packed mix of surf, soul and swagger, the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino’s cult-classic flick soundtrack gained almost as much notoriety as the movie itself, with hits including ‘Son of a Preacher Man’ by Dusty Springfield, ‘You Can Never Tell’ by Chuck Berry and of course, who could forget ‘Out of Limits’ by The Marketts as Butch rides off with Fabienne on his chopper. If you’re a fan of the flick and its incredible soundtrack, Cheap Fakes will be reimagining it in its glorious entirety on Sunday September 20 at Miami Marketta. Grab tables for two and four over here.
Homecoming 2020 at BBQ Bazaar, Saturday September 26: If 2020 has taught us anything at all, it’s that live music is precious. If you have a hankering for some bangin’ local beats, get along to the inaugural Homecoming 2020 event. The festival will take place at BBQ Bazaar on Saturday September 26 and feature co-headlining sets from Peach Fur alongside alt-pop queen San Mei. Joining them will be Gold Coast beat makers Saint Lane, Dennis, EchoWave and Citrus Daze. The line-up is exclusively Gold Coast so if you love all things live, loud and local – get there and show your support!
Brunch(es) with Bite at The Island, October 3 and October 31: The Island’s drag-queen-spiked bottomless brunch series is heating up this spring, with two Brunch with Bite events to put in your calendar! These fabulous Saturday brunch soirees promise to be deliciously naughty and at the same time, delightfully nice. Don your wigs and feather boas on Saturday October 3 for the Drag Brunch Priscilla Queen of the Desert Party, then prepare to for a riotous scary affair with the Drag Brunch Halloween Party on Saturday October 31. Book your tables here.
Dogs on the Green, Sunday October 11: Got a furry friend that needs a little pampering? The coast’s own dedicated doggo market returns this October, bringing together dog lovers and pooches for a fun-filled day on the green. Held at Benowa State High School, the popular community market is all about supporting local small businesses, with 50-plus market stalls specialising in products and services for pups of all shapes and sizes. Treat your pup to some furry fun in the spring sun!
Bleach* Festival, November 12–22: Yes, iconic arts event Bleach* Festival is happening! Traditionally held in April, the 2020 version of Bleach* Festival (which is now in its ninth year) will officially kick off on Thursday November 12 and run through until Sunday November 22, bringing 11 days of contemporary arts, culture and entertainment to the south east. This year, the much-loved festival will be held in three renowned precincts – Burleigh, Chevron Island and the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens in Benowa. Stay tuned for the program announcement on October 8!
To find out more about what’s on in the Gold Coast, head to our Event Guide.
