Food, Drink and Markets
Keen to fill your belly this weekend? BBQ Bazaar, the Gold Coast’s newest night market, is mixing things up to host a Sunday Day Festival – it opens on Friday and Saturday night as well, but if you’re looking for a Sunday session with a side of barbecue, then put this on your list. If you wouldn’t have the faintest idea what separates a single malt from a blend or what effect oak has on your beverage, get along to the Introduction to Whisky event at The Scottish Prince on Friday and be schooled once and for all. Let’s just shift from whisky to wee ones (what an elegant side-step) because if you have tiny humans in your life, then you need to get to the Hide & Seek Children’s Market at Miami State High School on Saturday morning. If you’re keen to finish your weekend on a high note with a sunset food-truck feast, then The Autumn Time Varsity Lakes Eats will sort you out – it’s back on again this Sunday afternoon in the Foreshore Parklands. Those on the southern end can also wrap up the weekend with food and fun times at the finale of Palmy Sunday Funday in the Palm Beach Parklands – Electrik Lemonade and The Twine will be sending the free family-friendly event off with a bang. You can also add a little fire to the last weekend of autumn with Cabana Bar’s final Mexicana at Cabana Sunday session.

Live Music
The HOTA outdoor stage will come to life this Saturday night for the highly anticipated performance of The Spirit of Churaki, an epic music and compelling production inspired by the story of Churaki, an Aboriginal man heralded as the Gold Coast’s first surf lifesaver – do not miss this! If you’re looking for a dose of live and local tunes, you can witness the husky vocals of Matty Rogers on Saturday night at Deck Acoustics at the Currumbin RSL. Dive into the first instalment of Strange Holiday at your favourite neighbourhood dive bar Apres Surf this Saturday night, with Byron Bay’s The Cinema Wristys belting out the beach-psych bangers alongside Gold Coast locals, Radolescent, and debut band, Christchurch. For a change of pace – who loves the Beatles? Well, no matter your age, everybody has tapped their toes to a Beatles tune or two in their lifetime – get swept up in Beatlemania and all the greatest hits with The Beatles Orchestrated III at The Star Gold Coast on Saturday night. Instead of sitting at home eating your body weight in takeaway food and binge watching something terrible on Netflix on Sunday, get yourself to Miami Shark Bar for a healthy dose of live music from Brissie boys, Bugs. The trio make infectiously happy noise that will end your weekend on the right note. Fan of Busby Marou? Catch them at the Currumbin Soundlounge for a sweet-as Sunday session before they retreat back to the studio to work on their next album.

Arts and Community Events
It’s that time of year again – the northern Gold Coast will transform into a boaties haven with the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, back again this weekend to celebrate its 30th year. While this is one of southern hemisphere’s most highly anticipated marine events, it’s certainly not just for those in the market for a fancy yacht – there will be plenty to see and do over the four days, from magic to cocktail-making masterclasses, live music, cooking demonstrations and more! Dreamy Currumbin art gallery, event space and cafe Dust Temple is celebrating it’s fifth birthday and the team are going all out with Five Days of Dust – a five-day festival that incorporates live music, incredible art, fine food and maybe even a cold beverage or three, so be sure to head down and get involved in the festivities. Up for a drag show this weekend? Prada’s Priscilla’s: An All-Male Revue is on at HOTA this Saturday night – expect dazzling feathers, wigs, head-pieces, costumes and high-octane performances wrapped up in a glittering drag spectacular! Oh, and if you haven’t had a chance to check out We are Gold Coast at HOTA, you should! The exhibition shows the contrast between the ‘old’ and ‘new’ Gold Coast and documents the vibrant cultural evolution of the city. Keen for a dose of Shakespeare? A small ensemble of highly trained actors will bring a slick and magical tale of Shakespeare’s last play, The Tempest to HOTA, with the final performances happening this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Join the fun at Coomera Anglican College’s Community Fair this Sunday with plenty of family fun like rides, side show alley, market stalls, art shows, live entertainment, cupcake decorating competition (yesss), food stalls and more!