Food and Drink
Ease into the weekend with food trucks, beers and vintage cars at the Burleigh Retro Night Market at Burleigh Town Tavern on Friday – it all kicks off from 5:00 pm with rockabilly and blues music, an outdoor bar, kids fun, food trucks and market stalls. In case you didn’t know, State of Origin Game Two will be held on Sunday night (not the usual Wednesday) and The Star Gold Coast is hosting screenings at The Sports Bar and outside at Live on the Lawn at Garden Kitchen & Bar – if you’re keen to watch the game and soak up the atmosphere, this the place to be! There’s also the family-friendly Burleigh Winter Solstice will take over James Street in Burleigh Heads on Saturday night with live music, fire performers, street entertainment, lantern workshops, BMX and skateboarding demos, local food and drinks, stalls and more! The much-anticipated Pups, Plants + Pizza event is happening at The Borrowed Nursery this Saturday – head on down from 11:00 am (BYO dog, of course) and grab a delicious pizza and check out the pawsome plants and pup-friendly local businesses. If you’re feeling the cold, then The Scottish Prince in Palmy is hearing you – the team has launched a Winter Lunch series (for just $25!) until the end of August – head here to read more about it. On the topic of tasty eats, don’t forget The Sheraton is holding its High Cheese Experience daily until the end of August – that’s right, forget high tea, this winter it’s all about high cheese. On Sunday afternoon, Brazilian Festa Junina is on a Miami Marketta from 2:00 pm, so head on down celebrate this amazing cultural event with the Brazilian community, complete with music, delicious food and fun activities. On Sunday night, Mexican eatery Bonita Bonita is hosting Drag Queen Bingo from 6:00 pm – think margaritas, prizes and tasty eats.

Live Music
Ready for some live beats? On Friday night, The New Wave Order is coming to Eddie’s Grub House in Coolangatta for a night of 80s dance beats, while further north at Vinnies Dive Bar, you can catch a ticketed gig by The Daisycutters with The Arturos and Buffy Prescott. Tijuana Cartel is bringing its shredding Flamenco guitar, pulsating electronic beats, Middle Eastern percussion and soaring trumpet riffs to Currumbin’s Sound Lounge on Friday night, while up at HOTA, Brisbane newcomers Sleeper Hit (with support from Girl and Girl) will perform at The Basement (also on Friday night). If you’re a lover of Aussie rock music, head to Southport RSL on Saturday night for a double header of rock’n’roll – an INSX tribute followed by Chisel Revived, a head-bang-worthy nod to the legends that are Cold Chisel and Jimmy Barnes.

Community Events, Arts and Exhibitions
Dig out your sequins and slip into your dancing shoes on Friday night and head back to the golden age of Hollywood with the Puttin’ on the Ritz show at The Star theatre. There’s also Superwog at HOTA on Friday night – a touring show from the superstars of the hit ABC series Superwog,which is set to provide non-stop laughs and outrageous sketches. On Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, The Crossing will hit the theatre stage at HOTA. The Crossing is a unique display of physical theatre that examines the bond between two men – Kayah, a young man with Downs Syndrome, and his mentor Gavin Webber – through the language of dance and improvisation. Hunting for an arts fix? A bunch of local artists are addressing some of life’s biggest issues through their works at The Outside, which is now showing at Level Up Studio + Gallery at The Strand at Coolangatta. The exhibition, running until June 23, features the work of three young Gold Coast artists – Emily Kafoa, Tiarna Stevenson and Jonny Ranger. If you’re yet to experience HOTA’s current foyer exhibition, Dean Cogle: Beyond Nostalgia, then get it on your list this weekend – it’s a wondrous retrospective celebrating forty years of works by local artist, the late Dean Cogle, and it’s on display until June 30. For something a little different, gather the brood and head up to Yatala Drive-In on Saturday night for the Toy Story 4 Pyjama Party (yes, wear your actual pyjamas). Those keen to get up and about early this weekend can cast their eyes on our round-up of the Gold Coast’s regular weekend markets for some ideas on where to stock up the fridge for the week ahead – within that you’ll find the monthly Hide and Seek Children’s Market, which is back this Saturday at Miami State High School.