Brisbane Festival
Brisbane Festival is back! Our favourite city-wide fiesta will set our town alight from September 2–24 with a thrilling three-week program that is shaping up to be the brightest party yet. The second Festive Weekend (September 9–11) will welcome the return of Brisbane’s Art Boat, which is once again setting sail from Northshore Brisbane, this time celebrating internationally acclaimed Australian visual artist Lindy Lee. Another must-see installation will be popping up at West Village thanks to multidisciplinary UK-based artist Luke Jerram. For those unfamiliar, Luke is the artist responsible for the extremely captivating floating orbs Museum of the Moon, Gaia and Mars, which are all set to make an appearance at this year’s festival. To learn more about Brisbane Festival and to grab tickets, head to the festival website.

Music
A bunch of must-see concerts, gigs and music-soaked soirees are coming to Brisbane this weekend, and we are primed and ready for some live tunes. Welcome spring with good company and even better vibes at Blooms & Tunes, an afternoon of music and picnic goodness held in Roma Street Parkland on Saturday from 11:30 am to 5:00 pm. Gearing up to blow out 21 candles on its birthday cake, BIGSOUND, the southern hemisphere’s biggest celebration of new music, is returning to take over Fortitude Valley from September 6–9. BIGSOUND 2022 will celebrate the big two-one with 182 artists performing on 23 stages, across 21 venues. For a boot-scootin’ good time, saddle up for BIGSOUND Country, which is bringing together the biggest names in country music at South Bank Piazza on Saturday. Headlining the evening is fan-favourite and celebrated three-time platinum artist Adam Brand, alongside Australia’s #1 country duo The Wolfe Brothers and acclaimed alt-rocker Shane Nicholson, all backed by the BIGSOUND Country house band. Violent Soho is playing sold-out shows at Fortitude Music Hall on Friday at Saturday, Thelma Plum is headed to The Tivoli on Friday, while Beabadoobee will be taking over the venue on Sunday. The Triffid will welcome The Screaming Jets on Friday, Halfway on Saturday and The Bombshell Burlesque Revue on Sunday. Catch The Mark Of Cain at The Zoo on Saturday while Pop Will Eat Itself will be bringing the noise on Sunday. Over at The Princess Theatre you can catch The Church on Friday, Mimi Webb on Saturday and Thy Art Is Murder on Sunday.

Theatre
Searching for your next theatre adventure? Look no further than Holding Achilles, which is coming to QPAC this weekend. Set against the epic violence of the Trojan War, this must-see production by David Morton is a refreshing take on one of the ancient world’s best-known heroes, and his relationship with Patroclus, his not so well-known lover. Theatre fanatics can also get a taste of Fourteen, the inspirational true story of growing up gay in central Queensland. Based on the best-selling memoir by award-winning journalist Shannon Molloy, Fourteen has been transformed into a powerful must-see theatre production by nationally acclaimed shake & stir theatre co. Another must-see production, Tiddas, is coming to La Boite Theatre from September 5–24. Friendship takes centre stage in this adaptation of Anita Heiss’ best-selling novel of the same name, which focuses on five mates whose monthly meetings cover books, life, love and everything messy in between. Strap in for a Shakespearian epic of betrayal, jealousy and revenge – Othello is coming to Bille Brown Theatre from September 10 to October 1. Adapted by renowned theatre veterans Jimi Bani and Jason Klarwein, this classic production has been given a thrilling – and tri-lingual – twist.

Delicious happenings
Ease yourself into the weekend a little early with pizza and prosecco at Beats & Eats on Thursday nights at Will & Flow. For just $20, you’ll enjoy a pizza or pide with a glass of prosecco. With entertainment, drink specials and of course the picturesque panoramic views of the Brisbane River it’s the perfect place to start winding down towards the end of the working week. Taste bud-tantalising tipples, bopping beats and springtime vibes is what you’ll be met with once you arrive at Spring Spritz at BQ, The City’s newest pop-up bar. Pouring delicious drinks every Thursday at Brisbane Quarter, the pop-up bar will be manned by the master mixologists from W Brisbane. You’ll find this floral-adorned sipping spot on Podium Level One of Brisbane Quarter, which will be transformed into a lush spring garden courtesy of a giant cherry blossom tree, cane lawn furniture and an unmissable romantic floral archway. If you like it sweet, then The Strawberry & Dessert Festival will be your jam! The delicious event is back on Saturday September 10 at Sandstone Point Hotel. From 2:00 pm to 8:30 pm you can enjoy strawberry eating competitions, dessert food trucks, dessert cooking and cocktail making demonstrations, live music, fireworks, kid’s rides and so much more. The crew at Newstead Brewing Co. has teamed up with local venues including Warehouse 25, Common Ground Brewing and Milton Rum Distillery to host 4064 Festival this Saturday. From 3:00–8:30 pm, Newstead Brewing’s Milton locale will play host to free tastings, market stalls, ping pong competitions and live DJ sets from the likes of Aunty Stan, Waiting Room DJ’s and Paolo Ji.

Markets
If you’re eager to stroll through some stalls and stock up on some fresh fruit and veg, be sure check out these markets happening – Saturday Fresh Market, Riverside Markets, Kelvin Grove Village Market, Jan Powers Farmers Markets, Davies Park Market, Carseldine Markets and the Redcliffe Markets. For delicious dinnertime eats, Eat Street Northshore is on for your snacking pleasure on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The Farm Gate to City Door Breakfast Creek Lifestyle Precinct Markets will be taking over, you guessed it, the Breakfast Creek Lifestyle Precinct with goodies galore from the Scenic Rim on Saturday. Market goers can sample locally grown farm-fresh fruit and vegetables, artisan dairy products including a variety of delicious cheeses made with local milk, fresh cream and ice-cream, refreshing craft beer and old-fashioned honey straight from the hive.

Exhibitions
Curious culture lovers can check out Chiharu Shiota’s spellbinding showcase The Soul Trembles at QAGOMA. This enchanting exhibition is the largest solo exhibition of thread-weaving artist Chiharu Shiota’s work to date – and it’s an art-filled ‘gram-worthy adventure, to say the least. You can expect to see mammoth installations featuring millions of black, white and red threads, which express the intangible experiences of life – memories, dreams, anxiety and silence. Are you ready to enter a labyrinth of mirrors? Installation artist Keith Courtney’s mesmerising mirror maze Kaleidoscope, an immersive artwork of glass, steel, mirrors and moving prisms that visitors can traverse through, has finally arrived at Brisbane Powerhouse. A sparkling crystal palace by day, Kaleidoscope uses a colour field of ever-changing light to both treat and disorientate the senses once the sun sets. Fans of Mickey, Minnie, Elsa, Anna and everyone in between are sure to adore Queensland Museum’s newest exhibition, Disney: The Magic of Animation. This kid- and adult-friendly exhibition will draw back the curtain on almost 100 years of the Walt Disney Animation Studios, revealing the magic and hard work behind scenes of your favourite animated films. Jewellery lovers can take their peepers over to Museum of Brisbane to discover World of Wonder: Margot McKinney, a mesmerising celebration of the brand that is Margot McKinney. You’ll be able to set your eyes upon a treasure chest of jewels – from magnificent opals and eye-catching pearls to rare, exotic gems like blue tanzanite, lilac amethyst and pink tourmalines. If you truly want to immerse yourself in an out-of-this-world experience then prepare to enter Eephus and Sudo’s Funderdome from September 2 to October 1. Created by Tara Pattenden, this playful exhibition reimagines the classic video game arcade of yesteryear and will transform the Metro Arts galleries into an interactive space filled with eccentric games and friendly monsters.

Other fun things
Those feeling adventurous this weekend can hit up Brisbane’s most ‘grammable experience – Imaginaria. Visitors are invited to step inside, slip off their shoes and engage with AI projections, sensor-triggered LED waves, giant silk parachute canopies, cosmic gardens, an anti-gravity sunset, an electronic hall of mirrors and a digital wishing well that whispers your greatest desires. Go digging in your wardrobe and free your most sparkly outfit from the dark confines of hardly-ever-wear, as Blanc de Blanc Encore has shimmied its way back into Brisbane. You can expect the usual suspects to turn up at its new Northshore home, Twilight Electric, including aerialists, comedians, singers and dancers. Oh, and there will be lots of champagne. If you like your drinks served with a side of enchantment and neon-lit charm, then pull up a seat at the Maho Magic Bar and prepare for a night that will leave you bewitched. Lovers of magic can settle in for a 60-minute performance session at the bar, which will see them sipping on a menu of curated authentic Japanese drinks while being wowed by Japan’s best close-up magicians. Those keen for a road-trip can make way to Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, which continues to bloom this weekend. Spectacular gardens, live music and local food and wine are just a small taste of what’s on offer over the course of this colourful event. On Saturday, bring your family and friends along to experience a behind-the-scenes look at Guide Dogs at the Guide Dogs Open Day in Bald Hills. You can meet Guide Dogs, enjoy sensory experiences with the vision team, watch dog demonstrations, win pawsome prizes, dig in to delicious snacks plus much more!

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, events may be subject to be postponed or cancelled at the last minute. We do our best to remove cancelled events but be sure to check the organiser’s own event page for the most current updates.