The weekend coming around is always a win but make it a long weekend and you’ll find us making the most of everything Brisbane has to offer. Whether you’re wrangling the kids for those final few days of school holidays or looking for the perfect plans worthy of your extra day off, we’ve got you covered (including a list of what’s open on the King’s Birthday public holiday here).
Check out the best things to do in Brisbane this weekend below:
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What's On All Weekend
What's On Saturday
What's On Sunday
All Weekend
The Earring Market
Earrings that everyone will stop to compliment? That’s exactly what you’ll find at The Earring Market—a jam-packed two-day showcase of one-of-a-kind earrings handcrafted by local artisans. From delicate studs to statement pieces, this is the perfect chance to get ahead of your Christmas gifts (yep, it’s that time of year already) or treat yourself to a beautiful work of art you’ll be wearing on the regular.
The Details
When: 4pm to 9pm Friday 10 October and 9am to 3pm Saturday 11 October
Where: The Paint Factory, Yeronga
Find out more here.
Milton House Spring Social
Brisbane just scored a swoon-worthy spring hangout—Milton House Spring Social. For four weekends, this historic riverside villa is flipping into a sun-soaked pop-up bar for the first time, complete with live music, local sips from Archer Brewing and eats under the blooming jacarandas. Get your hands on an Aussie-style Aperol spritz, graze your way through rotating food trucks, and sip the season away on one of the city’s prettiest hidden lawns. It’s the kind of place that makes you wish spring lasted all year and the perfect way to experience the heritage charm of the Milton landmark.
The Details
When: October 10 to 2 November
Where: Milton House, Milton
Find out more here.
Brisbane Writers Festival
They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and you’ll find plenty of new ways to sharpen yours with the highly anticipated return of the Brisbane Writers Festival. Unveiling a star-studded program held for the first time at the Brisbane Powerhouse this October, you can expect more than 100 live events including author talks, conversations, panel discussions and special events.
So who’s on the list? Homegrown headline authors include Helen Garner, Trent Dalton, Sally Hepworth, Michael Robotham, Di Morrissey and Anita Heiss. From overseas, you can expect English historian and author Bettany Hughes, Hollywood insider (and Joan Didion’s nephew) Griffin Dunne, Irish economist David McWilliams, romantasy talent Callie Hart, American cultural critic Sophie Gilbert, and New York Times bestseller Eric Puchner. Inspiring personal stories will also be told from the likes of F1 engineer turned Lune Croissanterie founder Kate Reid, Masterchef host Melissa Leong, Ottolenghi offsider Helen Goh and the incredible Turia Pitt. Check out the full program and grab your tickets here.
The Details
When: 9 to 12 October
Where: Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm
Find out more here.
Oktoberfest at Brisbane German Club
In a huge Australian first, the Brisbane German Club is hosting the most authentic Oktoberfest celebration outside of Munich—securing all six of the Official Oktoberfest breweries on tap for the occasion. This is undoubtedly worth dusting off your Lederhosen, as these holy grails of German beer have never all been available at one Australian venue at the same time. Kicking off this Friday, the historic Vulture Street spot will showcase each brewery’s flagship offering as well as the very best beer across the land across four October weekends. With approximately 130 different beer styles on offer to fill your stein, you can dig into golden schnitzels and pork knuckles or go for gold in the wildly popular sausage-eating content. There’ll even be traditional Alpenrosen dancers, and the coveted Mr and Mrs Oktoberfest titles up for grabs. Get your tickets here.
The Details
When: 10 to 12 October, 17 to 29 October and 24 to 26 October
Where: Brisbane German Club, East Brisbane
Find out more here.
Pretty Woman: The Musical
Baby, this musical is going to treat you so nice, you’re not gonna wanna miss it. Forgive the corniness, but it is true—Pretty Woman: The Musical is coming to QPAC in October, and it is a production you definitely want to note in the calendar. Even if you’ve never seen the movie, you can’t go wrong with the musical, featuring a powerhouse combination of direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, and an original score by Grammy winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance. An iconic romantic comedy, the performance blends Hollywood, Broadway and legends of music to bring the story of Vivian and Edward to the stage. It’s opening this Sunday, so grab your tickets here and be one of the first to experience this stage sensation.
The Details
When: 5 October to 23 November
Where: Lyric Theatre, QPAC, South Brisbane
Find out more here.
For more of what’s on in Brisbane, head here.
Feel Good Program
Get ready to sweat, stretch and strengthen without spending a cent because Brisbane’s favourite (and totally free) outdoor workout series is back this spring. South Bank’s Feel Good Program offers a jam-packed lineup of yoga, Pilates, Zumba, body combat, and aqua classes designed for all ages and fitness levels. There’s really no room for excuses here, with a complimentary coffee every Saturday and even the chance to win a wellness staycay if you participate. It all kicks off this Saturday 27 September, with an extended class lineup, merch, dining voucher giveaways and free coffee to celebrate. Plus, the feel-good vibes will be at an all-time high with puppies from Guide Dogs Queensland stopping by for plenty of cuddles. Check out the timetable here.
The Details
When: Until 29 November
Where: Flowstate, South Bank
Find out more here.
Friday 10 October
Conscious Collective
Hit pause on the weekly grind and drop into W Brisbane’s new Friday morning ritual designed to reset the body and mind. In collaboration with Cool 2Be Conscious, the luxe wellness series will see the iconic WET Deck transform into a sanctuary of mindfulness for an early morning session—mixing guided breathwork, meditation, and soundbaths to get you feeling truly zen, before capping it off with an ice plunge that’ll leave you buzzing and ready for the day. It’s all about recalibrating, resetting, and connecting with the community with one of Brisbane’s most iconic hotels as your backdrop. Tickets start from $59—grab yours here.
The Details
When: 6am to 8am, Friday 10, 17 and 24 October
Where: W Brisbane, Brisbane CBD
Find out more here.
David The Medium
The energy will be at an all-time high this October as Australia’s most popular psychic medium brings his powerful Coming Home Reunion Tour to Brisbane. In this evening with David The Medium, you can expect comfort, connection and community to shine through—grounded in spiritual insight. Plus, with a waitlist of over 12 months, this truly is a rare chance to see the icon in action. Get your tickets here.
The Details
When: 7pm Friday 10 October
Where: Brisbane City Hall, Brisbane CBD
Find out more here.
Saturday 11 October
Valley Fiesta
Gather thy neighbour and boogie on down to Brisbane’s biggest free street party—back by for its 29th year to put the best local acts on centrestage. In a powerhouse collaboration between Brisbane City Council, QMusic and The Tivoli, this year’s Valley Fiesta will take over not one but two main stages in the Brunswick Street and Valley Malls with bold homegrown musicians. Headlining will be rock duo Hockey Dad, Peking Duk’s Keli Holiday, and alternative indie queen Sycco. Not to mention the supporting acts and DJ sets on Winn Lane firing you up to sing and dance the night away. It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s a party you don’t want to miss.
The Details
When: 2pm to late, Saturday 11 October
Where: Brunswick Street and Valley Malls, Fortitude Valley
Find out more here.
Plantapalooza
Image credit: Plantapalooza | Supplied
Brisbane's getting a spring glow-up and so can your garden—Plantapalooza is back. This October 11, Brisbane Markets will be bursting with indoor and outdoor plants, succulents, terrariums, pots, produce and baked goodies galore. Whether you're the local crazy plant lady, or if you can’t even keep a cactus alive, this is your chance to level up with expert tips on compost, fruit trees and thriving houseplants. Bring the kids along too—they’ll love the pot painting, face painting, reptile shows and jumping castle setup on the day.
The Details
When: 6am to 12pm, Saturday 11 October
Where: Brisbane Markets, 385 Sherwood Rd, Rocklea
Find out more here.
Oktoberfest in the Gardens
Australia’s largest and longest running Oktoberfest event is returning to Brisbane in 2025 and we could not be more ready (to raise our steins). Oktoberfest in the Gardens features a massive beer hall, plenty of authentic German food stalls, roving performers, thrill rides, a sideshow alley, silent disco, and a mix of entertainment and on-stage competitions across multiple stages throughout the afternoon and evening. For everything you need to know, head here or grab your tickets here.
The Details
When: From 1pm to 9pm, Saturday 11 October
Where: Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen Hills
Find out more here.
Love Your Bookshop
We never need a reason to browse the shelves at Brisbane’s best bookshops, but this weekend there’s even more incentive to stick your nose in the pages because it’s officially Love Your Bookshop Day. This annual celebration of local bookshops will offer plenty of ways to celebrate the magic of reading, from exciting events and competitions to activities and author meet-and-greets. You can even get your hands on a limited-edition Penguin figurine—just find your bookstore here.
The Details
When: Saturday 11 October
Where: Your local bookshop
Find out more here.
Sweat For A Cause
Looking for some motivation to squeeze in an extra workout this week? Fitstop has you covered with Sweat For A Cause: a free nationwide workout supporting the Mental Awareness Foundation. Open to the entire community at all Fitstop locations, the goal is to get 10,000 participants moving together—with Fitstop even donating $10,000 towards life-saving mental health programs. Simply register here.
The Details
When: Saturday 11 October
Where: All Fitstop locations
Find out more here.
Brisbane Emergency Services Expo
The family-friendly day out will leave you with more than just fun memories. The fourth annual Brisbane Emergency Services Expo is back to help you get ready for storm season with ease—in between Paw Patrol, jumping castles, live music, food trucks and more. The best part? Entry is free.
The Details
When: 9am to 2pm, Saturday 11 October
Where: Mount Gravatt Showgrounds, Mount Gravatt
Find out more here.
Sunday 12 October
Market Day
Level up your Sunday reset at Brisbane’s best markets—brimming with fresh produce, gourmet goods, and handcrafted treasures. Whether you’re here to tick off your grocery list or won’t know what you’re looking for until you find it, you’ll find it among the eclectic stalls and vibrant community atmosphere. Check out our full guide here.
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Main image credit: Valley Fiesta | Supplied