Is anybody else feeling like they’re coming out of a wintery cocoon? The sun has been creeping over the horizon a little bit earlier and staying in the sky a touch longer, bringing with it such a welcome warmth—I might be jumping the gun, but I’ve even retired my puffer jacket for the season.
Of course, the nights still have a bitey chill, but as with all of winter, I’ve been keeping warm with a healthy dose of wining, dining, and boogying the weekends away. If you’re looking for new eats and drinks inspo, take a peek at the best new openings in town; otherwise, keep scrolling to discover all the exciting things happening this weekend on the Gold Coast/Kombumerri Country.
Jump to each section:
What's On Friday
What's On Saturday
What's On Sunday
What's On All Weekend
What's Coming Up
What's On Friday 8 August
Your Last Chance To See Ladies Lounge Up Late
While the popular Ladies Lounge exhibition at HOTA will be open until this Sunday afternoon, running from 10am to 4pm daily, there is only one Up Late evening left, and it’s this Friday at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm. Expect performances, poetry, live art, and an experience that is guaranteed to surprise and delight—at least, for the ladies, the fellas might be tasked with domestic arts lessons to earn entry.
This pop-up version of the famous installation at MONA is also from the brilliant artist and curator, Kirsha Kaechele. Entry is free, so register and get a taste of the Tasmanian-born masterpiece while you can.
Where: HOTA, 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
When: Friday 8 August, 7pm, 8pm & 9pm
Cost: Free registration
More details here.
Celebrated Violinist Véronique Serret Takes To The Stage At HOTA
Celebrated violinist Véronique Serret is taking to the HOTA stage to perform her Aria-nominated album Migrating Bird this Friday evening. Inspired by the quiet solitude that came with the COVID-19 pandemic and her affinity with the Australian landscape, Migrating Bird pays homage to Mother Nature and Serret's connection to the natural world.
Expect soaring violin sounds and vocals from Serret, accompanied by special guest William Barton on the guitar, didgeridoo and vocals—it will be an unforgettable evening. Doors are at 6:30pm. Secure tickets here.
Where: HOTA, 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
When: Friday 8 August, 6:30pm
Cost: $49 per adult, $39 per student or senior
More details here.
What's On Saturday 9 August
Top Dog Film Festival 2025
A film festival all about our furry best friends? Consider us there. The Top Dog Film Festival is all about our favourite topic, doggos, with over two hours' worth of curated short films on the matter.
From working pooches to companion pets, this feel-good festival is all about the connection between us and man's best friend through the work of filmmakers from all over the globe. It will be equal parts entertaining, inspirational and moving, so be sure to grab tickets as there’ll only be one screening.
Where: HOTA, 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
When: Saturday 9 August, 2pm
Cost: $30 per adult, $23 per child
More info here.
Get Your Hands Dirty For A Good Cause With NaturallyGC’s Tree Planting Day
Spend your Saturday morning giving back to nature at NaturallyGC’s family-friendly community tree planting event at Regatta Waters Park. Volunteers will help plant native trees along a one-kilometre stretch of the Coomera River, helping to revitalise the local wetlands and improve the ecosystem.
All tools and materials are provided, and no prior experience is necessary—just bring your enthusiasm and a willingness to lend a hand. It’s a rewarding way for the whole family (ages 5 years old and up) to enjoy the outdoors while making a positive environmental impact.
Where: Regatta Waters Park, exact location sent via email upon registration
When: Saturday 9 August, 8am to 10am
Cost: Free
More info here.
Belt It Out At A Taylor Swift Celebration
Whether you’re a die-hard Swiftie or just a pop music fan, this Saturday night is your night to boogie and belt it out to the sweet tunes of one of the world's biggest pop artists, Taylor Swift. To celebrate the singer-songwriter purchasing back the rights to all of her original records, Superficial DJ will be spinning tracks late into the night from Swift and other pop icons.
This event will be at Miami Marketta, so you can get there early and grab some of the delicious street food from one of the stalls before shaking it off like you’re 22.
What's On Sunday 10 August
An All-Ages Afternoon Of Blues At Mo’s
Mo’s Desert Clubhouse is turning up the vibes with Burleigh Heads Blues, an all-ages Sunday arvo minifest headlined by blues-rock heavyweights The Hipshooters. Taking over the Mo’s warehouse on Sunday 10 August, the event promises laid-back grooves, cold drinks, and good times for music lovers of all ages.
Joining The Hipshooters are local talents Jackson Dunn, Mel Scarlet, and Sam Buckley, rounding out a killer afternoon lineup. With the deck slinging tacos and cocktails from 2pm and live tunes from 3pm through to 8pm, it’s the kind of feel-good community gig you don’t want to miss.
Where: Mo's Desert Clubhouse, 6/36 Central Dr, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
When: Sunday 10 August, 3pm to 8pm
Cost: Tickets $20 online or $29.99 at the door, under 18's $10 online or $14.99 at the door (kids under 5 free)
More details here.
Catch Some Colour At Gold Coast Kite Festival
Clear your Sunday and look up—Broadwater Parklands is about to get a whole lot brighter. The Gold Coast Kite Festival is taking over the Great Lawn with a sky full of colour, as kites of all shapes and sizes soar above in celebration of India’s 79th Independence Day.
Pack a picnic or grab bites from the food stalls on site, browse lush plant stalls, and let the little ones run wild with free face painting and giveaways. Whether you're flying high or flat on your back taking in the view, this free, family-friendly festival is your license to chill under the sun.
Where: Broadwater Parklands, Southport
When: Sunday 10 August, 9am to 3pm
Cost: Free
More info here.
What's On All Weekend
Witness A Once-Off Equestrian Performance On The Beach
Get your cultural fix this weekend with Cavalcade, this year's Bleach grand finale. Expect a dazzling event where opera, equestrian, orchestra and dressage come together for a spectacle like no other, held on the sands of Kurrawa Beach in Broadbeach.
Where: Kurrawa Beach, Broadbeach
When: Saturday and Sunday, 5:30pm
Cost: $79 per adult, $59 per student and senior, $29 per child, $59 per person in a group of 4 booking
More details here.
Get Your Culture Fix At BLEACH* Festival
Image Credit: BLEACH* | Supplied
BLEACH* Festival returns to the Gold Coast from Thursday 31 July to Sunday 10 August 2025, bringing 11 jam-packed days of bold and boundary-pushing creativity across the city.
Now in its 14th year, BLEACH* will once again transform the Coast’s beaches, parklands and cultural precincts with more than 20 major works spanning live music, contemporary performance, large-scale installations, and thought-provoking visual art. This year’s festival is spread across three vibrant hubs—Kurrawa Park in Broadbeach, Emerald Lakes and HOTA—so there’s something spectacular happening no matter where you are.
This weekend is the final weekend, so we suggest you peruse the mind-bogglingly packed schedule and start creating your must-do list.
Where: Various Gold Coast locations
When: Thursday 31 July to Sunday 10 August
Cost: Costs vary; free and ticketed events
More details here.
Cosy Up At Coomera Lodge's Pop-Up Igloo Winter Wonderland
Image Credit: Coomera Lodge | Supplied
Northern Gold Coasters, this one's for you—your dream of sipping wine in your own private bubble can become a reality. Coomera Lodge has brought back its much-loved cosy winter igloos for another year, and it’s a welcome win for the northern Gold Coast finally getting in on the cool-season action.
Currently running throughout winter until September, the riverside spot has transformed into a full-blown winter wonderland with cosy igloos perfect for your next hang with friends or date night. Each heated igloo comes with full table service, so you can kick back and enjoy Coomera Lodge’s full a la carte menu without ever having to leave your cocoon. There's no cost to book the igloos but bookings are essential and weekends fill fast, so round up the crew and lock in your winter hangout. More details here.
Browse The Gold Coast’s Best Markets
Sunshine, shopping, and some of the Gold Coast’s best bites—markets on our sun-kissed coastline continue to bring the vibes. Whether you're after vintage threads, local produce, live music or artisanal goods, there’s something for absolutely everyone. Check out our ultimate Gold Coast markets guide for the full wrap-up on where to go and what to eat. Happy strolling.
What's Coming Up
Fried Chicken & (Familiar) Spirits: A Collab Worth Getting Your Hands Dirty For
When Gold Coast favourites Junior’s Deli and Familiar Spirits Distillery come together for a food and beverage collaboration, you just know it’s going to be a good time. That’s right, the Junior’s crew will be serving fried chicken, pickles and seasoned chips alongside some seriously good Familiar Spirits martinis at the Familiar Spirits cellar door in Burleigh Heads.
From 2pm to 6pm Friday 15 August, you’ll have dirty hands, dirtier martinis, and ridiculously happy taste buds, so clear your schedule and request an early mark. Fried Chicken Friday can’t come soon enough.
Ken Done Is Painting HOTA In Colour This Spring With A Vibrant New Exhibition
Image Credit: Ken Done | Supplied
Australia’s king of colour, Ken Done, is bringing his unmistakable style to HOTA with a bold new exhibition that’s bursting with joy, nostalgia and serious creative freedom. Ken Done: No Rules will take over HOTA Gallery from 13 September to 15 February 2026, showcasing his unmistakably Australian works from the ‘80s through to now, including exclusive pieces from his own collection.
Visitors can also enjoy a captivating animation of a selection of Done’s iconic paintings, offering a new and immersive way to experience his vibrant universe. In a celebration of art, fashion and collaboration, the exhibition also features a selection of dazzling garments from 'Done Zone', the 2023 collaborative collection between Ken Done and Australian fashion label 'Romance Was Born'.
When: Saturday 13 September to Sunday 15 February, 2026
Where: Gallery 1, HOTA
Cost: Ticket prices vary; up to $21
More details here.
Currumbin Crime Writers Festival Is Bringing Killer Stories To The Southern Gold Coast
Crime buffs and book lovers, this one’s for you. This August, the inaugural Currumbin Crime Writers Festival is bringing two days of storytelling, author talks and insider literary intel to the Southern Gold Coast.
From Friday 15 to Saturday 16 August, the festival will take over Currumbin with a stacked lineup of bestselling crime authors, true crime writers, publishers and agents. Expect Q&As, panels, writing workshops, signings, and a rare opportunity to get feedback on your own novel from some of the industry’s biggest names.
Catch appearances from the likes of Fiona McIntosh, JP Pomare, Dinuka McKenzie and Dr Caroline Graham, plus Rebecca Saunders (Head of Fiction at Hachette Australia), who’ll be part of an exclusive 'Industry Insights' panel and manuscript feedback session.
Where: Kinship Cafe, 766 Pacific Parade, Currumbin
When: Friday 15 to Saturday 16 August
More details and tickets here.
Sip, Dance And Celebrate The Cane Harvest At Husk’s Epic Annual Rum Festival
Image Credit: Husk Farm Distillery | Supplied
Sugarcane season is calling—Husk Rum Harvest Fest is back and set to light up the paddocks of Tumbulgum on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August. Hosted by Husk Farm Distillery, this once-a-year celebration marks the sugarcane harvest with a weekend full of live music, fresh cane juice cocktails, rum tastings, smoked feasts, and seriously good vibes.
Saturday brings the full festival energy with live blues bands, free rum masterclasses, cane juicing demos, the iconic Sugarcane Javelin comp, and the always-epic Cowboy Catwalk. Sunday is Community Day, perfect for families and chill seekers alike, with acoustic tunes, the Husk Mini Olympics, and plenty of green space to stretch out. Tickets are just $15 to $20 and include a welcome cocktail, tastings, and masterclass access, plys kids under 18 go free. Grab your crew and get in early, this one always sells out.
When: Saturday 23 to Sunday 24 August
Where: Husk Farm Distillery
Cost: Tickets from $15
More details here.
Looking for more? Check out:
- Hit up some of the Gold Coast’s best restaurants.
- Book the ultimate staycay at the Gold Coast’s best accommodation.
- Catch up on the Gold Coast food news you missed.
Not enough? Check out 50 free (or cheap) things to do on the Gold Coast.
Main image Credit: Burleigh Festival | Supplied
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