It hurts to say it out loud, but summer is officially drawing to a close for another year.
Though with the promise of ice cream parties, surf festivals, markets, regional chef’s dinners, and long luncheons, there’s really no excuse for crying into your green smoothie.
Diaries at the ready folks, we’ve tracked down seven noteworthy things to do on the Gold Coast this weekend. Enjoy!
#AllTheCs With Uber And 40/40 Creative | Friday 24
All the Cs? It stands for clients, chemistry, creative, and collaboration, and perfectly sums up the recent partnership between trailblazing local agency 40/40 Creative and global powerhouse Uber. For the past two years, challenging brand projects have been funnelling to this local studio, with results then marketed across the country. It’s an impressive story that deserves to be told and these guys are keen to share it. Hosted at Burleigh’s Warehouse No. 5, sit down for an evening of candid conversation with the guys from 40/40 Creative and Uber Senior Marketing Manager Tenielle Stoltenkamp. They’ll openly cover topics like brand clarity, client chemistry, and the potential of relationships built on trust. If you’ve got a curious mind or an entrepreneurial streak, this one is for you. Remaining tickets are limited ($40+BF pp) and on sale now.
OZHarvest Luncheon At Harry’s Steak Bistro | Friday 24
Here’s a worthy excuse for taking an extended lunch break this Friday. Gold Coast charity, OZHarvest, is teaming up with Harry’s Steak Bistro for a heart-warming luncheon with a cause. Sit down to a drink on arrival and a satisfying two-course steak feed. Tickets are $69.95pp, of which Harry’s will generously donate $15 to OZHarvest—which will help them deliver a staggering 30 meals to local people in need. Dig deep, folks!
Summer Ice Cream Social | Friday 24 and Saturday 25
Because it’s hot AF, and we deserve some sort of reprise from this sweltering, sweaty heat, the Gold Coast has received some earth-shattering news: we’re getting a freakin’ ice cream festival! This weekend’s Summer Ice Cream Social will take place at the northern GC’s favourite night markets, NightQuarter, and will pay homage to everything ice cream related. Think: gelato, ice cream (err, duh), waffles, ice cream sandwiches, crazy shakes, sundaes, funnel cakes, even ice cream sliders. Summer, don’t leave us!
Byron Bay Surf Festival | Friday 24 to Sunday 26
Our fave surfy slash hippy cousin to the south is promising a weekend of good vibes galore, when the 2017 Byron Bay Surf Festival rolls into town. The epitome of Coast life, this year’s festival brings together three of our fave things, good waves (we hope!), good people, and good tunes. The food and the booze ain’t bad either! With a jam-packed schedule including the “Surf Culture Now” art show, sunset cinemas, freestyle and stoke surf sessions, surf art markets, industry talks, parties, demos and shaping displays, and of course, loads of surfing; you’ll wanna hang around from first light until dark, just so you can do it all.
Third Regional Table at Harvest Newrybar | Sunday 26
If you’re really serious about your food, local produce, and the exceptionally talented chefs who’ve helped shaped the culinary landscape of southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales, you’d best be picking up the phone and nabbing final tickets ($175pp) to this gorgeous event. Returning this weekend to Harvest Newrybar, the third Regional Table brings together Harvest’s Bret Cameron, Rick Shores’ Simon Hanmer, Darren Robertson and Mark LaBrooy of The Farm’s Three Blue Ducks, Paper Daisy’s Ben Devlin, and Zeb Gilbert of Noosa’s Wasabi. Each chef will present one course, matched perfectly with wine, and you’ll migrate around different areas of the lovely Harvest property between courses.
SkyPoint Sea To Sky Q1 Stair Challenge | Sunday 26
Okay, we are totes not putting our hands up for this one… farrr too much eating and not enough time doing this year. Yet those who are already conditioned to tackle SEVENTY-SEVEN FLIGHTS or 1,331 stairs (hello, tight buns!), we’re looking at you. It’s all for a good cause though—money raised will support Surf Life Saving Queensland—which will make it worth the 6am start and inevitable cramping and cowboy walking strides come Monday. Pre-register via the website.
Weekend Long Lunches At Sparrow Eating House | Every Saturday And Sunday
You know the seasons are a-changin’ when Sparrow Eating House announces it is time to introduce a new menu. Rotating with each season’s produce, Sparrow’s stellar autumn menu officially drops this Friday, though we want you to know about another neat new addition—Sparrow’s weekend long lunches. Gather your besties or plan your next celebration (birthday, baby shower, anything really) and settle in with a $35 set menu (which includes a vino or tap beer). You’ll be treated with share plates featuring chilli tequila prawns, tempura ricotta-stuffed zucchini flowers, and Tasmanian salmon served with coconut mayo, heirloom tomatoes, and stone fruits. Salivating yet? We certainly are.
In search of more things to do on the Gold Coast this weekend? We’ve got 17 breakfasts you need to try in 2017.
Photo Credit: Byron Bay Surf Festival
