Hockey Dad at Valley Fiesta | Credit: image supplied
If you thought that the long weekend was a big one, think again. From free music festival Valley Fiesta and Oktoberfest in the Gardens to the opening weekend of Pretty Woman: The Musical and Plantapalooza, it’s shaping up to be another jam-packed weekend for Brisbane. Whether you’re staying within city limits or venturing out, there’s something for everyone. Check out below for our guide to what’s on from October 10–12.
Concerts on in Brisbane this weekend
Australian country singer Amber Lawrence will be belting out some classics at Lefty’s Music Hall this Sunday October 12. The singer-songwriter-guitarist is currently touring her You Can Admit You Like Country Music tour. Tickets are available here.
Celebrate 16 years of glamour, glitter and burlesque magic with The Australian Burlesque Festival’s Big Tease Gala this Saturday October 11 at The Tivoli. Prepare for a night of strutting, shimmering costumes and captivating performances from some of the best local and international burlesque stars. Tickets are currently on sale here.
Head to Fortitude Valley this Saturday October 11 for the annual Valley Fiesta. This year’s roster of acts includes Hockey Dad, Sycco and Keli Holiday (of ARIA-winning duo Peking Duk) gearing up to take over the Valley for the free festival. Head here for more information.
To celebrate Chappell Roan’s return to Australia in 2026, the crew behind Club Soda Parties will be throwing a massive party at The Wickham this Friday October 10. Throw on those boots and join in the sing-a-long with DJ Pia Pressure, Drag Queen performances from Scarlett Fever and Eraya 51, and plenty more surprises throughout the night. There’s less than 30 tickets remaining so make sure you head here to secure your spot on the dance floor!
Pretty Woman: The Musical at QPAC’s Lyric Theatre | Credit: Marc Brenner
Theatre and live events on in Brisbane this weekend
Head to Hollywood with the captivating stage adaptation of beloved romantic comedy – Pretty Woman: The Musical currently showcasing at QPAC Lyric Theatre. The production will be brought to life by a powerhouse team of creatives, representing the best of music, Hollywood, Broadway and glamour. For something a little extra, head to QBar on the ground floor for a speciality cocktail in honour of the musical. Click here to grab your tickets.
Southern Cross Soloists return to QPAC’s Concert Hall this Sunday October 12 with Wonder. The unmissable one-day-only performance reveals the deeply human stories behind their music, tracing themes of friendship, love, grief and inspiration through works that remain timeless in their beauty and emotion. Tickets are on sale here.
Brisbane Writer’s Festival returns this weekend from Thursday October 9 to Sunday October 12 at Brisbane Powerhouse. Don’t miss the opportunity to engage in over 100 live events across the weekend including author talks, conversations, panel discussions and special events. For the full program, click here.
Step into the shadows this Friday October 10 with CULT: Halloween Feast at Superordinary. Prepare yourself for a notorious night of burlesque, sideshow, drag and performance art. Tickets are still available, don’t miss out!
Journey into the unseen worlds below this Friday October 10 with meditative performance, BIOS – INFERA, at The Amphitheatre in Seven Hills. Honouring a special connection to the earth and wisdom it provides, BIOS – INFERA provides a visceral and captivating experience through movement, sound, projection and stillness. Tickets are available here.
Grab tickets to Heathers The Musical production by Beenleigh Theatre Group running from Friday October 3 to Saturday October 18. Based around the dark story of brainy, beautiful teenage misfit Veronica Sawyer who hustles her way into the most powerful clique at Westerberg High, the Heathers. This laugh-out-loud and confronting tale will look at the joys and anguish of being in high school. Tickets are available here.
Make a Scene: Fashioning Queer Identity and Club Culture in the 90s, Queensland Museum | Credit: image supplied
Sequins, self-expression and 90s dancefloor energy have taken over Queensland Museum, with Make a Scene: Fashioning Queer Identity and Club Culture in the 90s now in full swing. This glitter-drenched exhibition captures the fearless spirit of Brisbane’s underground club scene, where fashion was more than just style – it was survival, celebration and a statement of pride. Find out more information here.
From August 9 to November 2, Da Vinci Machines: Inventions brought to life brings Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions to life across the City of Moreton Bay’s vibrant museums. The free exhibition will be showcased across Bribie Island Seaside Museum, Pine Rivers Heritage Museum and Redcliffe Museum, inviting visitors to get up close with Da Vinci’s work through hands-on models and informative displays.
Faith, art and the everyday come together in The God of Small Things: Faith and Popular Culture – a must-see new exhibition at QAGOMA. At the heart of the exhibition are 48 rare oleographs by Ravi Varma (1848-1906), one of India’s most influential 19th-century artists, whose work blends European techniques with Indian iconography. Admission is free.
Outer Space presents its seventh exhibition of 2025, A Seat At The โต๊ะ (Table), by emerging Yugambeh Country (Gold Coast) artist Ellamay Khongroj Fitzgerald. Showing from September 12 to October 11, the exhibition reimagines the gallery as a place of gathering, where food becomes both subject and storyteller, opening conversations about identity, belonging and cultural memory. Admission is free.
Archie Moore’s kith and kinexhibition continues its showcase at QAGOMA. Archie has traced over 65,000 years of Kamilaroi and Bigambul relations via fragile chalk on blackboard. This extensive drawing captures First Nations Peoples of Australia alongside animals, plants, waterways and landforms in order to highlight our responsibilities to each other and surroundings. This exhibition is free.
Under a Modern Sun: Art in Queensland 1930s–1950s is currently showcasing at Queensland Art Galley until January 25, 2026. This thrilling exhibition displays the work of Queensland artists and those working in the state in the middle decades of the twentieth century, exploring the connections and development of modernist sensibility.
Wonderstruck is currently exhibiting works from over 70 Australian and international artists at GOMA. This free exhibition explores the vibrant world of colour, creativity and curiosity.
Artist Mandy Quadrio brings fun and creativity to QAGOMA’s Art Box for Kids, running until October 26. As part of the ‘Art Box for Kids‘ project, Mandy’s activity Paper Treasure Carrier invites children to create their own unique paper treasure carrier to hold their cherished objects, secret finds and tiny keepsakes. No bookings needed.
Check out photographic exhibition All Shadesby Kamilaroi artist Dean Saffron at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Dean travelled many kilometres to capture images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from all walks of life. This mesmerising collection reflects 32 large-scale portraits, each image created in collaboration with the subject, location and story behind it.
Discover the depths of a dark forest with Harry Potter A Forbidden Forest Experience now on at Sirromet Winery. Come face-to-face with magical creatures as you explore and interact across the outdoor trail. Tickets are on sale now.
Museum of Brisbane’s major exhibitionPreciousshowcases a stunning assemblage of items generously loaned from around 30 remarkable collections and collectors. Explore Brisbane through more than 3000 precious objects that reveal intriguing stories of culture, place, family and tradition, travel and trade.
Get hands-on at Micro Museum in the Museum of Brisbane open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Pint-sized curators are encouraged to create their own collections from a huge range of vintage treasures, inspired by MoB’s Precious exhibition with a series of colour-filled, creative series of immersive experiences and interactive activities.
Stroll through Museum of Brisbane’sNew Light: Photography Now + Then free photography exhibition. The collection features a mesmerising display of photographs (spanning from 1890 to 2024) by amateur Brisbane photographer Alfred Henrie Elliott (1870-1954). These extraordinary images laid dormant for decades until they were discovered in 1983, stored in cedar cigar boxes beneath a home in Red Hill.
Oktoberfest in the Gardens, Brisbane Showgrounds | Credit: image supplied
Fun events in Brisbane this weekend
Don your finest dirndl or lederhosen because Oktoberfest in the Gardens is back this Saturday October 11 at Brisbane Showgrounds. Celebrate a day of celebration – Bavarian-style – with a huge range of authentic German beers, wines, cider and food. Click here to grab tickets.
Transport from a sophisticated French lounge to a pumping nightclub party at Blanc de Blanc Encore. Adding more dates to its show-stopping run at The West End Electric Theatre, get ready to be amazed at the world’s finest acrobatic talent, great tunes, big laughs, lots of skin and more than a few surprises. To find out more and buy tickets head to Blanc de Blanc’s websitehere.
Step inside Bluey’s World – for real life! Bluey’s iconic Queenslander is calling Northshore Hamilton home until September 2025, allowing fans of the show to immerse themselves in the Heeler home they know and love. With innovative set designs, interactive games, and activities for children and adults alike, Bluey’s World has been carefully curated to mirror the spirit of the series, encouraging creative play and connection. A must visit for the young and young at heart!
Plantapalooza at Brisbane Saturday Fresh Market this Saturday October 11 | Credit: image supplied
Markets on in Brisbane this weekend
Foliage, food and fun collide at Brisbane’s biggest plant festival, Plantapalooza, this Saturday October 11 from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm. Located out of Brisbane Markets’ Saturday Fresh Market, the family-friendly event features an abundance of indoor and outdoor plants, flowers and succulents, alongside pots, outdoor accessories and market stalls with deli goods waiting to be sampled. For more information, click here.
