Southport’s street party, a family-friendly circus and the annual Mudgeeraba Show – what’s on this weekend
Empty weekend? Here’s something to fill it. From high teas to seafood buffets, there are options galore for Gold Coast foodies this weekend. If entertainment is what you’re after, take your pick of The Great Australian Circus, fashion showcases, or an ABBA tribute show. Looking for something family friendly? There’s Surface Festival, Mudgeeraba’s Agricultural Show and Southport’s first annual street party. Check out our guide to what’s on across the Gold Coast this weekend.
Markets, festivals and food events this weekend
Surface Festival will be returning to Miami for the fifth year running this Sunday, with over 250 exhibiting artists, a selection of which have been tasked with muralling over 1500-sqm of Miami’s blank walls. Running until July 13, this free, family-friendly festival will bring an abundance of colour to your cold winter days while celebrating local creatives, cultures and businesses.
Fill your Saturday afternoon with live music, locally made wares and food-truck treats at the first annual Southport Street Party. Located on Railway Street, this free event is family-friendly and hopefully the first of many! The fun starts at from 1:00 pm.
Saddle up for a weekend of country charm – Mudgeeraba Ag Show is galloping into town this Saturday and Sunday! From show-jumping thrills and woodchopping action to adorable baby animals, dagwood dogs and fireworks, this classic Aussie show brings the bush to the Gold Coast with two jam-packed days of family fun.
Craving a winter feast? Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort’s Terraces Restaurant is serving up two indulgent dining experiences with a special winter discount until August 31. Enjoy the iconic Sheraton Seafood Buffet for $109 (usually $129), stacked with fresh Balmain bugs, oysters, snow crab and more. Or settle in for the Free-Flowing Weekend Brunch for just $119 (usually $139), featuring pork belly bao, chicken and waffles, pumpkin and pine nut quiche, with bottomless mimosas, wine and beer — all served with sweeping ocean views. Rally your foodie crew and book now!
Embrace the apres-ski vibes at Aviary Rooftop Bar’s Aviary Après this weekend! Throughout winter, the popular Southport rooftop bar and dining spot transforms into a cosy alpine escape with fireside s’mores, spiked hot chocolates, mulled wine and some of the city’s best golden-hour views. It’s the perfect way to toast the season – no snow boots required! Read more about Aviary Après over here.
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This winter, high tea gets a decadent twist as Calleija Jewellers teams up with Sheraton Grand Mirage for an indulgent high tea experience at Pearls Bar. Running daily from June 1 to August 31, guests will be greeted with ocean views, a welcome cocktail and a parade of indulgent bites – think salmon caviar tarts, champagne-compressed watermelon and white chocolate pearl macarons. Plus, every guest goes in the draw to win a sparkling Tahitian pearl and diamond pendant, and a luxe two-night stay at Sheraton. Treat yourself! Book your spot here.
Music, live shows and exhibitions on the Gold Coast this weekend
Step right up – the circus is rolling back into town! Ashton’s The Great Australian Circus returns to Broadwater Parklands from this Friday, bringing over three weeks of heart-racing stunts, laugh-out-loud clowning and gravity-defying feats. Run by the Ashton family for an incredible 175 years, this iconic big top is Australia’s oldest circus, now led by sixth-generation star Chantel Ashton-Rodriguez, who’s been performing since the age of two. With tickets from just $15, don’t miss your chance to catch this magical slice of history under the iconic red-and-white tent. Book your seats here.
Golden hour, cold drinks, live tunes — what more do you need? The Backyard Session is back this Saturday, taking over the stunning Boomerang Farm in Mudgeeraba for an afternoon of laidback vibes and local sounds. From 2:00–6:00 pm, catch live sets from Bodie Potter, Lily Budiasa, Benny O’Dwyer and Hudson Faulkner as the sun dips behind the trees. Bring your crew, kick back and soak up this sweet little slice of Gold Coast hinterland magic. Jump here for tickets.
It’s been a decade since the Pierce Brothers’ breakout EP The Night Tree was released, and the indie-folk duo is celebrating with a stacked Australian tour and unreleased tracks. Having just wrapped up supporting James Blunt on his sold-out arena tour, the Melbourne ensemble is ready to keep the show on the road, so don’t miss out on this night of indie-folk blues at Miami Marketta this Friday night. Get your tickets here.
Gold Coast band HAMMERS its launching its new single ‘Traps’ this Thursday night at Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, along with some new cuts from its upcoming debut album. The venue’s new four-part series Death Valley Sessions is focusing on heavy music with aims to further develop the genre culture. Get tickets here!
This Saturday, prepare to be spellbound by a celebration of costume design at Circo, the fashion showcase that will challenge the boundaries of your imagination. Experience the artistry of wearable art from movies and theatre as they come to life on the runway. Hosted by Miami Marketa, this unique, one-night-only event of craftsmanship appreciation will be a hub for art and fashion enthusiasts alike. Grab tickets here.
Once Circo wraps up for the night, the party continues at Encore, the official afterparty of the Queensland Arts & Fashion Festival. With live entertainment, cocktail bar, photo opportunities and fashion networking, this will be an unmissable night for both fashion lovers and professionals alike. Tickets here!
Literary agent Alex Adsett and Vault Magazine Editor Alison Kubler are joining forces this Saturday at HOTA to answer the questions of the local reading and writing community. The two will also share their invaluable insights on current literary trends and contemporary publishing. Tickets are available here.
Come for the cabaret, but stay for the unique blend of soul, RnB, gospel and pop that Prinnie Stevens’ has stunned crowds with for over 25 years. With a voice inflected with raw emotion and energy, this Friday night performance is one that will leave listeners electrified and transported. Tickets are available here.
If you always thought Frida and Agnetha were the best part of ABBA, then this one-night show in Southport is for you (sorry Benny and Björn!). Complete with iconic costumes, silly accents and crowd participation, this duo has been serving up fan favourites with stunning harmonies across Australia.
Explore literary treasures at HOTA’s blockbuster exhibition Writers Revealed: Treasures from the British Library and National Portrait Gallery, London. The one-of-a-kind exhibition experience brings together over 100 rare manuscripts and portraits from literary legends like William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, William Blake, Virginia Woolf, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Lewis Carroll, Sir Kazuo Ishiguro and Zadie Smith – many of which have never been seen outside the UK. Structured in five thematic sections, the exhibition spans 500 years of authorship, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of iconic English-language writers through their original works and portraits.
Marvel at illuminated night walk Astra Lumina at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. The cosmic after-dark journey will take you on a curated trail through Currumbin’s 27 hectares of pristine bushland by night, with immersive projections, incredible lighting and otherworldly soundscapes. It’s a must! Grab your tickets here.