Ladies lounge, OPA! and prizes in paradise – what’s on this weekend
As July turns to August, the Gold Coast turns out a fabulous line-up of events this weekend. BLEACH Arts Festival will turn the coast into a creative hub with skywhales, Michelangelo forgeries, and an exclusive lounge for ladies only. See the Brisbane Boomers shoot their shot against international champions or try and snag some party packages from Paradise Centre. Check out our guide to what’s on across the Gold Coast this weekend.
Markets, festivals and food events this weekend
Paws in the Park returns to Mudgeeraba showgrounds this Saturday to celebrate their 10th birthday, where you get the gifts instead. As Australia’s biggest dog market, Paws in the Park will throw their beloved, free community event this weekend for a milestone event predicted to attract thousands of visitors. Explore the 100+ dog friendly stalls, educational stage talks, live music, food trucks and off-leash play zone for a day of bonding with your furry friends. Snag some goodies in the Golden Paws Gateway treasure hunt, including a year of free vet visits from Pet Wellness Centre and a free year of Healthy Pets Plus Benefits from Greencross Vets. There are more goodies up for grabs in the best-dressed and best-trick dog competitions.
Craving a taste of Greek culture? OPA! Is the free Greek event hitting Surfers Paradise this Saturday evening for a night of live traditional performances and authentic feasting. Ten-piece band, Essence of Greece, will provide a vibrant musical display of regional Greek harmonies, while the 50-member Elllinikes Fones Choir treats the audience to traditional ballads accompanied by Greek folk dancers. As the sun goes down, DJ Adriana keeps the cultural celebration buzzing with an electric mix of Greek and global beats. Register for your free tickets here.
D’Arcy Arms’ Christmas in July month-long celebration is back by popular demand, bringing you a fireplace-warmed Christmas feast and respite from winter’s harsh cold. For only $50 a head, diners are treated to an authentic Christmas feast of roast turkey, Yorkshire pudding, cranberry and apple sauce, and plenty more. Head to D’Arcy Arms’ Irish Pub this winter for a heart-warming dose of Christmas spirit and festive feasting.
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.
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.
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Fun experiences hitting this Gold Coast this weekend
Flock to Paradise Centre in Surfer’s Paradise this August for the chance to win one of seven Parties in Paradise packages curated for next-level fun. When you spend $10 or more at any participating Paradise Centre retailer, scan the QR code in-store to go into the draw to win a package worth up to $2500. The seven packages being offered up include prize money to spend at Timezone, MANIAX, Nahm Talay Thai, Surfers Beer Garden, Wahlburgers, Padlock’d or Celebrity Ink. With every $10 earning you another entry, head down to Paradise Centre for the chance to win an unforgettable party experience to share with the crew.
This Thursday night, the Australian Boomers take on the Buffaloes from the University of Colorado. This one night only match will be a unique opportunity for Australian fans to witness NBA, NBL and NCAA basketball stars in action before the Boomers head to the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup. The Gold Coast Sports & Leisure Centre in Carrara will serve as the battlefield where the Buffaloes are expected to present a valuable challenge for the Boomers. Tickets are available here.
Music and live shows on the Gold Coast this weekend
Nirvana fans gather ‘round for BLEACH Festival’s Drum as You Are homage to the band, fronted by Grinspoon’s Phil Jamieson. The Australian musician will be joined by 22 drummers from Wright Music School on HOTA’s Outdoor Stage to thrash out generation-defining rock songs. Bachelor Girl’s Tania Doko will host the event whose line-up features The Vanns, Ella Fence, Ferny Fairway and Friends That Spin. Register for your free ticket to experience a celebration of energy and nostalgia.
Miami Marketta has millennials (and older generations) in mind this Saturday afternoon as they revisit club hits of days gone by while respecting an early bedtime. Daytime Clubbing invites early birds to revisit old favourites from Spice Girls and Jesse McCartney to Wham! And Destiny’s Child. With themed cocktails, giveaways, and a best dressed competition, you can relive your party days in an unforgettable evening – and still be in bed by 9:00 pm. Grab your tickets here.
Heavy-metal musos, Northlane, are embarking on a tour of regional Australia for the first time in three years. The Sydney group are taking this opportunity to rock out with fans one last time before they hunker down to write their next album. Coolangatta Hotel will host the metalcore band this Sunday night supported by special guests Ocean Grove and Mirrors. Tickets are available here.
In the mood for something a little risqué? This Thursday night, Paramour Cabaret kicks off its first show at The Paramour Chapiteau for an adults-only performance that will take you on a ride you won’t forget. Expect shocking circus acts, bold burlesque performances, seductive vocals, unapologetic drag queens and feats of flexibility to leave you gasping. Tickets are available here.
Art Exhibitions taking place this weekend
BLEACH 2025 is the Arts Festival taking off in the Gold Coast this Thursday for 11 days of art, music, drama, feasting and visual storytelling and spectacles. Set across the coast’s favourite creative hubs, HOTA, Kurrawa Beach and Emerald Lakes, the program celebrates the richness and diversity of the city’s creative community. From hybrid hot air balloons to passionate gatherings of drummers, there’s plenty to explore at BLEACH festival. See the whole program and ticket information here.
This Thursday, renowned Australian artist Patricia Piccinini launches her newest exhibition in partnership with BLEACH Arts Festival from the National Gallery of Australia. Firstlight sees Patricia’s newest sculptures in the form of hot air balloons named Skywhale and Skywhalepapa taking to the skies where visitors can watch in wonder from the ground. The free event takes place in Benowa, so grab a picnic blanket and binoculars to get the best shot at these monumental figures.
Internationally acclaimed artist Jeff Koons will be in conversation with Vault Editor-in-Chief Alison Kubler this Thursday as part of BLEACH Arts Festival. Listen to the master of boldness and polarisation discuss his unorthodox approach to creation and the power of art in this enlightening interview. Grab your tickets here.
One of Australia’s most talked about art installations is coming to the Gold Coast this weekend. Kirsha Kaechele will exhibit a pop-up version of The Ladies Lounge, complete with a live performance, talks, poetry and dining experiences. A few lucky boys may also be granted entry to the women’s only space, for “domestic arts lessons and other reparations”. The 5+ hour exhibition contains graphic content and a stacked program of entertainment from harpists to DJs. The Ladies Lounge will be accompanied by companion piece, The Complaints Department, where the audience is encouraged to air their frustrations but be warned – you may not receive the response you hoped for.
‘Eggshell Skull’ author Bri Lee will sit down with the editor of Vault magazine, Alison Kubler this Friday night for a meaningful and engaging conversation about contemporary culture. The two will cover topics ranging from storytelling as a tool for social transformation to literary influences on justice, power and identity. Expect candid discussion and intimate insights from two leading voices in Australian culture in Gold Coast’s Home of the Arts. Grab your tickets here.
Surfers Paradise Espresso Bonsai will transform into a pop-up art gallery this Saturday afternoon to showcase the work of local artists. The pop-up will be hosted by The Couch Outloud, Gold Coast’s live talk show fostering community through meaningful conversations with locals, where artists will be invited to reflect on their personal creative journeys. For a night of insight, conversation, reflection and connection, this free event invites you to witness the way that art can bring people together.
You can skip the flight to Firenze because a shockingly faithful replica of Michelangelo’s David has landed in the heart of the Gold Coast. Crafted from the same Carrara marble as the original, David in the Studio is a mix between homage and critique, that raises questions of beauty ideals and authenticity. Erected for the intention of life drawing, this ticketed event will provide backed chairs, shared tables and art supplies so you can ponder the importance of genius compared to mass production and forgery while you draw. Book your spot here.
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.