Rick Shores’ pop-up dinner, chaotic karaoke and Burleigh’s winter festival – what’s on this weekend
Got plans this weekend? You do now. From family friendly events like Monster Machinery Day and the Winter Solstice Festival in Burleigh Heads, to musical performances from Alex Lloyd and Amy Winehouse tribute band, the coast has a number of cultural escapes and distractions from the winter weather. Check out our guide to what’s on across the Gold Coast this weekend.
Markets, festivals and food events this weekend
Celebrate the longest night of the year with the Rick Shores crew at the Winter Solstice Dinner 2025: A Theatrical Feast of Fire, Food & Wine. Held at Carafe Wine in Southport, the immersive pop-up event features a seven-course degustation, great wines and crackling fires. Grab these hot tickets while there’s still some left.
Looking for a bit of… everything? This Saturday evening, Burleigh Heads is turning James Street into a lively escape for the Winter Solstice Festival, with everything from pop up bars and street stalls to amusement rides, lantern makers and performers, and more on offer. No need for tickets – this family friendly event is free entry!
Embrace the apres-ski vibes at Aviary Rooftop Bar’s Aviary Après this weekend! From June through August, 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.
Indulge in diamond-inspired bites at Sheraton Gold Coast and Calleija Jewellers’ sparkling winter high tea. Served daily until the end of August, the luxe experience features a Sapphire Sour cocktail on arrival, as well as mouth-watering savouries and delectable sweets. Plus, all guests go in the draw to win a luxe prize including a Calleija diamond necklace and oceanfront Sheraton stay. Book your spot here.
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Are you a lover of nature and free things? Head down to Naturally Gold Coast Environmental Festival this Saturday to celebrate the coast’s stunning biodiversity with wildlife encounters, live music, art activities, plant sales, nature exhibits and learning programs.
Experience the dedicated and essential work of Gold’s Coast’s construction and emergency service industry up close this Sunday at Monster Machinery Day 2025. With free activities like live machinery demonstrations, rock-climbing, train rides, and food trucks on offer, this is a day for toy-truck-obsessed toddlers and locals curious about the hard work being done to transform the Gold Coast.
Scenic Rim Eat Local Month has some tempting treats for foodies this weekend. Dine refined with the five-course Long Lunch by the Lake or the Towri Farm High Tea, or for something a little more hands-on, drop in on a sheep milking demonstration, a garlic growing workshop, or learn how to create your own herb garden. This weekend’s program is packed, so take a look for yourself.
Rock the shortest day of the year at Mo’s Desert Clubhouse this Saturday. From midday, enjoy all-ages mini-fest Rock the Solstice with live beats by lBrisbane’s female-fronted heavy metal band SLYTHR, along with Chase the Wolves, PLEASANTLY CONFUSED and Daylight Vandal. Spanish Girl Food Co will also be on deck slinging tasty eats from 12:00 pm. Jump here for tickets.
Music, live shows and exhibitions on the Gold Coast this weekend
Little Birdy is tearing up the stage at Miami Marketta this Saturday to celebrate the 21st anniversary of its iconic debut album, bigbiglove. Frontwoman Katy Steele will be joined by original band members Simon Leach and Scott O’Donoghue to perform the album in full. Get your tickets here.
Love karaoke? Unleash your inner rockstar at Sweet Spot Karaoke at El Ranchero (aka the bar at Mo’s Desert Clubhouse) this Saturday. From 7:00–11:00 pm, dive into a night of uninhibited fun with costumes, props and a lively crowd ready to cheer you on. No pressure, just pure, chaotic karaoke joy! Entry is free, just book your spot here.
This Friday June 20th, Burleigh Heads is celebrating R&B jazz icon Amy Winehouse and her unforgettable legacy with the help of a world-class 11-piece tribute band at Mo’s Desert Clubhouse. ‘The Amy Winehouse Experience’ is an electrifying performance bringing to life the singer’s sincere and infectious ballads for one night only. Snag tickets here.
Multi-platinum ARIA award winning Alex Lloyd is gracing the Miami Marketta stage this Friday night to revisit his classic hits and some well-known covers. For a dose of nostalgia, grab a ticket before they sell out.
If you’re a fan of Aussie literature and theatre, make sure you don’t miss HOTA’s stage adaptation of cult-classic ‘Looking for Alibrandi’. There are only three showings of this favourite at Home of the Arts in Surfers Paradise, so grab a ticket now before they’re all gone.
Everyone knows the best way to combat cold weather is dancing. Get involved or sit back and enjoy Queensland’s best dancers, a special guest DJ and the electric vibes of After Hourz at Mo’s Desert Clubhouse this Thursday night. Get tickets 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.