What to See and Do in Brisbane for Family Fun This Summer
Last Updated on November 26, 2024
After the Melbourne Cup, Australia enters full festive mode through January. In Brisbane, warm nights and nonstop events make it an ideal spot for family fun. With arts, city-wide celebrations, and even some fun on a cookie casino site for those looking to unwind, now’s a great time for a city staycation. Book a hotel, hop on a river cat, and enjoy Brisbane’s sparkling summer scene.
The Art Scene
Brisbane’s arts scene has been growing, with the aim to compete with Sydney and Melbourne. The 11th Asia-Pacific Triennial at QAGOMA kicks off November 30, 2024, to April 27, 2025. It showcases 70 projects by over 200 artists from Australia, Asia, and the Pacific.
This Triennial isn’t a typical gallery experience—it’s perfect for kids! At the Children’s Art Centre, seven projects are designed just for them. One highlight is Indian artist Rithika Merchant’s interactive project, where kids can help shape a new world by adding creatures, plants, and stars to a projected landscape. This summer, QPAC offers a packed lineup of family-friendly shows, including Wicked (running until November 24) and Round The Twist, a musical based on Paul Jennings’ classic stories, from November 12 to December 8.
A True Australian Christmas
Who else remembers driving around to check out the Christmas lights as a kid? Sono Lumo captures that magic but on a massive scale. For 10 nights, this new festival will turn the Queens Wharf entertainment precinct into a colorful holiday spectacle with lights, sound, and seasonal music. Launching from December 4 to 15, from sunset to 11 pm (Wednesday to Sunday), an eight-minute light show will play every hour, with projections so bright they’ll be visible across Brisbane. Brisbane DJ Young Franco will give a contemporary edge to holiday tunes, while live musicians keep the energy up between shows. Plus, plenty of food and drink options will be on hand to satisfy festive cravings.
Celebrate the Season with Brisbane’s Biggest Tennis Event
The calm stretch between Christmas and New Year’s in Australia is ideal for family holidays. The Brisbane International at the Queensland Tennis Centre is a top pick for this time of year. While Melbourne has the Australian Open, Brisbane hosts its own tennis event from December 29, 2024, to January 5, 2025. It’s a family-friendly season opener. Last year, 100,000 fans attended, which made it Queensland’s top tennis event of the past decade.
T’is the Season to Be Jolly
Missing the festival days but now juggling parenthood? You can have both. Just 90 minutes from Brisbane on the Sunshine Coast, you can experience six days of music at the Woodford Folk Festival and a Children’s Festival leading up to New Year’s Day each year. This year, from December 27 to January 1, enjoy music headliners like Baker Boy, Husky, and Alex the Astronaut, along with arts, crafts, meditation, and workshops. The Children’s Festival, called “a festival within a festival,” runs daily from 8am to 5pm in a dedicated space. It features puppet shows, crafts, entertainers, and games to delight the little ones.
