Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out the GC Weekend fun below.

Saturday

🌙 Get Amongst the Winter Witches Picnic at Cedar Creek

A whimsical winter gathering beneath the open sky at beautiful Chardon Bridge Park & Cedar Creek Hall. Magical market stalls and artisan makers, delicious food trucks, guest speakers and workshops inside the hall, open community rituals for all to join, a shared outdoor altar space, and a Best Dressed Witch Competition (come adorned in your most magical attire). Music, laughter and connection as the sun sets. Welcoming space for witches, mystics, healers, families, creatives — and the magically curious.

📍 Cedar Creek Hall, 1 Chardon Bridge Rd, Cedar Creek

🕒 Saturday 25th July, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM

💸 Free entry

🛍️ Thrift the Beach at Thrifter × Kirra Beach House Thrift Fest

Thrifter Warehouse teams up with Kirra Beach House — a local favourite that champions community and laid-back boujee coastal living — for one of their much-loved Thrift Fests. Indoor coastal venue in Cooly with a feel-good atmosphere: coffee or cocktail in hand while thrifting some of the GC's best wardrobes.

📍 Kirra Beach House, Marine Pde, Coolangatta

🕒 Saturday 25th July, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

💸 Ticketed via thrifter.au (Find tickets)

👗 Score Pre-Loved at Her Wardrobe Markets — New Tugun Location

Her Wardrobe Markets lands at its brand-new Tugun venue, just across the highway from the beach. 100% indoor and air-conditioned, awesome fashion and community vibes, affordable feel-good fashion finds. Deep into thrifting or just starting your pre-loved journey — either way, a beautiful place to connect with the community.

📍 Tugun Village Community Centre, 414 Coolangatta Rd, Tugun

🕒 Saturday 25th July, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

💸 $3 entry (on-site parking)

🎤 Catch Local Talent at the Village Festival Community Open Mic, Burleigh

Burleigh Village Uniting Church throws its Village Festival evening — an open mic on the front lawn from 5–7pm plus an Op Shop Fashion Parade at 4:15pm to kick things off. Musicians, singers, poets, dancers, comedians, storytellers all welcome, with a kids and youth showcase too. Delicious food and drinks available all evening. Bring the family, invite friends, grab a bite and enjoy a wonderful evening celebrating the creativity of the local community.

📍 Burleigh Village Uniting Church, 2 Burleigh St, Burleigh Heads

🕒 Saturday 25th July, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

💸 Free entry

🍔 Graze the Food Trucks at Foodie Fiesta Night Market, Pimpama

Foodie Fiesta takes over Bim'bimba Park for one big night of food trucks, desserts, drinks and night-market vibes. Bring the family, bring your mates, come hungry.

📍 Bim'bimba Park, 182 Gainsborough Dr, Pimpama

🕒 Saturday 25th July, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM

💸 $3 entry / $10 family (kids under 3 free)

🤼 Watch Venom Pro Wrestling's 100th Show — OVERLOAD 10

Venom Pro Wrestling hits its historic 100th live show at The Showmen's Club, Yatala. Former WWE Superstar Brian Kendrick, Jake Nova, the returning Giant Kyote and the return of the Voice of Queensland Wrestling, Wayne Mulley — plus the annual Guy Fermanian Memorial Rumble. Loud, theatrical, a great night out.

📍 The Showmen's Club, 4 Turner Ave, Yatala

🕒 Saturday 25th July, doors 5:45 PM

💸 Ticketed via venomprowrestling.square.site

🎸 Rock Out to ELO at Rockaria: The ELO Experience

The tribute show to Jeff Lynne's Electric Light Orchestra lands at The Star Theatre. Evil Woman, Rock and Roll is King, Don't Bring Me Down, Xanadu, Living Thing, Telephone Line, Turn to Stone — plus a spin through the Traveling Wilburys. Two hours with interval.

📍 The Star Theatre, Casino Dr, Broadbeach

🕒 Saturday 25th July, doors 7:00 PM / show 8:00 PM

💸 $70.35 – $95.85 (Ticketek)

Sunday

🚒 Meet the Firies at Coomera Valley Rural Fire Brigade Open Day

Coomera Valley Rural Fire Brigade throws open the station doors to get the community ready for the high-risk bushfire period. Meet the volunteer firefighters, check out the trucks and gear up close, grab practical tips on property readiness, fire danger ratings and what to do in an emergency. Relaxed community atmosphere with food and coffee trucks, live entertainment, stalls, displays and activities for all ages.

📍 Coomera Valley Rural Fire Brigade, 639 Reserve Rd, Coomera

🕒 Sunday 26th July, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

💸 Free entry

🚜 Drive Up to the Scenic Rim Farm Gate Trail

Just over an hour from the GC, the Scenic Rim throws open its farm gates for one of Queensland's most beloved food and farming experiences. 25 producers, growers, wineries, breweries and makers welcoming visitors. New stops this edition include Fifth Acre Organics at the Scenic Rim Farm Shop and Waterfall Creek Farm (pick your own root vegetables and heirloom produce straight from the ground). Returning favourites: Northview Highlands (Highland cattle, Valais Blacknose sheep, charismatic pygmy goats), camel dairy, olive groves, boutique distilleries, artisan cheese makers. Maps, itineraries and booking details at the Destination Scenic Rim website.

📍 Various locations across the Scenic Rim

🕒 Sunday 26th July, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

💸 Free (some experiences may vary)

🏍️ Roll Down to Winter Daze Classic Motorcycle Show at Espresso Bonsai

Winter Daze is back for its second year. Motosocial Gold Coast + Espresso Bonsai team up for a classic motorcycle show and ride in the heart of the GC. Morning ride meeting at Iron and Resin 9am. As part of the Chevron Island festival, the main street shuts down for an afternoon of live music, street food and custom bikes. Cash prizes for show bike winners.

📍 Espresso Bonsai, 10–12 Mawarra St, Chevron Island

🕒 Sunday 26th July, from 11:00 AM (morning ride from 9 AM at Iron and Resin)

💸 Free (show bike entrants register via [email protected])

💃 Get Amongst HOLA Marketta — The Winter Latin Festival

The Gold Coast's biggest Latin festival returns to Miami Marketta. Live Latin bands including Chukale and Karaka Orchestra, salsa, timba and bachata all day. Latin-inspired food — tacos, empanadas, arepas — plus cocktails and refreshing drinks. Free salsa dance lessons from expert instructors for beginners and experienced dancers alike. DJ sets, cultural markets, all ages welcome.

📍 Miami Marketta, 23 Hillcrest Pde, Miami

🕒 Sunday 26th July, 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM

💸 Ticketed via miamimarketta.oztix.com.au

All Weekend

🪃 'After the Rain' — 5th National Indigenous Art Triennial at HOTA

A powerful First Nations triennial across the first two levels of HOTA. Curated by Tony Albert (Girramay/Yidinji/Kuku-Yalanji), the free exhibition features newly commissioned works from leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists across 10 installations. Gold Coast is the tour's first stop before it goes national.

📍 Gallery 2 and 3, HOTA, 135 Bundall Rd, Bundall

🕒 To 27 September, daily 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

💸 Free

🎨 'This Moment' at HOTA Gallery

35 artworks from 25 leading contemporary Chinese artists (White Rabbit Collection). Free to wander the gallery.

📍 HOTA Gallery, 135 Bundall Rd, Bundall

🕒 Until 11 October, daily 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

💸 Free

🧒 'Aka Sorbie: Saltwater Heart' at HOTA Children's Gallery

An immersive First Nations Children's Gallery exhibition by Torres Strait artist Lisa Sorbie Martin. Coral-filled undersea scenes, an island hut for cubby-building, patterns in nature.

📍 HOTA Children's Gallery, 135 Bundall Rd, Bundall

🕒 Until Sunday 16 August, daily

💸 Free

🛹 Final Week: Gold Coast Festival of Skateboarding

The inaugural festival wraps up next Friday. Last chance to catch participation programs and pop-up activations across GC locations after this month's Rumble on the Beach nationals.

📍 Multiple GC locations

🕒 Closes Friday 31 July

💸 Free

Market Mania — Weekly Regulars

Saturday markets:

• Burleigh Market — Burleigh Heads State School, 1750 Gold Coast Hwy. Every Saturday from 7am.
• Palm Beach Farmers Market — Palm Beach Currumbin High School, Thrower Drive. Saturday, 6am–11.30am.
• Helensvale Farmers Market — Helensvale State High School, 243 Discovery Drive. Saturday, 6am–11am.
• Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets — Esplanade, Surfers Paradise. Friday and Saturday, 4pm–9pm.
• Dreamworld Night Market — Dreamworld, Coomera. Friday and Saturday nights.

Sunday markets:

• HOTA Farmers & Artisan Market — HOTA, 135 Bundall Rd, Bundall. Every Sunday, 6am–11.30am.
• Organic Gold Coast Farmers Market — Merrimac State High School, Mermaid Waters. Sundays, 6am–11am.
• Robina Farmers Market — Robina State High School, 1 Investigator Drive, Robina. Sundays, 6am–11am.
• Gold Coast Art & Craft Markets — none scheduled 26 July (4th Sunday, no location).
• The Coastal Markets — Queen Elizabeth Park, Coolangatta. 4th Sunday of the month (this Sunday), 8am–2pm.

Both days:

• Carrara Markets — Gooding Drive, Carrara. Saturday and Sunday, 8am–3pm. Free onsite parking.

Coming Soon — Lock These In

🌿 Botanical Bazaar (Rotary Gold Coast) — A lovely family day out: garden-to-plate produce, expert garden talks, live music, 100+ market stalls and food trucks. Saturday 1st August, 9am–4pm, Country Paradise Parklands, Nerang. Newsletter subscribers: enter this week's Family + Couple pass giveaway.

🎪 The Big Family Funanza — Free community festival: free rides and kids' activities, market and community stalls, food trucks, local entertainment. Sunday 9th August, 10am–2pm, Country Paradise Parklands, Nerang. Free entry. Supported by Cr Peter Young (Div 5) — details on the Nerang Family Funanza Facebook page.

✈️ Pacific Airshow Gold Coast — The big one. Three days of heart-pumping aerobatics, high-speed flyovers and world-class aviators right over the ocean at Surfers Paradise. 14th, 15th & 16th August, roughly 10am–3:30pm daily.

🎡 2026 Gold Coast Show — Big long weekend at Broadwater Parklands. Woodchop events, equestrian, arts and crafts, dog shows, rides, showbags, fireworks. Fri 28 – Sun 30 August, Broadwater Parklands, Southport. Free entry.

🤠 Groundwater Country Music Festival — One of Australia's biggest country music festivals returns to Broadbeach for three days of free live music, beachside line dancing, bluegrass breakfasts, country DJs and open-air sets steps from the sand. 2026 lineup led by Kasey Chambers, joined by Kaylee Bell, The Wolfe Brothers, Beccy Cole, James Blundell, Kingswood, Lane Pittman, Hayley Jensen and 30+ acts. Fri 16 – Sun 18 October, Broadbeach. Free.

🎸 Rolling Sets — Pop across the border for the coastal festival: live music, surf, skate and beach culture. Ocean Alley and Royel Otis headline, joined by G Flip, Violent Soho, The Rions, Old Mervs, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers and more. Saturday 28 November, Ebenezer Park, Tweed Heads. From $199.95 via rollingsets.com.au (sold out last year — book early).

LMK if I've missed something good or got something wrong, or add your own events in the comments. Have a good one, GC! 💃🌴

P.S. If you'd rather get these delivered to your inbox each week, chuck your email in here: Best Things to Do in the Gold Coast This Weekend Newsletter — https://www.reachingimpact.com/things-to-do-gc1

Thank you kindly

I went with friends and I said it was in IMAX but no one could remember if it was or not. It was a limited release and could sweat it was IMAX

Hello, I have a bit of a fixation with Gold Coast retail history 😆 Does anyone know whereabouts the old Disney Store in Robina Town Centre was located? Or what store has currently taken its place? Wayback machine only says ‘High Street Terraces’ but doesn’t give an exact location haha. Thanks!

Hi everyone,
We’ll be visiting the Gold Coast in early August, and our daughter will be turning 5 years old while we’re there. We’d love to make it a really special and memorable day.
We’re not looking for theme parks (we’ll be doing those on other days). Instead, we’re after unique or lesser-known ideas that locals would recommend.
We’ll have a car, so we’re happy to drive anywhere around the Gold Coast or nearby.
If you were planning an unforgettable birthday for your 5-year-old daughter, where would you go?
Thanks in advance! 😊

Hi from Bris! I’ve got teenage visitors over from the UK - I was thinking of taking them to one of the theme parks but I’m worried everything seems mostly closed for maintenance. Anyone been recently? Would it be worth the trip/entrance fee?

Hello everyone, I am looking for recommendations for on the must dos around gold coast for a family of 4 adults and 2 kids. I am staying turtle beach resort for 6nights starting next Tuesday and yet to plan my activities. I am thinking to so Currumbin sanctuary , sea world theme park, day trip to sunshine coast and a day trip to brisbane. i am looking for your suggestions on what are the places i need to see in gold coast , sun shine and brisbane. I am also looking to taste some must try food, coffee and ice creams and enjoy some beach time as well. Help me plan my time effectively. Also if taking a car is advisable or public transport.

Thanks

Does anyone know why there’s been a helicopter flying around in Nerang/carrara for the past hour?