The September Event Guide to What’s on in Brisbane Today, Tomorrow & Beyond

Spring has sprung (although it sometimes feels like we’ve skipped straight to summer…), but September has exploded onto the Brisbane scene like a vibrant display of fireworks. 

Each September we welcome back Brisbane Festival and its magnificent lineup of events, but that’s not all there is to celebrate this month.

There’s a vegan expo, a wine & dance party, and a flower carnival in Toowoomba on the calendar for September, so you’d best get planning!

Whispering Angel Spring Rose Garden 

Customs House knows how to throw a party! And by party, we mean an elegant riverside affair, with Whispering Angel flowing and table settings adorned with pretty pink roses.

Just head down to this beautiful part of Brisbane’s CBD and enjoy their signature Moreton Bay Bug croissants, nibbles, handcrafted cocktails and of course some Whispering Angel rose!

Be sure to dress in your best pink outfit for the ultimate Instagram pic or new seasonal DP. 

Customs House, 399 Queen Sreet, Brisbane

Brisbane Vegan Expo 2024

It’s time for the plant-based people of Brisbane to get excited - the Brisbane Vegan Expo is back this month! Explore vegan and cruelty-free food, clothing, skincare, household goods and healthcare vendors all under one roof for one action-packed weekend. 

There will also be cooking demonstrations and guest speakers to entertain and educate you, and animal rescue groups to learn about and support. This event welcomes one and all (vegan or not) and invites you to explore the benefits and convenience of a cruelty-free life.

From $12.96 per person

Saturday 14 September to Sunday 15 September

Exhibition Building, Corner Gregory Terrace and Costin Streets, Bowen Hills

Negroni Week on Fish Lane

Negroni Week arrives on Fish Lane this September, painting this foodie street red in celebration of this delicious, bitter beverage.

Celebrating its 12th anniversary, Negroni Week raises funds for its official charity partner Slow Food, who work to provide good, clean and fairly sourced food for all.

Fish Lane favourites such as Bar Brutus, Chu the Phat, Hello Please, Kiki, Maeve Bar and more will be adding negroni-inspired cocktails, dishes and desserts to the menu for your enjoyment throughout mid-Septemer.

Monday 16th September to Sunday 22nd September

Multiple locations along Fish Lane

Yo-Chi Unicorn Magic Month

It’s starting to feel like Brisbane is skipping Spring and heading straight into Summer… so thankfully Yo-Chi has the fix! For a limited time, you can indulge your inner child at any of their venues across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast as they turn their frozen yoghurt stores into an immersive experience! 

For Unicorn Magic Month, you can enjoy limited edition unicorn-themed toppings and unicorn swirl Strawberries & Cream yoghurt. There are even bite-sized chunks of rainbow cake you can pop on top of your fro-yo.

If that has your mouth watering, it might be time to head into your local Yo-Chi! 

Monday 16th September to Sunday 30th September

Multiple locations

Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses Water and Dreams High Tea

For the next activation from The W Brisbane’s partnership with QAGOMA comes the Water and Dreams High Tea experience, pairing the exclusive exhibition with a high tea that brings it to life in a whole new way.

This time, the Living Room Bar partnered with Bubblelick to add edible, flavoured bubbles for a brand-new flavour (and texture) sensation! You can also sample a cosmic Kalamansi tart, red & white Italian meringue, pearl-topped chocolate opera cake and more.

From $79 per person

Until 27th October, 11am to 3pm

5th July to 27th October, 11am to 3pm

IMAGINATOR x QTea High Tea

After experiencing the immersive wonder of IMAGINATOR, keep your imagination running wide with this special IMAGINATOR x QTea High Tea, at the QT Hotel Gold Coast.

QT’s Head Pastry Chef, Daniel King, has worked his magic to craft tiny, tiered treats with a dash of theatrics and lashings of sweet perfection. Sip on a colour-changing iced tea and your choice of tea or espresso coffee and delight your inner child with this exciting offering.

From $74 per person

Available daily from 10am till 2pm

QT Gold Coast, 7 Staghorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise

Sun Ranch x Cedar & Salt Sauna and Pool Club Experience

Recently voted one of the World's Greatest Places to visit by TIME  magazine, Byron Bay's Sun Ranch is giving you another reason to visit this September. Relax and unwind in Cedar & Salt's wood-fired Finnish Sauna overlook the serene Byron hinterland. The saunas fit up to 8 people so grab your besties and book in for a one-hour session and ice-bath and then relax and enjoy drinks and snacks by the pool. 

$80 per person

13th - 22nd September 

17 Byron Creek Road, Coopers Shoot 

Limbo - The Return

West End’s most exciting new theatre and bar is welcoming an international circus spectacle this month with Limbo - The Return opening to the public on the 29th of August. The award-winning performance has toured 17 countries and has now been reimagined, in time to form part of the Brisbane Festival 2024. 

Prepare to be dazzled by a cast of world-renowned circus performers, prolific musicians and magnificent magicians in this captivating show. 

From $59 per person

From 29 August

The West End Electric, 125 Boundary Street, West End

Image credit: Glen Scarborough & Damien Bredburg

WICKED – The Untold True Story of the Witches of Oz

The utterly iconic WICKED returns to Brisbane this month, bringing the award-winning and three-time Tony Award-winning show to musical theatre lovers. 

WICKED tells the tale of the witches in the Land of Oz before Dorothy twirled in on her tornado. Showing the unlikely friendship between a fiery young woman born with emerald skin and a popular bubbly blonde, this Broadway musical classic is a must-do when making plans this month.

From $75 per person

Thursday 12 September to Sunday 17 November

QPAC Lyric Theatre, Grey Street, South Brisbane

LUZIA by Cirque du Soleil

Inspired by the people, places and stories that define Mexico, LUZIA by Cirque du Soleil is a must do this month, for anyone who loves circus acts or performance. 

Luzia takes you on a journey through an imaginary Mexico, from old folklore to the urban landscape of modern day. Expect a surrealistic series of visual surprises and acrobatic performances that will take your breath away.

From $84 per person

Wednesday 25 September to Sunday 10 November

Under the Big Top, Next to Royal Queensland Golf Club, 431 Curtin Ave West, Eagle Farm 

Art Deco Tours

Have a passion for the vintage art deco aesthetic? Hop into a 1937 Dodge Convertible sedan, or a 1936 Chrysler AirStream sedan, and discover the hidden architectural gems of Brisbane’s art deco residences and buildings.

The tour takes around two hours to explore Brisbane’s CBD and fits up to four passengers for the perfect way to travel back in time.

Ballet Nights

Making its first international foray to Brisbane this month is Ballet Nights, a one-night-only performance by renowned and emerging ballet stars, musicians, and contemporary dance talent. 

Ballet Nights will be presented as an immersive experience, so don’t miss the opportunity to surround yourself with incredible international talent from stageside seating. 

From $145 per person

Saturday 21 September, 7:30pm

Talbot Theatre, The Thomas Dixon Centre, 406 Montague Road, West End

New Light: Photography Now + Then

Arriving at the Museum of Brisbane in August, New Light: Photography Now + Then offers a curation of past and present photography from the museum’s most prolific archive, the Elliott Collection.

Catapulting the past perspectives into present day, are images from local photographers and image makers, offering a juxtaposition that will spark wonder and amazement at the change our city has seen.

Sitchu Tip: The Elliott Collection showcases the work of an amateur photographer by the name of Alfred Henrie Elliott, whose black and white photography was found preserved in cedar cigar boxes under a Red Hill home in 1983.

Free admission

From Saturday 17th August 2024

Museum of Brisbane, Level 3, City Hall

Iris Van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses Exhibition at GOMA

Fashion, art, design, science and technology collide at GOMA’s latest exhibition by acclaimed Dutch fashion designer, Iris van Herpen.

Brisbane gains exclusive access to an immersive sensory exploration of van Herpen’s work, with almost 100 garments, presented with contemporary artworks, natural history specimens and cultural artefacts that inspired the designs.

Worn by Beyoncé, Björk, Cate Blanchett, Lady Gaga and Tilda Swinton, her work reflects her curiosity about the universe and her collaborative approach to haute couture.

Until 7 Oct 2024

Gallery of Modern Art, Stanley Place, South Brisbane

Titanic: The Human Story

Following sold-out sessions in London, New York and DC, Titanic: The Human Story is coming to Brisbane!

Discover the human stories of the Titanic passengers by exploring personal possessions, photographs and relics both from people aboard, and from the ship itself. You’ll also get to view a recreation of the ship’s interior, from the first-class suites to the humble third-class cabins.

From $39 per person

Wednesdays to Sundays, 10:00am to 6:00pm

Level Q, Uptown, 91 Queen Street, Brisbane

Imaginator

The Gold Coast’s most exciting new immersive playground has arrived this month, ready for kids of all ages (and yes, by that we mean young-at-heart adults!). 

Imagination and technology collide in the heart of the GC to create a futuristic audiovisual experience that you can take at your own pace. Envelop yourself in shimmering lights, vivid colours and rich sounds, or challenge yourself by diving off a four-metre ledge into the unknown.

You can even spark up a conversation with the most advanced AI. If you’re feeling overstimulated, take a break in the Parachute cinema room and observe a curated list of some of the world’s most talented digital artists. No matter how you choose to explore Imaginator, you’re guaranteed a great time. 

From $29.95 per person

3241 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise

Lightscape

Invite a sense of wonder into your life this month with the arrival of Lightscape, a two-kilometre, self-guided trail under glowing tree canopies filled with colour and through sparkling tunnels of light.

Pore over neon roots bursting from the undergrowth of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, as this immersive installation is brought to life in a warm-up for the Brisbane Festival.

With sessions running every 15 minutes, we recommend allowing yourself a leisurely 90 minutes to stroll through the experience, so you’ll have plenty of time to be mesmerised… and to get your Instagram moments, of course.

From $28 per person

Thursday 29 August to Thursday 12 October, 5.45pm until late

Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Brisbane City

Brisbane Festival 2024

Brisbane Festival returns and we’re ever so ready for it! Celebrating the lifestyle, persona, and energy of our river city, these highly anticipated events bring an enormous calendar of performances, art, and culture back to our doorsteps.

From light shows to renowned artist performances and incredible installations, this is the best time of year to explore the growing pace of Brisbane’s arts and cultural scene.

With some of the Festival’s installations beginning in August, the program will be in full swing from September 1st and we recommend booking tickets now to prevent any disappointment, as events will sell out fast!

Free and ticketed events, various locations

Swell Sculpture Festival

Queensland’s largest outdoor sculpture exhibition returns again this year to Currumbin with SWELL, an immersive outdoor gallery spread along the coastline. Along with sculptures from local, national and international artists, Gold Coast locals and visitors can enjoy cultural and venue programming, from comedy, to live music and so much more.

Friday 6th September to Sunday 15th September 2024

Pacific Parade, Currumbin, Gold Coast Area

Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers

Toowoomba’s most exciting event of the year happens each September, and if you haven’t yet attended, you’ve certainly heard of it. The Carnival of Flowers showcases incredible floral displays, garden tours, live music and of course the grand parade. Whether you’re a green thumb or simply an admirer of beautiful things, it’s the best time of year to visit Toowoomba and soak up the food, florals and culture that come to life.

If you’re searching for things to do in Toowoomba, you’ll find the widest variety of events occurring throughout October, from food and wine festivals, live music from your favourite bands and arts and crafts workshops so you can make a little bit of magic to remember your trip by. The programme changes each year and accommodation books out months in advance, so make sure you’ve planned and prepared accordingly!

Free and ticketed events

Various locations across Toowoomba

Friday 13th September to Monday 7th October

Night Feast 

Brisbane’s most exciting immersive foodie event has returned for its third year this October!

Night Feast will once again package live music, installations, roaming performers and incredible food into an immersive Spring Feast extravaganza.

Amidst a program of free events and art, you’ll enjoy pop-up micro restaurants from Boom Boom Room, Gelato Messina, Lek’s Thai, Allonda, Byblos, Donna Chang and so many more.  

Head down to the Powerhouse to explore the installations and feast upon some of Brisbane’s best restaurant menus, reinvented in an enthralling new way. 

Wednesday 16 October to Thursday 10 November

The Powerhouse, 119 Lamington Street, New Farm

Champagne Day Lunch at Beechmont Estate

Heralding the beginning of spring, and in celebration of World Champagne Day, is a very special lunch at Beechmont Estate. 

The first event of its kind, sees this two chef-hatted restaurant partnering with a champagne house to deliver an exquisite, bespoke five-course meal, paired the seven prestige wines from Moët & Chandon.

Each course will pair perfectly with the flavour profile of the champagne, so you can expect delicate flavours drawn from premium, hyper-local ingredients. 

From $295 per person

Saturday 26 October, 11:30am to 3:00pm

422 Binna Burra Road, Beechmont

Darkfield

Enter a dark and mysterious world this month in Brisbane, as Darkfield makes its long-awaited return to our river city. Featuring the fan-favourite Darkfield experiences SÉANCE and FLIGHT, 360-degree multisensory experiences housed in shipping containers, there’s even more to experience this time around. 

Popular Japanese immersive magic show MAHO MAGIC will also be in session alongside Darkfield’s unique experiences, with fresh tricksters, fresh tricks and importantly… fresh cocktails. 

From $23.83 per person

3 October to 8 December

Maritime Museum, 412 Stanley St, South Brisbane

Searching for more ways to enjoy the spring weather? Grab the gang for drinks at a rooftop bar, or take a scenic stroll around the city on one of Brisbane’s best walks.

Don’t forget to keep us in the loop with what you get up to around the city! Tag @sitchu.brisbane in your foodie and adventure pics as you experience the best of Brisbane.