A festival of German culture spread across venues citywide, with events on film, fashion, food, business, science and tradition, and a focus on Brisbane's ties with Germany.
A Sculptors Queensland exhibition of work by local sculptors, ranging across different forms, materials and ideas. Browse it any time during the gardens' usual hours.
Workouts for women only, led by a qualified personal trainer. Every advanced move has an easier option, so beginners and any fitness level are welcome, and there are no mirrors.
Volunteers meet to care for local bushland, pulling weeds, planting natives, building wildlife habitat and helping with citizen science. Newcomers of any skill level are welcome to join.
An exhibition of this year's finalist portraits by Brisbane artists, each picturing someone from the city, from well-known faces to everyday locals. The works deal with identity, belonging and being seen.
Ballet classes designed for people aged 55 and up, though there's no strict age limit. The focus is on balance and keeping the mind sharp, with a social side as well.
A hands-on workshop for small business owners and sole traders who want social media to take less of their time. You'll leave with a way to find post ideas, a posting routine and AI prompts that keep your own voice.
Nia mixes dance, martial arts and healing arts into a gentle, low-impact workout set to all sorts of music, aimed at over-50s. No need to get the steps right, and you can join in seated or standing.
A drop-in play space for families with young children. Kids can get messy in an art room, climb and stack big blocks, try on dress-ups, join story and song sessions or read in little nooks.
Bold vinyl graphics and timber sculptural pieces spread over the walls and ceiling of the museum's entrance in this residency by Renee Kire. Her work reworks Minimalism from a feminist angle, highlighting women the movement overlooked.
An experienced local guide leads a walking tour and shares what they know and love about Brisbane. Walks run through the city centre or a historic suburb, for residents and tourists.
A Brisbane Greeter leads seniors on a walk through the parts of the city they love most, old buildings and new, with stories along the way. Concertgoers get back to City Hall in time.
Children aged 3 to 5 and their carers spend a morning outdoors with a tree-themed tea party, bushwalks, stories, craft and play that build comfort in nature. Old clothes suit the messy play.
Drop-in mending sessions where you can bring torn clothes or an unfinished sewing project and fix them with help from local makers and staff. Beginners are welcome.
A downloadable guide for school groups to three First Nations public artworks: Megan Cope's MAIWAR Yunggulba, Lilla Watson's Kurilpa Country and Fiona Foley's Black Opium. Small groups of up to 10 students need an adult with them.
A self-guided treasure hunt for school groups. Teachers download the resource and lead students in small, adult-supervised groups around all five floors of the library.
Parents and babies under one sing, clap and move together in a rhyme session, learning action songs and rhymes that support early speech and social development.
A hands-on session of stories, songs and early mark making for children aged two to five, with a parent or carer alongside. Part of a Queensland early literacy program.
A workshop on raising vanilla orchids in Brisbane, from pollinating to picking the beans. You'll walk to the vines in the gardens, learn to cook with a pod and taste some vanilla treats.
A bookable room where school groups in Years 7 to 12 can study alone, work in groups or run quiet lessons, close to the library's collections. No librarian help is included.
Kids pick up a free activity sheet at reception and play I Spy through five exhibitions of local art and history, hunting for small details like flowers. Parents and carers get one too.
The winning photos from this year's Lord Mayor's Photographic Awards, taken by people who live, work or study in Brisbane. The theme is Everyday Brisbane: local streets, river scenes, and the people and habits of city life.
A get-together for knitters, weavers, spinners and crocheters to work on their own projects side by side, swap ideas and meet others who share the hobby.
Students in Years 7 to 12 learn how to search the library catalogue, databases, e-books and old newspapers for their research assignments. Teachers bring a topic and each student needs a laptop.
A self-paced scavenger hunt through the library where you solve puzzles and follow clues to find hidden spaces, history and artworks. Suits families and people of all ages and abilities.
A Quandamooka artist in residence shares the Minjerribah story of Warrajamba, a mermaid whose ending is lost. Visitors can print a mermaid or dugong with stamps she designed, and see her sculptures of reed, cotton tree and shell.
Toddlers aged 13 to 35 months look at an artwork together with singing, moving and games, then spend time handling loose objects that echo what they saw.
A guided trip up the heritage-listed clock tower in an old cage lift that still runs, going behind huge analogue clock faces and out to a lookout platform. Watch for the bells.
A volunteer guide leads a walk through the Brisbane Portrait Prize exhibition and talks you through the portraits on show. Just turn up shortly before it starts.
Parents and toddlers aged one to two get together to sing, clap and dance. The rhymes with actions and songs help build early language, communication and social skills.
Families with children gather to sing, rhyme, hear stories and play, with everything in Indonesian. Open to Indonesian families of any background, and a way for kids to stay close to the culture.
Queensland Police Service officers give older people practical advice on keeping themselves safe and looking out for their neighbours. A Seniors Month talk.
A small-group guided walk through two neighbouring galleries, covering their history and the stories behind historical and contemporary works, then a sit-down lunch with river views.
A rhyme time for babies under one and their parents, with singing, clapping and dancing. The action songs help build early language, communication and social skills.
Volunteer guides lead an hour-long walk at an easy pace, pointing out plants and features of the gardens and sharing what they know and love about them.
Volunteer guides who love the place lead a gentle walk through the gardens, explaining the plants and landmarks along the way. Each walk runs for about an hour.
City Botanic Gardens - Information Kiosk · Brisbane City
Songs, action rhymes and clapping for babies up to one year old and their parents. It helps early language and social development, and is a good way to meet other families.
A mat Pilates class for over-50s, working the whole body with low-impact moves that build core strength, posture and flexibility. You'll need to get down to the floor and back up easily.
A singer and live band spend an hour on 1960s pop, working through Dusty Springfield's best-known songs and other diva hits of the era. Expect Motown-style grooves and a crowd singing along.
A relaxed, low-impact salsa class for over-50s that builds fitness, flexibility, posture and bone strength while you learn the basic steps. No partner needed.
Kids and their grown-ups roll and squish clay into pretend food and goods, playing chef or shopkeeper. A hands-on sensory session from the First 5 Forever early-years program.
Get one-on-one help with tech problems, from fixing a glitch to building your skills and feeling more confident online. Contact the library to arrange a session.
The journalist and author talks through his new book on decades of odd, contradictory and sometimes cruel parenting advice, with humour and his own 20 tips. You can bring a copy to be signed.
A guided walk through Queensland's main war memorial and its interactive exhibition, with guides telling the stories of Australians who served in war and peacetime. Tours can be adjusted for any age or interest.
Parents and babies under one get together for songs, clapping and a dance. You'll learn rhymes with actions that help build early language, communication and social skills.
Parents and toddlers sing, clap and dance together, learning action songs and rhymes that build early speech, communication and confidence with others. Suits children aged one to two.
A space show narrated by Whoopi Goldberg that follows how stars are born and die, our Sun included. It ends with a guided look at the sky over Brisbane.
Learn a traditional English folk dance where a team, joined to one another by swords, weaves patterns in close formation to live music. The swords end up interlocked as a star and raised overhead.
A book-club style group for music lovers that listens to a classic album together, then talks through the music, the era it came from and the mark it left.
Artist Bill Platz teaches trace monotype, a drawing method that uses an inked tracing-paper plate to transfer a portrait onto paper. Materials are supplied, beginners are welcome, and the life model is partly nude.
Four songwriters share the stage in the Nashville style, taking turns to play original songs with one instrument and a voice and explaining how each song came about. There's also audience Q&A and time to mingle.
A dance workout to club hits spanning the 90s to today, under disco lights, with fluoro outfits welcome. Moves are kept simple, you go at your own pace, and no dance experience is needed.
An exhibition of clothing by Magpie Goose, an Aboriginal-owned label and social enterprise. Each piece tells a story, drawing on the work of First Nations designers and artists across Queensland and further afield.
Bicycle Queensland runs a morning pit stop for anyone keen to try riding to work. Call in on the way for a coffee, a quick bike check from a mechanic and a chat about commuting.
The first of the inner-city Brisbane City Markets, with stalls for lunch, groceries, gifts and other bits. City workers, locals and visitors all come by.
Slow, gentle movements from the Chinese martial art tradition, done for health rather than combat. The class aims to build mobility, suppleness and focus for people aged 50 and over.
Confidential face-to-face sessions where business owners are paired with volunteer mentors for advice on a challenge or next step. Run by the state government, for new and established businesses.
Songs, rhymes, clapping and movement for babies under one and their parents, building early language and communication. A chance to meet other new parents too.
Babies up to one and their parents sing, clap and move through rhymes and action songs that build early language and social skills. A relaxed way to meet other new parents.
Parents and babies sing, clap and move together, learning action rhymes and songs that help little ones start talking, listening and getting along with others.
Parents and toddlers sing, clap and dance together, picking up songs and action rhymes that help with early literacy and talking. For children aged one to two.
A sing-along for toddlers and their parents, with clapping, dancing, songs and action rhymes that help with early speech and getting along with others. A chance to meet other local families too.
Weave a pair of earrings from recycled fibres coloured with natural dyes. Artist Claudia Williams teaches an easy technique for playing with colour and texture, and supplies everything you need.
An art prize exhibition on genre painting, a favourite subject of long-time art society fellow Audrey Gibbs. Expect everyday scenes of ordinary people at home, at work and at leisure.
A relaxed park catch-up for mums and their little ones up to three, sitting on rugs and blankets by the playground. First-time and experienced mothers are both welcome.
Children aged 3 to 5 and their parents or carers share stories and rhymes outdoors in a special Nature Book Week session, run with Council libraries. Old clothes are a good idea for messy play.
A gentle guided bushland walk of about 2.5km for Arbor Day, with a shared cuppa and a draw for free plants. Expect steps, small hills and rough ground, and bring your own mug.
Toddlers aged 1 to 2 and their parents sing, clap and move to rhymes and songs with actions, building early skills in talking, reading and mixing with others.
Toddlers aged one to two and their parents sing, clap and dance together, learning rhymes with actions that help with early speech, communication and mixing with others.
A session for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on storing and caring for photographs, led by the library's preservation staff and tied to the Wayne Coolwell exhibition. Everyone leaves with a little archival folder they've made.
An exhibition of five decades of photographs by Wayne Coolwell, the Mununjali journalist who was one of the first Aboriginal broadcasters in Australia, showing the people and places he covered.
Children aged three to five learn about a single artwork and the person who made it through talk, games and stories, then go and find it on the walls and make a related craft.
A rhyme time where parents and babies share songs, clapping and dancing, learning rhymes that support early literacy and language. For babies up to one.
A rhyme session for babies under one and their parents, with songs, clapping and dancing. Action rhymes help build early language and social skills, and it's a chance to meet other families.
A session for toddlers aged one to two and their parents, with songs, action rhymes, clapping and dancing that support early speech and social development.
A storytime for Nature Book Week where children make a collage from leaves, bark and other natural bits. Part of the First 5 Forever early literacy program, for ages 3 to 5.
A guided walk through the Outdoor Gallery's current exhibition by Brisbane artists who live with disability, held for National Carers Week. The artists and curator Nicole Crosswell talk through the works and how they were made.
A drop-in playgroup held entirely in Portuguese, with songs, rhymes and stories drawn from Brazilian traditions to help little ones pick up the language. Families from any Portuguese-speaking background are welcome.
Stories and rhymes with LGBTIQ+ themes about family, friends and community, celebrating the different shapes families take. For children five and under, with their grown-ups.
Parents and babies under one get together to sing, clap and move, picking up rhymes with actions that help with early language, communication and getting along with others.
A slow-paced class that works on balance, flexibility, movement and building muscle. You can stand or stay seated the whole way through, and you don't need to be very fit.
A curator talks you through a display about water in books, from artists' books, fine press editions and illustrated books to works once submerged, made with water or printed at sea.
A specialist curator leads you through the library's rare collections and its rotating exhibition, sharing little-known stories of everyday Queenslanders and objects important to the state's history.
Gorenpul Yuggera Goorie singer-songwriter Zayne Hall plays guitar and sings, drawing on country and rock acts like Luke Combs and Zach Bryan. A self-taught player, he writes songs that tell stories.
Parents and babies under one get together to sing, clap and dance through action rhymes and songs. It helps build early language and social skills, and you'll meet other parents.
Bring a tech problem and get help sorting it out with someone one-on-one. Sessions can also help you build digital skills and feel more confident online.
A one-on-one session at the library to fix tech problems, build your digital skills and feel more confident online. Get in touch with the library to arrange one.
Pink Floyd's album played through a surround sound system with visuals to match. The show includes strobe effects, adult themes and coarse language, so it isn't for kids.
A drop-in playgroup run in both Mandarin and English, where children learn Chinese nursery rhymes, music games and classic stories, and make crafts like lanterns around traditional festivals.
A Navratri celebration with prayer, Garba dancing for beginners and regulars alike, live music and cultural performances, a festival meal, henna and stalls. Traditional dress is encouraged.
A hands-on class in basic hand embroidery stitches, plus layering stitches and using thread to add colour and texture. Bring a piece of clothing to work on, or practise on a supplied fabric swatch.
Queensland artist David Paulson talks through his career, influences and Queensland's arts scene with Michael Eather, a fellow artist he has long worked with. Brisbane Portrait Prize chair Anna Reynolds hosts.
Designer Gail Sorronda talks with Alison Kubler about running her own fashion brand from Brisbane for two decades, and the business lessons and hard times that shaped it. Aimed at people starting out in business.
An open mic built for bands but open to any live performer, with a full backline on stage. Acts get three songs each, everything must be played live, and the audience is 18+.
Classes in Wing Chun, a kung fu style built around close-range fighting and self-defence in street situations. Students of any age, background, body type or skill level are welcome.
Seido karate training for teens and adults, from beginners to black belts, with students aged 10 to over 80. Classes build fitness, focus and confidence alongside people of all ages.
Woody Allen's crime comedy about a crook who opens a bakery as cover for tunnelling into a bank, only for the cookies to become a New York hit. Elaine May plays the wife's slow-witted cousin.
Brisbane North Chamber of Commerce's yearly breakfast, with Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner speaking on what's shaping Brisbane's future for local business, plus networking over a hot plated breakfast.
A compact city market where food stalls are the main draw, so it works well as a lunch stop. Bring a rug, pick up something to eat and stay a while with live music on.
A small-group guided tour of the Jim Henson exhibition ahead of opening time, followed by morning tea by the river and a pass to wander back through on your own later that day. Best for visitors 16 and over.
A sing, clap and dance session for toddlers and their parents, learning action songs that help with early talking and getting along with others. Also a chance to meet other parents.
Stories and songs for babies and children up to five, with a parent or carer, run by a pop-up library in the park. Part of the First 5 Forever program.
Parents and babies under one get together for songs, clapping and a dance. You'll learn rhymes with actions that help build early language, communication and social skills.
A music and movement session for toddlers and their parents, full of songs, clapping and action rhymes. It helps little ones with early talking and social skills, and parents meet each other too.
A sing-along for parents and toddlers with clapping, dancing, songs and action rhymes that build early language, communication and social skills. Suited to children aged one to two.
Author Kathie Elliot-Scott joins a panel of writers and advocates to talk about living with invisible illness and chronic pain, and how telling stories can help people feel understood. Bring your copy to be signed.
Kids aged 3 to 5 and their parents or carers hear stories and rhymes out in nature for Nature Book Week. It's run with Council libraries through First 5 Forever.
Rhymes with actions, songs and gentle movement for parents and babies under one, with singing and clapping that helps early talking, reading and social development.
Stories, songs and early scribbling and drawing activities for young children and their grown-ups, with little ones joining in throughout. Made for 2 to 5 year olds.
Young children hear stories and move to music in these sessions, which draw on the Kindy Moves program from Queensland Ballet. They aim to build early literacy and imagination.
A hands-on workshop covering backyard food gardening, composting and worm farms, then cooking seasonal produce into a meal you share at the end. Ages 16 and over; wear a hat and closed shoes.
A relaxed session showing you who to ask and what to read when you're stuck with a computer, tablet, smartphone or the internet, plus sorting out tech problems.
Yoga for people over 50, done seated in a chair or standing. The exercises work on balance, flexibility, strength, mobility and brain function to help slow the effects of ageing.
A relaxed gallery tour for babies and the adults with them. A guide talks about a few artworks while little ones get songs and games, and it finishes with tummy time.
Toddlers and their parents sing, clap and dance their way through songs and action rhymes. It's aimed at building early language and communication, and you get to meet other families.
A rhyme session for parents and babies under one, with clapping, dancing and singing. You'll learn action rhymes and songs that help early language, communication and social skills.
A group session for parents and toddlers to sing, clap and dance, picking up rhymes with actions that support early talking and social skills. Suits one and two year olds.
Toddlers and their parents get together to sing, clap and dance, learning songs and action rhymes that support early reading, language and social skills. Suits one to two year olds.
A monthly book club for gallery members to talk about art, life and creativity over light refreshments. Spring titles include novels by Michelle de Kretser and Claire Thomas and a biography of Jim Henson.
A member of the prize's artistic team walks you through the finalists' exhibition, talking about selected portraits, the people who made and sat for them, and the current trends in portraiture the show reflects.
A guided walk through fifty years of photographs by Wayne Coolwell, the Mununjali journalist who was one of Australia's earliest Aboriginal broadcasters. Tours alternate between First Nations guides and special guests.
Parents and babies sing, clap and dance their way through action rhymes and songs that help early language and social skills. For babies in their first year.
Parents and babies sing, clap and dance together while learning action songs that help early talking, listening and social development. Made for babies under one.
A lower-intensity Zumba class for over-50s, with simple dance routines that work on balance, coordination and range of motion as well as fitness and strength.
A sensory play session for children under five and their grown-ups. A pretend construction site with toy trucks and odds and ends lets kids dig, build and make up their own games.
Classic board games aimed at adults and seniors, with no experience needed even if it's been years since you last played. A friendly way to get to know some new faces.
Makers who have done an equipment induction can book time on laser cutters, 3D printers, a vinyl cutter, sewing machines and electronics benches. Staff help with software, design tips and pointing you to other makers.
An online session for seniors on keeping your personal details safe: why privacy matters, how to secure your data, which impersonation scams to watch for and where to get help.
An online session for seniors on keeping your personal details safe on the internet. It covers why privacy matters, how to secure your data, impersonation scams to watch for and where to get help.
A singing and rhyming session for parents and babies under one, with clapping, dancing and action songs that support early talking and social development.
Learn to use the library's media conversion station to turn old photos, slides, negatives, cassettes, floppy discs and videos into digital files. Covers the gear, some hands-on practice and booking your own session.
Personal help with your tech: sort out problems, build your digital skills and feel more confident online. Get in touch with the library to arrange a session.
Personal help with your tech: sort out problems, build your digital skills and feel more confident online. Get in touch with the library to arrange a session.
Tom Hanks narrates this space journey past the planets, beyond our galaxy and out to the far edge of the known universe, returning through a black hole. It ends with a tour of Brisbane's night sky.
A relaxed singing group for seniors who meet to sing, make music and enjoy each other's company. You don't need any experience, and ukulele players can join in too.
Taekwondo and Korean sword classes for kids and teens. Students learn attack and defence moves using the hands, feet and whole body, with an emphasis on discipline.
Sit down with a Council planning specialist and ask how Brisbane City Plan affects your property or building plans. Open to residents, businesses, community groups and people in the industry.
A slow, candlelit yin yoga class suited to beginners and intermediate students. Poses are held for several minutes to stretch the deep tissue around joints like the hips and spine.
A breast cancer awareness gathering for women: a sunset walk together, a guest speaker on breast health, then drinks and wellness goodies. Wear pink, and donations go to NBCF.
An open drop-in session for makers, designers and the curious to work on their own or shared builds with the labs' fabrication and digital gear. Regulars often share skills and team up.
Karate classes for kids in the Seido style, from first-timers to advanced belts. Children work on focus, discipline and strength alongside others of mixed ages, and parents can train too.
Novelist Garth Nix talks with John Birmingham about Massif, his first science fiction book for adults. Copies will be on sale, or bring your own to get signed.
A monthly open mic, this time a fundraiser co-hosted by Brown Girl Collective. Money raised backs youth music education in Northern Pakistan and a project giving books about women of colour in the arts to young people.
Flood recovery lawyers from Tenants Queensland explain how storms, cyclones and flooding can affect people renting in high-rise apartments, how to prepare, and what problems tend to come up afterwards. Everyone who registers gets the recording.
Seido karate training for teens and adults, from first-timers to advanced belts, with students from about 10 up. Classes build focus, discipline, strength and confidence while you stay active and meet people of different ages.
A staged concert of musical theatre songs, with 12 singers and a live band. Expect old Broadway favourites, newer hits and numbers from recent London and New York shows like Death Becomes Her and Paddington.
A touring program of short action-sport films on a big screen, following top climbers, kayakers, skiers and mountain bikers through wild rides, big jumps and risky stunts.
A beginners' tap class for over-50s, dancing to show tunes, Broadway numbers and pop songs. You don't need tap shoes to start; any shoes with leather soles and a small heel will do.
A rhyme time for parents and babies under one, with songs, clapping and dancing. The action rhymes help build early communication and language skills, and you'll meet other parents.
A singalong session for one- and two-year-olds and their parents, with clapping, dancing and action rhymes that support early talking and social skills.
A drop-in playgroup run entirely in German, with singing, rhymes and stories for children, followed by free play. Families come along to share the language and culture together.
More than 250 works by artists who live with mental ill-health, or who care for someone who does, fill a large marquee. The art is for sale, and artists keep most of the money from each sale.
A huge chalk-on-blackboard family tree tracing Archie Moore's Kamilaroi and Bigambul kin across 65,000 years, set around a still pool remembering First Nations deaths in custody. It won the Golden Lion in Venice.
Children learn about First Nations designer Shannon Brett, whose label LORE makes clothes for the runway, then use coloured pencils and card to design a model and outfits in patterns that mean something to them.
An exhibition of paintings, video and sculpture about city life, from towering skylines and cramped flats to dreary offices, long commutes and the small odd moments people notice on the street.
Speed dating for singles in this age bracket: you fill in a short profile, then an app pairs you for six to eight brief dates. Two drinks are included, and mutual matches can message each other afterwards.
A gentle yoga class for older people that helps you stay active as you age. It covers stretching, breathing, strength and balance, with poses done seated or standing.
A gallery display about native animals in First Nations culture: as food, as totems, in creation stories that tie people to land, and in relationships with Country.
Paintings and other works from the gallery's collection about recording a life and the passing of time, from forceful brushwork to slow, repetitive making. Some honour people who have died; others look out to the vast age of the universe.
A survey of 20 years of Justene Williams's video, sound, sculpture and installation work, with many new pieces. Built from everyday materials, the art looks at beauty pressures, consumerism, life online and rituals around death.
A big exhibition on 70 years of Jim Henson's puppet makers, from the Muppets and Sesame Street to Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. Hundreds of puppets, animatronic creatures, costumes, props and sketches, plus a full Fraggle Rock film set.
Work by Brisbane artists who live with disability, shown outdoors in accessible public spaces around the city. The exhibition grows out of inclusive arts practice and pushes for a more inclusive city.
Thousands of objects gathered from over 30 Brisbane collections, both public and private, from textiles and tin toys to tiny architectural models and sea treasures. It's about collecting itself and the local people behind it.
A small display of work by a Brisbane artist inspired by rainforests, bushwalks and coastal hikes. It's part of a community art wall featuring local art on environmental themes.
Artworks by older Brisbane artists from an over-50s art class, including Terry Hadnutt's Slim Dusty portrait, which won Grand Champion at the Ekka. The works are for sale.
A small exhibition of the gallery team's favourite finds from collection storage, many unseen for decades. Expect odd, playful and cute works turned up while photographing the collection for online viewing.
Fifteen early Picasso etchings and drypoints of travelling circus folk, the acrobats, jugglers and clowns he sketched after moving to Paris. They mark the start of his long run of printmaking.
Ensemble Q's chamber music series in a university auditorium whose huge windows look out over a lake. The programs run from Mendelssohn and Mozart to Brahms and the Schubert Octet.
An exhibition of German Expressionist prints and other paper works from the early 1900s, when artists used bold woodcuts to respond to political and social upheaval and push for change.
Recent Irish features, documentaries and short films, from comedies and thrillers to portraits of politicians and musicians, with a focus on Irish-Australian ties. Expect filmmaker Q&As and an opening night party.
