Weekend of 11 – 13 September 2026
Brisbane families have a huge weekend to choose from, with a LEGO fan expo, a family raceday at Doomben, planetarium shows at Mt Coot-tha and markets across the city.
Events are arranged per suburb.
Children's Storytime in the Park
11 September 2026 | Dorrington Park, Ashgrove
First 5 Forever pop-up library storytime with songs and stories for birth-to-5s.
Spring Food Festival Friday, Bardon Markets
11 September 2026 | Cnr Baroona & Rainworth Rd, Bardon
Weekly Friday night market with spring-themed food vendors, live music, dog- and family-friendly park setting.
Brisbane International Market & Food Truck Festival
11–13 September 2026 | 600 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills
Multicultural food-truck and market festival with artisan makers and international cuisine, run by River City Market Collective.
BrisStyle Twilight Market
11 September 2026 | King George Square, Brisbane City
100% locally handmade market with live music and food trucks, run by non-profit BrisStyle Inc, supported by Brisbane City Council.
Little Artist's Eye Spy
11–13 September 2026 | Museum of Brisbane, City Hall, Brisbane City
Drop-in activity sheet turning a museum visit into an ‘Eye Spy’ game across five exhibitions.
Century Pools Family Raceday
12 September 2026 | Brisbane Racing Club, Doomben
Live racing plus free kids’ pony rides, face painting and Wiggles-themed entertainment. Kids 17 & under free.
BBX2026: LEGO Fan Expo
12–13 September 2026 | Exhibition Building, Fortitude Valley
Fan-built LEGO displays, building zones and retailers, run by BrisBricks; includes sensory-friendly sessions.
Perfect Little Planet
13 September 2026 | Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, Mt Coot-tha
Kids’ Solar System show narrated through an alien family’s viewpoint, ends with a live Brisbane night-sky tour.
Destination Universe
13 September 2026 | Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, Mt Coot-tha
Astronomer-guided journey from the Brisbane night sky to deep space.
Wheely Fun
12 September 2026 | Fischer Family Park, Rochedale
Council ‘Cycling Brisbane’ program helping kids move from training wheels to two wheels.
West End Markets (Davies Park)
12 September 2026 | Davies Park, West End
150+ vendor Saturday market with produce, crafts, live music, under Moreton Bay fig trees.
Weekend of 4 – 6 September 2026
Father’s Day weekend in Brisbane pairs Brisbane Festival’s opening acts at South Bank with a Cirque du Soleil season at Eagle Farm, a Disney pop-up in the city, and dad-focused deals from Howard Smith Wharves to Springfield.
Events are arranged per suburb.
Disney Store Brisbane Pop-Up Experience
4 July – 27 September 2026 | Wintergarden, Queen Street Mall, Brisbane City
Disney’s largest Australian pop-up store returns to the Wintergarden on Queen Street Mall, with Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars merchandise, collectables and a Brisbane-exclusive card series.
Father's Day at Howard Smith Wharves
5–6 September 2026 | Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane City
Howard Smith Wharves hosts a Father’s Day weekend with riverfront dining specials, free reptile shows, balloon twisting, a jumping castle and lawn games, plus a charity raffle supporting Men’s Shed.
KOOZA (Cirque du Soleil)
Until 4 October 2026 | Under the Big Top, Eagle Farm
Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA plays under the Big Top at Eagle Farm, a 125-minute acrobatic spectacle blending comedy, thrills and daring stunts for the whole family.
Movies in the Park
5 September 2026 | Little Bayside Park, Manly
Manly Harbour Village’s free family Movies in the Park screens at Little Bayside Park from 6pm (music from 4pm) – bring a picnic blanket for an outdoor movie night by the bay.
Mama Does Derby (Brisbane Festival)
4–5 September 2026 | Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm
Windmill Production Company’s acclaimed show follows a single mum reinventing her life through the world of roller derby, with live music and theatrical action.
Rainbow Families Playgroup
5 September 2026 | Neal Macrossan Playground, Communify Play Space, Paddington
Rainbow Families Queensland hosts an inclusive playgroup for LGBTQIA+ parents/carers and their children on the first Saturday of the month at Communify Play Space, 10am-12pm.
Sandgate Farmers Markets
6 September 2026 | Seymour Street, Sandgate
The regular Sunday morning market in Sandgate offers freshly baked bread, locally farmed produce and fresh fruit and vegetables – an easy family outing.
Fijian Flying Circus (Brisbane Festival)
4–6 September 2026 | South Bank Piazza, South Bank
The Australian premiere of this high-energy circus show by Fijian dance collective VOU blends aerial acrobatics, island storytelling and gravity-defying stunts under a big-top tent.
Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust
5 September 2026 | South Bank Parklands, South Bank
Brisbane’s largest annual fireworks spectacular kicks off Brisbane Festival 2026, with pyrotechnics launched from river barges, city rooftops and two major bridges.
Bright Nights by ANZ (Brisbane Festival)
5–6 September 2026 | Festival Village, South Bank, South Bank
A free nightly water-and-light show transforming the Brisbane River into a choreographed display of floating fountains, waterscreens and lasers, set to an exclusive Veronicas soundtrack.
Verso Projects Festival Village
4–6 September 2026 | Festival Village, South Bank, South Bank
The riverside hub of Brisbane Festival runs free drop-in family activities including the Giant Sing Along, free dance sessions, circus skills with Flipside Circus and face painting.
Vipoo Srivilasa: Express Yourself
Until 13 September 2026 | Children’s Art Centre, GOMA, South Brisbane
A free, hands-on exhibition at GOMA’s Children’s Art Centre inviting kids to explore big emotions through drawing, dancing, digital activities and sensory play.
Father's Day Car Show
6 September 2026 | Orion Springfield Central, Springfield Central
Springfield Mo-Men’s 5th Annual Father’s Day Car & Bike Show takes over Orion Springfield Central’s Main Street, with classic and muscle cars, live music, food trucks and free dad pampering, raising funds for Movember Australia.
Brisbane Festival: St Lucia Block Party
6 September 2026 | UQ Great Court, St Lucia
A free family afternoon party on UQ’s Great Court with live music, drop-in workshops for adults and children, and tours of the UQ Art Museum and Anthropology Museum.
