Your guide to the best events near Brisbane
Every year, a family farm in Queensland opens its doors to the public so they can wander among one million blooming sunflowers.
Elsewhere in the state, hundreds of historic, classic and performance cars race through the closed streets of a rural town.
Another town transports visitors back to the Middle Ages, complete with re-enactors, jousters and more.
Best of all, these festivals are just a short drive from Brisbane.
Whether quirky, musical or just plain delicious, we’ve rounded up some of the best festivals taking place near Brisbane this year.
Kalbar Sunflower Festival
Kalbar Sunflower Festival The event, which will be held from May 1 to 3, will showcase one million sunflowers blooming at the Kalbar Sunflower Farm in the Scenic Rim.
Visitors can walk among the flowers, attend art workshops and tea parties, and enjoy sunflower-themed market stalls and treats like the farm’s burnt honey and sunflower seed praline in collaboration with Lick Ice Cream.
Starting in 2021, the festival was created by Jenny and Russell Jenner as a way to survive the drought. Following Russell’s death from esophageal cancer, she is now raising money for cancer care.
The 2026 festival will focus on raising funds for lap beds in hospitals in south-east Queensland. Tickets go on sale in March.
Toowoomba Flower Carnival
Now in its 77th year Toowoomba Flower Carnival is a Queensland institution and Australia’s longest-running floral event.
Running from late September to early October, the festival will celebrate spring flowers, with more than 150,000 blooming across the city. It also offers live music, food events, carnival rides, a paw parade and more.
Mary Poppins Festival
Held only one day each year in Maryborough Mary Poppins Festival It will be held on July 5.
PL Travers wrote: Mary Poppins series was born in Maryborough in 1899. The festival began in 1999 as a morning tea to celebrate the author’s 100th birthday.
Popular events of the festival include chimney sweeping, nanny races and the grand parade.
Admission is free, but individual events may incur fees and street parking is available near the event.
Abbey Medieval Festival
Abbey Medieval FestivalIt is in its 37th year at Caboolture from July 10-12.
Visitors can experience life in the Middle Ages in Europe and the Middle East from 600 to 1600 AD.
The Abbey Museum of Art and Archeology is organizing the event, which includes re-enactors, spearmen, artists, food vendors and traders, and also includes free access to hundreds of museum artifacts.
Historic Leyburn Sprints
Historic Leyburn Sprints The event, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, will be held on 15 and 16 August.
One of Queensland’s largest motorsport festivals, the event features hundreds of historic, classic and performance cars racing through the closed streets of the Southern Downs town. It commemorates the 1949 Australian Grand Prix, held on a disused wartime airstrip at Leyburn.
Other events include a fun run, a charity auction and a special 30th anniversary dinner. Tickets will go on sale in April.
Swell Sculpture Festival
Based in Currumbin and operating from 11-20 September, Swell Sculpture Festival More than eight large-scale contemporary works of art are featured in the natural landscape of the beach.
Visitors can also experience guided twilight walks through artworks, live music, comedy, master classes, artist talks alongside sculptures, and artist-led workshops.
Blues in Broadbeach
of this year Blues in Broadbeach The line-up includes US blues legend Charlie Musselwhite and local up-and-comers including WILSN, Blue Shaddy and The Mason Rack Band.
Australian favorites The Teskey Brothers headline the Sunday Ticket, the only ticketed event at the four-day festival which will celebrate its 25th anniversary from 14-17 May.
Jumpers and Jazz in July
Known as the most interesting festival of the state Jumpers and Jazz in July He will take over the running of Warwick on the Southern Downs from 16-26 July.
Sweaters are draped on trees along the town’s main street during the annual festival, which features numerous art installations and events.
Live music events in the city include a road party in the park and twilight jazz music.
Gympie Music Meeting
Country music lovers attended the fair Gympie Music Meeting It has been in droves for over 40 years, with no signs of abating.
In addition to live music, the festival also includes events such as markets, line dancing, bull riding, bush poetry, whip cracking, music workshops and children’s activities.
Held this year between 27-30 August, the line-up includes Lee Kernaghan, Graeme Connors, Adam Eckersley Band, Beccy Cole, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley, James Blundell, Nathan Cavaleri and The Wolfe Brothers.
New artists taking to the stage include Brooke Schubert, Cass Eager, James Johnston, Lane Pittman, Pierce Brothers, Sara Berki, Taylor Moss, Tori Darke and Zac & George.
Groundwater Country Music Festival
Some of the best country artists will come together for three days of free music and events in Broadbeach from 16-18 October. Groundwater Country Music Festival. Keep your eyes peeled for the 2026 roster, which will be announced later in the year.
Woodford Folk Festival
Much more than folk music, this four-decade-strong event is the largest gathering of artists and musicians in Australia.
Festival-goers can check out market stalls, acrobatics workshops, comedy shows, panel discussions, yoga sessions and more.
The 2025 musical lineup included Sarah Blasko, San Cisco, Troy Cassar-Daley, Briggs, Barkaa, Hollow Coves and more. This year’s squad will be announced around October.
Woodford Folk Festival It is held every year between 27 December and 1 January.
Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival
The pride and joy of the Granite Belt will celebrate its 60th anniversary from February 27th to March 8th.
biennial Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival celebrates the region’s fresh produce, award-winning wines and rural charm.
Visitors can enjoy a street parade, the famous grape stomp, food markets, buskers and other live entertainment.
Scenic Rim Local Food Month
Scenic Rim Local Food Month What started with a single week of events in 2011 has since grown into a month-long celebration of the region’s local produce, farms, wineries and distilleries with more than 100 events.
Held in June, visitors can explore the Scenic Rim through hands-on workshops, masterclasses and farm tours.
From long lunches to hot air balloon rides and fireside feasts, the festival has something for everyone.
Noosa Food and Wine Festival
This year’s visitors Noosa Food and Wine FestivalFrom June 11-14, you can enjoy live cooking demonstrations and music while choosing from more than 40 bars and restaurants in the Festival Village.
A long Italian lunch, multiple beachside meals and golden hour drinks on the beach are some of the signature events. Tickets for the Village and main events are on sale now. The festival’s restaurant lineup will be announced on March 4, and tickets will be on sale from March 18.
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