Ten Vibrant and Bustling Markets to Visit Around Brisbane This Spring

When Milton Markets’ regular Seasonal Flavours events returns to Cribb Street on Saturday, September 11, it’ll be doing so at twilight. As otherwise happens on a Sunday morning, more than 150 stalls will descend upon the corner of Cribb and Little Cribb streets to sell tasty wares and other assorted products. From 4–10pm , you can wander through massive fig trees to join them. You can listen to live music and sip sangria and ginger beer at pop-up bars as well.

If fresh seasonal fruit gets your stomach grumbling, you can stock up here. If vegan eats do as well, you’ll be in luck again. And if you’re fond of flowers, expect to find more than a few of those as well.

In great news those living north of Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast  favourite The Village Markets made the leap to Brisbane in 2019 — and, for 2021, it’s moving to a new spot. Forget driving down the highway, or even heading to Stones Corner like you have in the past. This time, all you’ll need to do is make your way to Windsor State School on Sunday, August 8 from 9am–2pm.

Given how the year is creeping by, the market is perfect for anyone looking for a gift — for others, and for themselves. Think everything from colourful dresses to luxe jewellery to accessories for your pupper across the market’s 120 stalls, plus the Brissie version of TVM’s famed pre-loved designer and vintage rack sales.

Image: Soda Photography.

If you really like browsing and buying, taking in the riverside air, and having a reason to stop for a bite and a drink, you’ll want to head to Hamilton on Saturday, September 18. From 12–4pm, you can shop, stroll and sip at the Portside Local Markets, which sounds like a mighty fine weekend itinerary.

A sizeable lineup of stalls will offer up plenty for you to browse and buy, including art, plants, ceramics, accessories and more. If you’ve been to markets at the Gasworks, or in Fish Lane, Coorparoo and Gabba South City, you’ll have a firm idea of what you’re in for — because The Market Folk is behind all of the above, and is running this returning Portside event as well.

Images: Claudia Baxter.

King George Square’s regular Brisbane Twilight Market shows off a sizeable array of stalls — more than 60, in fact — all staffed by some pretty nifty and talented local artists. The event hosts an eclectic selection of items, so prepare to browse and buy. You’ll be perusing everything from handmade clothing, accessories and leather goods to paper goods, homewares, art and ceramics (and more).

This market is all about sound, smell and sales — so live music will provide a soundtrack to the evening, and expect to be hit with that spring flowerbed smell that always lingers when there’s a soap stall around. Food stalls are also on the agenda, with 2021’s spring markets held on Friday, September 24 and Saturday, November 27. Each event runs from 4–9pm, so take along some cash and stock up on all things crafty.

Top image: BrisStyle.

If you’re starting to feel like a new season hasn’t truly started until Finders Keepers has come to town, you’re not alone. The ever-expanding art and design market has been bringing us face-to-face with some of the country’s most quirky and creative designers for over a decade now — and it’s set to do it all over again when it returns from Friday, October 15–Sunday, October 17.

The focus remains, as ever, on helping you discover and connect with the next wave of independent and emerging artisans. Expect to find everything from jewellery, fashion and ceramics to leather goods, body products and items for your pets. Many of the market’s seasoned vendors will also return —and tickets are $5, which you’ll need to buy online this year in advance.

Image: Samee Lapham.

The BrisStyle team is a rather busy bunch. A few times a year, it puts on twilight markets in King George Square, but that isn’t its only regular event. If you’re particularly after a treasure trove of handmade goodies — and who isn’t? — it hosts another opportunity to browse and buy that’s dedicated to exactly those kinds of objects.

Fashion, art, jewellery, homewares — if someone’s been using their nimble fingers to make it, then you can probably trade your hard-earned cash for their hard work. In fact, there’ll be more than 60 artisans selling their wares. And, while you’re shopping, you’ll also be able to grab a bite at the onsite cafe and listen to live tunes from local musos — including on Saturday, October 30 in the Queensland Museum’s whale mall.

Image: BrisStyle.

Do you usually leave your gift purchasing until the last minute? Have you vowed to finally do better this year? Do you have a heap of friends and family members celebrating birthdays in at the end of 2021 — and zero idea of what you’ll get them? Most years, Etsy arrives towards Christmas, lending a hand with your end-of-year shopping. This year, it’s doing just that again, too.

That’s great timing for the festive season, of course — and it’s also ideal for getting a head start on other gifts, or just browsing and buying in general. The Etsy Made Local market will take place in the Exhibition Building at the Brisbane Showgrounds from Friday, November 12–Sunday, November 14, spreading across three days Because it focuses on the best local talent, every market is filled with different stallholders and unique creations. Supporting creative small businesses and scoring a killer gift for your loved ones is a win for everyone involved, so head along and get your shopping sorted.

At Boho Luxe Market (the event’s term, not ours), Byron Bay comes to Brisbane. Well, the beachy New South Wales spot’s general vibe does at least. Forgoing the trappings of the city for bohemian fashion, jewellery, homewares and the like is on the market’s agenda, and has been since it made the jump from Melbourne to Brisbane in 2019. Clearly we responded well to three days of dreamcatchers and flower crowns, because it’s coming back yet again — and for the second time in 2021.

If that sounds like your kind of thing, then block out Friday, November 12–Sunday, November 14 in your diary for the market’s spring dates. The Boho Luxe Market will head to The Old Museum for a weekend of browsing and buying, food trucks, live music and more. Usually there’s also be a dedicated vegan section, plus a kombi display and glamping providers tempting you into booking your next holiday — so fingers crossed they’ll return.

Fortitude Valley loves a laneway, with plenty popping up — or being brought to life, more accurately — across the inner city spot in recent years. And those laneways love markets. In fact, the trio that is Winn Lane, Bakery Lane and California Lane has been hosting various markets under various names for quite some time.

Running from 9am–2pm twice-monthly, Valley Laneway Markets sprawls across the three stretches of pavement with an array of plants, ceramics, art, handmade goods and vintage fashion. At the beginning of the month, the event goes big on artisanal goods. Mid-month, it’s all about plants and items for your pantry.

Image: Valley Laneway Markets.

If one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, then a trunk full of junk may as well be a treasure chest. Suitcase Rummage gets that when it comes to shopping, secondhand reaps the best bang for your buck. For years, it has been hosting regular events around town — and, after a chaotic 2020, now it’s still going strong in 2021.

Next unpacking its bags on Sunday, September 5 and Sunday, September 18 at Brisbane Square, Suitcase Rummage will feature a crowd of open suitcases filled with the type of clothes, knick-knacks and craft you probably don’t need but definitely deserve. If you can’t make it now, try again on the first and third Sundays of each month. And, if you’ve got a pile of unwanted bits and pieces that someone else could love, you could always take your own suitcase along.

Image: Yan Chen.