Four Outdoor Events Happening This Spring to Help You Emerge from Your Winter Hibernation

Spring, Brisbane and a scenic riverside spot — that’s a great way to spend a Saturday. It’s exactly what’s on the agenda at the new Bulimba Street Food Festival, which heads to the Bulimba Golf Course on September 14.

As well as a range of different bites, snacks and meals from a yet-to-be-revealed range of street food vendors, the fest will feature pop-up bars. All that’s left is to grab your picnic blanket, gather the gang and settle in for a cruisy afternoon. With a beer or wine in hand, a plate of international cuisine in front of you, and the sun shining, you won’t have a care in the world.

On the lookout for a dope new denim jacket? Or do you want to be rid of that weird-looking lamp taking up space in the living room? Then, by golly, you’re in luck. The Garage Sale Trail works with local council partners Australia-wide to get as many trash-and-treasure troves happening on the same day as possible. More than 18,000 garages are expected to open their doors to bargain hunters, selling two million items, when the event returns for its tenth time across the weekend of Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20. So, you can jump in your new limited-edition MG3S hatchback, road trip between the various stalls and load up the boot with all the special finds that you never knew you needed.

Aside from the retro goodies up for grabs, the Trail is all about sustainability. Instead of ending up in landfill, unwanted clutter becomes a fantastic find. So get that tight pair of sunnies for peanuts and help the environment at the same time.

Take three activities that promote mindfulness — specifically running, yoga and meditation — and you’ve got yourself a ‘mindful triathlon’. Wanderlust 108 has been running these triathlon festivals since 2014, and the standard day has a few main components. First, there’s the five-kilometre run, although the site reassures you that you can walk instead of running — or even “prance, skip, stroll or strut” — as long as you reach the finish line. After that, there’s 75 minutes of yoga accompanied by a DJ set, and finally 25 minutes of guided meditation to round out the whole-group activities. Once the structured section of the day has wrapped up, participants can also head to activities such as acro yoga and hooping, or to lunch.

It’s part exercise, part dance party, part fest — and 100-percent focused on helping attendees feel great inside and out. You can also browse your way around a marketplace, which will help you take your new blissed-out state home with you.

Not that long ago, the narrow spaces around Fortitude Valley were just that — spaces, not vibrant laneways. These days, however, the area boasts not one, not two, but now three jam-packed alleys. Yes, that’s a development that’s worth celebrating.

In fact, it’s a change worthy of a day-long festival, which is exactly what the returning Hidden Lanes Festival is all about. On Saturday, October 26 from 10am until late, Bakery Lane, Winn Lane and California Lane will turn into a flourishing — and free — party, complete with markets, beverages, art installations, food, fashion, a heritage trail, masterclasses and more than 50 live musical acts. The lineup will be unveiled closer to the festival; however, the event will definitely involve the 80 businesses who call the three laneways home.