Five Romantic Brisbane Date Ideas for This Week From Budget to Blowout

Tired of the classic movie and dinner date night combo? Us too. That's why we're always on the hunt for new things to do, scouring the city for not-boring Brisbane activities — ones that are guaranteed to take your next date way beyond done-before beers at the pub.

Whether you're taking someone on a second date or doing your 100th with your significant other, we've got some killer (and, yes, cute) ideas for dates to go on this week, no matter how much money you've got to spend. And, in honour of celebrating the long weekend, they're all at festivals.

Just think of us as your cultural wingman. You're welcome.

Free

Tickle Your Funny Bone at Brisbane Comedy Festival's Free Friday-Night Gigs

Do you and your other half feel a hankering for some chortles at this year's Brisbane Comedy Festival, but you're watching your budget? Trying to squeeze in as many laughs as possible into your life in general? Keen to finish your working week with some laughs?

All of the above situations are catered for at BCF's Knockoff. It's similar to Brisbane Powerhouse's old free comedy nights, but happening during the comedy fest — and it's perfect for kicking off the weekend in the funniest way possible.

This free Friday night comedy show runs from 6pm each week between until Friday, May 24, and is playing host to some of the biggest up-and-comers in comedy (so, down the line, you can say you saw them when they were starting out). Exactly who you'll be laughing at hasn't yet been revealed, but you will be laughing.

Just head on down to the New Farm spot and prepare to get your funny bone tickled for an hour.

Brisbane City Council via Flickr

Hit Up a Free Music Festival in the Brunswick Street Mall

Since 1997, Fortitude Valley has put itself in the spotlight with a huge street party, with Valley Fiesta taking a variety of forms over its quarter-century-plus run so far. It's a celebration of hearing live tunes, checking out art and shopping your way around markets — and hitting up the inner-city suburb's bars and eateries, too — that turns the Valley's regular haunts and activities into a festival. But because it's only a once-a-year happening, Brunswick Street Live was born in 2023 to help tide everyone over between Fiestas.

Under $100

Scope Out Paintings for Your Wall at Brisbane's First Affordable Art Fair

Everyone should be able to fill their walls with art no matter their bank balance. That's the idea behind Affordable Art Fair, and has been since 1999. Back in the 20th century, the event initially popped up in London to share eye-catching pieces with the world at manageable prices, and then started spreading its art-for-all ethos around the world. A quarter-century later, it's now making a Brisbane appearance.

For four days in May 2024 — from Thursday, May 9–Sunday, May 12 — the first-ever Affordable Art Fair Brisbane will debut at Brisbane Showgrounds. On offer at the Bowen Hills venue will be original artworks by the thousands, with prices starting from $100. If you or your significant other are feeling flush with cash, however, costs will max out at $10,000 per piece.

The fair's arrival in the River City adds to a footprint that spans 17 fairs in 16 cities, including in Melbourne and Sydney already. The 2024 run will also see both Berlin and Austin join Affordable Art Fair's ranks as host spots. Making repeat visits, the event will return to London, Brussels, Hamburg, Stockholm and Amsterdam in Europe, Singapore and Hong Kong in Asia, and New York in the US as well.

In Brisbane, more than 40 independent Australian galleries will have pieces up for sale, alongside Asia-Pacific institutions. Among the Aussie contingent, Studio Gallery, Revival Art & Design, The Toowoomba Gallery, Wentworth Galleries, MG and Co and JUMBLED will all be represented. Buying art isn't the only drawcard, though, with talks, tours, workshops, live tunes, bites to eat, drinks and live artist demonstrations all also on the agenda.

Under $250

Sip Your Way Around a Festival Dedicated to Bubbles

If sparkling wine puts some extra fizz into you and your favourite person's lives, then you'll want to drink your way through this Brisbane event. Across Friday, May 10–Saturday, May 11, the Bubbles Festival is coming to town to celebrate the most effervescent boozy beverages there are. You'll sip, you'll chat, and you'll meet the folks who make and distribute the tipples in question as well.

You'll also eat canapes — no one wants to down champagne, prosecco and other sparkling drinks on an empty stomach — while you're sampling and tasting across two hours. At least ten different wines will be on offer, and your $109 ticket also includes a champagne tasting glass to take home with you.

The venue: the Port Office Hotel in the CBD. You can take your pick of three sessions: from 6–8pm on Friday, and at either 12–2pm or 3–5pm on Saturday.

If you're feeling like really treating your sparkling-loving self, you can pay an extra $75 for a VIP ticket, which gets you access to a special cuvée tasting before the regular doors open — and two tasting glasses, rather than one.

Play Along with a Live Spicks and Specks-Style Music Game Show

When the ABC announced that Spicks and Specks would return in 2024 after sitting 2023 out, it was big news, as anything to do with the hit Australian take on the UK's Never Mind the Buzzcocks always is. IRL, here's something just as exciting: the Brisbane-born and -based Not On Your Rider is also back for this year, although it didn't take a year off. On the agenda: playing a music quiz show filled with well-known faces live — and yes, the audience gets to play, too.

You and your plus one will be peering at a stage, rather than a screen. You'll be answering questions, of course. And if it has you thinking about pub trivia nights, they don't include The Creases' Aimon Clark — who is also behind Isolation Trivia — hosting, or Patience Hodgson from The Grates and Jeremy Neale from Velociraptor captaining the two teams, let alone a heap of entertainment-industry guests.

Brisbane's next show is on Thursday, May 9, with Spankie Jackzon, Ranger Stacey, BC Michaels from Dune Rats and Alex Hine as guests.

Here's how it works: Not On Your Rider takes something that everyone loves — showing off their music trivia knowledge — and dials it up a few notches. While the two on-stage teams are always filled with musos, comedians, drag queens and other guests, anyone can buy a ticket, sit at a table and answer questions along with them. The quiz element is accompanied by chats about the music industry, plus other mini games involving attendees.