Night Feast Is the New Neon-Lit Food Market Coming to Brisbane Powerhouse Twice a Year From 2023

Arts and culture fans already flock to Brisbane Powerhouse with frequency, gluing their eyes to the New Farm venue's walls and stages. In March 2023, then in October, then twice a year afterwards, food lovers will want to make the same trip. As part of the site's slate of additions and changes — which has already seen a new riverside events and performance space with bars and al fresco lounges pop up permanently — the beloved spot will now host culinary and arts event Night Feast.

Back in June when Brisbane Powerhouse's ambitious plans were first announced, a night market was on the list, then called Hap Wah Night Market. Now rebadged Night Feast, it features all of the same highlights: an almost month-long program in autumn and spring annually, taking over the Powerhouse forecourt and surrounding parks in March and October, as well as Blade Runner-meets-Queensland theming with a dash of Cantonese culture.

Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons

Immersive, dreamlike and serving up a multi-sensory experience, Night Feast will sprawl across its own temporary village, in fact, as curated by restaurant critic Lizzie Loel and Brisbane Powerhouse Arts Program Director Brad Spolding. As for the design of the site itself, that comes courtesy of Bruce McKinven (Dark Mofo). Thanks to Loel, Spolding and McKinven's handiwork, Brisbanites will find 20-plus gourmet food stalls, an open fire pit for roasting and a dedicated dessert bar, too, as well as art installations, DJs and live music.

The debut edition will run from Wednesday, March 1–Sunday, March 26, 2023, followed by a second event from Wednesday, October 4–Sunday, October 29 later that year — operating 4.30–9.30pm Wednesday–Sunday within those dates. While it's too early for Night Feast to announce stallholders for its premiere event, Longrain's Martin Boetz will be one of the headliners. Also, diners can expect Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Italian, Greek and modern Australian cuisine — and more.

Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons

Among the food and drink offerings, there'll be cocktails and wine as well, plus a big emphasis on communal feasting. Another key feature: getting the restaurants taking part in Night Feast to dish up the absolute top thing on their menus.

"Night Feast gives visitors an opportunity to sample the best of Brisbane's gourmet food scene within an immersive outdoor neon-noir environment," explains Loel.

"Our handpicked restaurants have been invited to showcase their signature dishes only, meaning you can experience the city's most exclusive gastronomic delights in one location."

"What's That?" Amanda Parer, Portside Wharf in Hamilton, Brisbane on Monday, August 31, 2021. Photo: Claudia Baxter

As for the art program, it'll also span roaming performances, plus work from visual and performance artists. Amanda Parer leads the bill so far, which likely means more glowing, towering, eye-catching pieces (see: her past Brisbane works Intrude, What's That, Lost and Fantastic Planet).

Night Feast's premiere overlaps with Powerhouse's also-debuting "festival of other music" ΩHM, and is set to share Australian audiovisual artist Robin Fox on its lineup with that other newcomer. And, Swiss site-performance designer and fog artist Tom Mùller will also bust out his best for Night Feast.

Robin Fox, Single Origin, Diego Figueroa

The evening market is the third of the Lamington Street spot's new initiatives to come to fruition, following Keith Courtney's 700-square-metre maze of mirrors Kaleidoscope, which only stopped by temporarily, as well as the November launch of the aforementioned Pleasuredome in its glow-in-the-dark Nordic-style tent.

A permanent outdoor cinema was also announced back in June, initially to launch this past spring and run year-round, screening movies under the stars — and taking advantage of the fact that that's something you can do no matter the season in Brissie, even in winter. Exactly when that'll now arrive hasn't yet been revealed.

Night Feast will take place at Brisbane Powerhouse, 119 Lamington Street, New Farm, from Wednesday, March 1–Sunday, March 26, 2023, and again from Wednesday, October 4–Sunday, October 29 — and twice a year after that — operating 4.30–9.30pm Wednesday–Sunday. For more information about the venue, head to the Brisbane Powerhouse website.

Top image: Wonderland Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse.