The Best Outdoor Events to Head to in Brisbane This Summer
Spend the first two months of 2023 enjoying fresh air, sunny skies and a jam-packed calendar of outside events.
Summer is well and truly here and, like every year in and around Brisbane, it's turned out to be a toasty affair so far. This makes it the perfect time to get your cultural fix at an outdoor event, or to head to a spot where you can enjoy a meal and something to drink while you soak in some rays.
Luckily, Brissie has plenty happening across its array of outdoor spaces. Whether you're keen to sip drinks in a pool, party on a rooftop, hit up a music fest or catch a movie at an openair cinema, this city's got you covered. Here's where to head if you're looking to make the most of the warm weather and crisp summer air.
Top image: Bianca Holderness.
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Event
Laneway Festival 2023
Sat, 4 Feb, 2023
Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen Hills
HAIM, Joji and Phoebe Bridgers headline Laneway's huge comeback lineup for 2023.
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Event
Chandon Spritz Garden at Customs House
Thu, 27 Oct 2022 - Sun, 26 Feb 2023
Customs House Brisbane, Brisbane
Spend an afternoon sipping sparkling wine with orange bitters — and tucking into citrus-poached Moreton Bay bug croissants — by the river.
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Event
Tides of Brisbane Boat Tour 2022–23
Wed, 2 Nov 2022 - Wed, 24 May 2023
Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane City
Hit the water from the City Botanic Gardens to spend two hours floating past historic landmarks.
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Event
Moonlight Cinema Brisbane 2022–23
Thu, 24 Nov 2022 - Sun, 19 Feb 2023
Roma Street Parklands, Brisbane
Moonlight Cinema is back for another huge summer of cinema under the stars.
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Event
Bottomless Garden Brunch
Sat, 5 Nov, 2022
Crown Hotel, Lutwyche
Your Saturday plans now involve 90 minutes of bottomless spritz teapot cocktails in a regency-inspired garden decked out with wisteria and ivy.
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Event
Spritz Garden Pop-Up
Wed, 26 Oct 2022 - Tue, 28 Feb 2023
Crown Hotel, Lutwyche
Until the end of summer, Lutwyche's Crown Hotel is turning into a regency era-inspired, spritz-slinging English garden.
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Event
Nautilus Beach Club
Fri, 16 Dec 2022 - Sun, 16 Apr 2023
The Westin Brisbane, Brisbane City
Brisbane's only swim-up pool bar is hosting a summer-long Amalfi-themed beach club with seafood, spritzes and DJs spinning tunes.
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Event
BrisAsia Festival 2023
Multiple single dates
Various Brisbane venues, Brisbane
Brisbane's citywide celebration of Asian culture returns with a stacked lineup of food, tunes and parties.
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Event
Lunar New Year Rooftop Party 2023
Sat, 4 Feb, 2023
Sunnybank Plaza, Sunnybank
Party on a rooftop while making lanterns, dancing to Asian pop and enjoying a tasty feast.
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Event
Laneway ParTEA
Sat, 4 Feb, 2023
Burnett Lane, Brisbane City
Sip tea in multiple varieties, taste new flavours and take a tea workshop — all in a CBD laneway.
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Event
Ginuary Festival 2023
Sun, 22 Jan, 2023
Howard Smith Wharves Precinct, Brisbane City
Count down Australia 100 best gins of the past year — and drink them.
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Event
City Winery Christmas Pop-Up
Fri, 9 Dec 2022 - Sun, 29 Jan 2023
22 Wyandra Street, Newstead, Newstead
City Winery is slinging vino at a seasonal pop-up bar and bottleshop in Carl's Bistro's old Newstead digs.
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Event
Lobster & Co at Gasworks
Wed, 14 Dec 2022 - Fri, 27 Jan 2023
Gasometer, Newstead
This indulgent pop-up is back for a luxe summer appearance, only serving lobster rolls with truffle fries and glasses of champagne.
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Event
For The Love
Sat, 25 Feb, 2023
Doug Jennings Park, Main Beach
A star-studded lineup of Australian and international artists is taking over Doug Jennings Park — and there's an exclusive package that'll have you stay nearby, sip refreshing summer bevs and dance under sunset skies with a VIP experience on the day.
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Event
Beer Festival on Brunswick
Sat, 28 Jan, 2023
Pig 'N' Whistle Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
Spend a day on Brunswick Street sipping beers from Australia's best breweries.
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Event
Avion Beach Cantina at Sheraton Grand Mirage
Mon, 19 Dec 2022 - Sun, 29 Jan 2023
Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast, Main Beach
Until the end of January, you can pair a stay at the Gold Coast's Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort with creative margaritas and a pop-up taco market.
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Event
Bottomless Gin Brunches 2023
Sun, 15 Jan, 2023
Covent Garden, West End
Sip gin cocktails, sangria and Pimm's cups over a shareboard brunch.
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Event
Hoi Cho Tet 2023 Vietnamese Lunar New Year Festival
Fri, 13 Jan - Sat, 14 Jan 2023
CJ Greenfield Complex Park, Richlands
This two-day Lunar New Year festival includes Vietnamese cuisine, music, lion dances and calligraphy.
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Event
Bite Markets at North Harbour
Fri, 13 Jan - Sat, 14 Jan 2023
BITE Markets, Morayfield
Eat your way around this sprawling weekend food market in Brisbane's north.
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Event
Elton John: Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour
Sat, 21 Jan, 2023
Suncorp Stadium, Milton
Elton John's 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour will see him play his last-ever shows in Australia.
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Event
Portside Wharf Vegan Markets
Multiple single dates
Portside Wharf Hamilton, Brisbane
Queensland Vegan Markets is bringing its cruelty-free wares back to Portside, with 30-plus stalls to browse.
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Event
Portside Wharf Valentine's Day Market and Skate Date
Sat, 11 Feb, 2023
Portside Wharf Hamilton, Brisbane
Hit up this riverside market to browse for Valentine's (or Galentine's) gifts — then get your skates on with your date or mate for free.
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Event
Lunar New Year 2023 in Fortitude Valley
Sat, 21 Jan, 2023
Various Fortitude Valley venues, Fortitude Valley
The Year of the Rabbit gets into full swing with firecrackers, traditional music and cultural dances — and plenty of food in the vicinity.
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Event
Lunar New Year 2023 in The Lanes
Sat, 21 Jan, 2023
Bakery, Winn and California Lanes, Fortitude Valley
Feast on dumplings, sip drinks and listen to traditional Chinese music.
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Event
Yabun Festival 2023
Thu, 26 Jan, 2023
Victoria Park, Camperdown
This annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures returns in full to Victoria Park, with Tia Gostelow and Aodhan.
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Event
Outdoor Cinema in the Suburbs: Pawsome Movie Night
Sat, 21 Jan, 2023
Victoria Park / Barrambin, Herston
Take your pooch to the movies to see dog-focused flicks for free on an outdoor big screen.
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Event
Outdoor Cinema in the Suburbs: Movie Date Night
Sat, 11 Feb, 2023
Victoria Park / Barrambin, Herston
Victoria Park / Barrambin's free outdoor cinema is back with a pre-Valentine’s Day double feature.
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Event
Survival Day Ceremony 2023
Thu, 26 Jan, 2023
Simpsons Playground, Graceville
Mark January 26 by paying tribute to the nation's First Peoples.
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Event
Ten Years of Beers at Green Beacon
Thu, 26 Jan - Sun, 29 Jan 2023
Green Beacon Brewing Co, Teneriffe
Mark ten years of Green Beacon's brews in the appropriate manner: with beers, tunes, pint specials and giveaways.
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Event
Hottest 100 Countdown Party at Rivermakers
Sat, 28 Jan, 2023
Rivermakers HQ, Morningside
Listen to the best 100 tunes of the past year while celebrating the best 100 brews — and drinking strawberries and cream sour ale.
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Event
Yot Club 2023
Multiple single dates
City Botanic Gardens River Hub, Brisbane City
The next-level party boat has two bars, a stage and a dance floor — and it's sailing through Brisbane for another year.
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Event
Beats and Eats 2023
Thu, 23 Feb, 2023
Will & Flow, Brisbane City
Overwater bar Will and Flow is livening up Thursday nights with pizza, rosé and DJs.
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Event
Cathedral Square Markets 2023
Thu, 23 Feb, 2023
Cathedral Square, Brisbane City
Grab a bite for lunch, or stock up on fresh produce to take home.
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Event
Gigs & Picnics 2023
Multiple single dates
Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane City
Listen to free live music and grab snacks from food trucks at this monthly hangout in the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens.