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. Just think of us as your cultural wingman. You're welcome. Free [caption id="attachment_939500" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jack Martin[/caption] Head to Brisbane's First-Ever River Pride Parade Sydney has the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, which takes over Oxford Street for a night of celebration. Melbourne has the Midsumma Pride March, its equivalent in Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. From this month, Brisbane is sharing the show of pride, but in a way befitting the River City: with the first-ever River Pride Parade as part of Melt Festival's new expanded guise. Boats will float from William Jolly Bridge to Brisbane Powerhouse, all embracing everything that a pride parade should be — just on the water. The River Pride Parade takes place from 3pm on Saturday, November 9, with Courtney Act leading the charge as the fest's inaugural ambassador. You can register to hit the water during the River Pride Parade, which will help close out Melt this year, with the entire fest running until Sunday, November 10. Don't have a boat? Organisers advise that watercraft of all shapes and sizes can take part. Or, you and your special someone can enjoy the view from River Quay Green, where the festival's Pride Picnic is taking place for the occasion. The fun starts at 2pm, entry is free — and you can either bring your own bites or grab something to eat from nearby restaurants and cafes (which you'll obviously need your wallet for). Under $20 Discover Your Next Treasures Amid Someone Else's Unwanted Goods Are you or your other half 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 few days as possible. Last year, more than 400,000 Aussies took part at this festival of pre-loved stuff, holding more than 14,000 sales. Will this year's Garage Sale Trail top those hefty numbers? It'll certainly try via a huge array of events that will open their doors to bargain hunters, selling millions of items across two big spring weekends: between Saturday, November 9–Sunday, November 10, and then again from Saturday, November 16–Sunday, November 17. Aside from the retro goodies up for grabs, the Garage Sale 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. The Garage Sale Trail began humbly in Bondi in 2010 and is growing bigger every year. There'll be a right slew of sales happening all around Brisbane, so keep your eyes on the event website — or register online to make a quick buck from your old junk and hang out with the friendly folks in your hood. Under $100 Get Eating and Drinking at Brisbane Powerhouse's Night Market If you and your plus one have ever made dinner plans at the Night Noodle Markets when they've popped up in Brisbane, then enjoyed plates and plates to eat surrounded by a sea of fellow diners, then you'll know that the River City loves an excuse to grab a meal from an array of culinary stalls under the stars. It was back in 2022 that Brisbane Powerhouse announced its own plans to capitalise upon this fact, too — and to combine it with art and music. The result: Night Feast, which debuted in March 2023, then returned in October the same year. Initially, this neon-lit after-dark culinary event was set to tempt Brisbanites' tastebuds twice a year. In 2024, Night Feast missed its autumn timeslot, but it's still back for spring. Until Sunday, November 10, food, tunes and installations are on the menu outside Brisbane Powerhouse, this time with a 20-strong lineup of chefs and restaurants spanning Night Feast favourites as well as newcomers. Fourteen folks and eateries are returning for the event's third run, each slinging their signature dishes. If you've enjoyed a bite from Donna Chang, Gerard's Bistro, Southside, Allonda, Ngon, Hoy Pinoy, Wonderbao, Bugster's and Mary Mae's at Night Feast before — and LouisB, Lek's Thai, Anchalee's and La Mano as well — get excited about tucking in again. This time, they have company from Gelato Messina, which is whipping up a bespoke dish — and from Byblos for Mediterranean and Lebanese flavours, Cartel del Taco for Mexican fare and Calida's Latin-inspired meals. Diviners and Savile Row are also teaming up, while Central, the new restaurant from the folks responsible for Rick Shores and Southside, is taking part, too. Test Your Nerves in a Shipping Container — Again Not content with terrifying southeast Queenslanders with their unsettling shipping container installations just once, the folks at Realscape Productions keep bringing back their disquieting Darkfield experiences again and again. The next chance to set your nerves on edge? It's at South Bank's Maritime Museum right now. The event inducing chills? Well, the fact that it's called Flight says plenty. This immersive favourite involves stepping inside a 40-foot steel box, sitting in pitch darkness and listening to a particularly heightened soundscape while the production plays with your sense of reality. For those who aren't fond of flying or don't cope well with the possibility of things going awry in the air, you might want to stay away. If your stomach can handle all of the above, step onboard. You won't actually be jetting anywhere, of course; however you will be strapping yourself into a section of a real commercial airliner, then pondering the many possible outcomes if the cabin suddenly happened to lose pressure. Created by Glen Neath and David Rosenberg, Flight draws upon the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics while taking attendees on a multi-sensory journey. If you're keen, Flight's latest run is on until Sunday, December 8 at the Brisbane venue. Buckle up, and prepare to have your head completely messed with — unless you're claustrophobic, pregnant, or suffer heart or back conditions, in which case you'll have to firmly stay on the ground. Under $150 Feast Your Way Through a Spring Seafood Festival Brisbane's balmy spring weather, a varied spread of seafood and a day spent embracing both: that's what's on the menu at The Prince Consort on Sunday, November 10. From 12pm, the Wickham Street spot is going all in on the ocean's finest by hosting the returning Spring Fling Seafood Festival. The fest will be serving up everything from prawns and paella to sashimi and a heap of other seafood bites, with multiple stations set up around the place. Roaming oyster shuckers will be wandering about, too, while live cooking demonstrations are also on the menu — and you can try your hand at the prawn-peeling competition. Entry is free, but bookings are encouraged. And yes, Brisbane is rarely short on seafood festivals — but just like everything that you can eat on the day at this one, you can never have too much of a good thing. There are also seafood platters available, featuring half-shell scallops with devilled butter and salmon roe, Moreton Bay bugs, beer-battered fish, prawn cutlets, cooked prawns, natural oysters, salt and pepper calamari, sashimi, chips, salad and more, but which will set you back $110. Top image: Lachlan Douglas.