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King Charles’ actual birthday is November 14, but in Queensland we mark the monarch’s birth on the first Monday in October.
This sometimes aligns us with WA – but not this year – and never with the other states, who get their holiday on the second Monday in June.
So how will you spend the long weekend? We’ve come up with a range of ideas, both in the Brisbane region and in the surrounding cities.
FOR GROWN-UPS
Museum: Precious
Eclectic collectors of Brisbane have loaned their treasures to the Museum of Brisbane: from vintage bottles and matchbooks to tin toys and ceramic feet, from tea chests and axes to dental tools and Melbourne Olympics trading cards.
Museum of Brisbane, daily 10am-5pm, free.
Film: Dirty Dancing in Concert
Nobody puts baby in a corner: Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing.Credit:
The 1987 movie was an unexpected smash and its songs (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life and Hungry Eyes were major chart hits. Hear them performed by a live band during this special screening, and join them for a post-movie party to rival any Borscht Belt shindig.
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Saturday, October 4, 3pm and 8pm, $79-$149.
Museum: Holden vs Ford
The Holden 48-215, in the exhibition Holden vs Ford. Credit: Instagram
A new exhibition at the Brisbane Motor Museum highlights Holdens and Fords. See classics from the ’80s, ’70s and ’60s as well older models such as the Holden 48-215 (pictured), a mid-size sedan produced between November 1948 and October 1953.
Brisbane Motor Museum, 959 Mudgee Road, Banyo, daily 8am-3pm, $0-$25.
Brisbane’s answer to the Archibald Prize has 77 portraits selected for exhibition from 650 entries. The portraits feature local identities including AFL legend Warwick Capper, sculptor and painter Lindy Lee and actor Miranda Otto.
State Library of Queensland, until November 9, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm, free.
Film: The Smashing Machine
Dwayne Johnson is tipped for an Oscar nomination for his role as mixed martial arts fighter Mark Kerr in a film being praised for avoiding sports-film cliches.
In cinemas October 2.
Art: Under a Modern Sun
Kenneth Macqueen’s Stranded Tree Trunk, 1935, in the Under a Modern Sun exhibition.Credit: © Kenneth Macqueen Estate
This free exhibition of mid-20th century painting in Queensland offers a ravishing picture of Brisbane as portrayed by modernist artists such as Vida Lahey, William Bustard, Kenneth Macqueen, Joe Rootsey and Sidney Nolan.
Queensland Art Gallery, daily 10am-5pm, until January 26, free.
Museum: Make a Scene: Fashioning Queer Identity and Club Culture in the 90s
This exhibition has outfits worn by clubbers in the 1990s as well as Kylie Minogue and Darren Hayes concert costumes, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert movie costumes, posters from Brisbane nightclubs, and stories of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Queensland Museum Kurilpa, daily 9.30am-5pm, until July 19, free.
Theatre: Pretty Woman: The Musical
The musical version of the 1990 rom-com about wealth, status and happy endings gets its Australian premiere in Brisbane, with Samantha Jade and Ben Hall in the Julia Roberts and Richard Gere roles, and songs co-written by power balladeer Bryan Adams.
Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Sunday, October 5 (until November 23).
Dance: Dangerous Liaisons
The original Queensland Ballet production of Dangerous Liaisons.Credit: David Kelly Photography
The novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos portraying scandals of the Paris elite set was adapted to ballet using the music of Camille Saint-Saens for Queensland Ballet in 2019 – this is a return season. The story has inspired numerous films, including Cruel Intentions.
Thomas Dixon Centre, October 2-18, $75-$149.
Attraction: Body Worlds: The Anatomy of Happiness
Curious about what’s under the skin? This blockbuster exhibition shows the “plasticised” bodies of volunteer donors in remarkable displays of artful anatomy.
Uptown, daily 9am-5.30pm, until October 12, $20-$34.
Music: Saving a Bug’s Life
The Bugs’ band name was inspired by moths invading lead singer and guitarist Connor Brooker’s sharehouse.Credit: Grain
Brisbane acts are performing at this one-day festival to raise funds for the cancer fight of Bugs bassist Jordan Brunoli. Catch the Steele Syndicate, Tripsitta, Beddy Rays, the Bugs and more.
The Tivoli, Saturday, October 4, 2.30pm, $49.
Attraction: Escape Hunt
West End’s popular escape rooms are open for the whole of the long weekend with absorbing challenges including Alice in Puzzleland, Blackbeard’s Treasure, The Jewel Thief and Our Finest Hour. Organise a group of two-to-six people for the best experience and find more escape rooms here.
79 Russell Street, West End, $33-$39.
Art: Ken Done: No Rules
Ken Done in his studio.Credit: Luisa Brimble
Ken Done was an icon of the 1980s in Australia with his colourful artworks and the products on which they appeared. Now 85, he’s the subject of Ken Done: No Rules, a retrospective of his paintings, plus outfits from Romance Was Born’s 2023 collaborative Ken Done collection.
HOTA, Surfers Paradise, until February 15, $0-$21.
Museum: Da Vinci Machines: Inventions Brought to Life
Four venues across the City of Moreton Bay – Bribie Island Seaside Museum, Pine Rivers Heritage Museum, Redcliffe Museum and North Lakes Library – are showing 60 of Da Vinci’s most famous inventions, meticulously constructed from his original sketches.
Until November 2, free.
FOR FAMILIES
Attraction: Bluey’s World Brisbane
Bluey’s World has upgraded its experience for visitors with significant changes. Credit: Nick Dent
The Heeler home has had a few upgrades, with a treasure hunt, Floor is Lava and Copycat games added, while the gift shop includes exclusive merch such as Chattermax and Longdog toys and a 500-piece character puzzle.
281 MacArthur Avenue, Hamilton, until March 17, 2026, $64.90.
Film: The Bad Guys 2
The second film based on the kids’ books by Australia’s Aaron Blabey has Mr Wolf and the gang joining forces with another criminal group to pull off one last heist. Poker Face star Natasha Lyonne voices a new character, Doom.
In cinemas.
Attraction: Prison Island
One of the 35 challenge rooms in Prison Island.Credit: Fever Global
Touted as “the ultimate action game”, this 90-minute experience involves escape room-style challenges plus physical ones. Thirty-five separate challenge rooms are involved.
162 Alfred Street, Fortitude Valley, daily 10am-9.30pm (closed Monday, October 6), $43.90-$49.90.
Workshop: The People’s Dancefloor Workshops
All ages are welcome to drop in and dance with Common People Dance Project, who are teaching easy and joyful moves to popular bangers.
Museum of Brisbane, daily until October 6, 10.30am, 11.30am and 12.30pm, free.
Workshop: Bag Bead Studio
The Bag Bead Studio at Museum of Brisbane.Credit: Museum of Brisbane
All ages can design and create their own beaded bag charms, inspired by the intricate bags seen in the Precious exhibition.
Museum of Brisbane, daily until October 6, 10.30am–1.30pm.
Art: Wonderstruck
It’s your last chance to see GOMA’s spectacular free art show featuring work by Yayoi Kusama, Ron Mueck, Ai Weiwei, Albert Namatjira and Lindy Lee. Kids can add dots to Kusama’s Obliteration Room, or make a cardboard aeroplane.
GOMA, daily 10am-5pm, until October 6.
Art: The Big Hose
The Big Hose by Tony Albert and Nell is a permanent play sculpture at GOMA.Credit: N Umek © QAGOMA
GOMA has unveiled a new artwork and play sculpture down by the river at Kurilpa Point. A collaboration between artists Tony Albert and Nell, The Big Hose recreates a backyard hose on a grand scale.
GOMA, 24 hours, free.
Playground: Archerfield Wetlands District Park
The playground’s centrepoint is a three-storey yellow tube slide that curls around a steel pole. Reused pipes throughout spray water mist to help children cool down. 455 Bowhill Road, Durack, 24 hours, free. Explore other playgrounds.
Attraction: Ipswich Art Gallery, Ipswich Art Workshop and Nicholas St Precinct
Dinosaur Discovery experience at Nicholas St Precinct, Ipswich.
The gallery has hands-on art activities with all materials provided. Nearby at Tulmur Place there are daily outdoor activities, mini markets, food trucks and more, while the dinosaurs will remain on display day and night.
Nicholas Street Precinct, Ipswich, until October 4, 10am-2pm, free.
Attraction: Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience
Follow a nighttime trail through highlights from the Harry Potter books and films. Wave a magic wand, meet Harry, Hagrid and Draco, see fantastic beasts, and watch out for the Dementors.
Sirromet Winery, 5.45pm-10pm, until October 5, $82-$96.
Film: The Cassandra Cat
This family film made in Czechoslovakia in 1963 is about a travelling theatre’s cat that has the ability to reveal people’s true colours. Kids will love the sunglasses-wearing moggie, Mourek; adults will love the allegory.
GOMA, Sunday, October 5, 12.30pm, free.
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