25 things to do over the Labour Day long weekend in Brisbane
By Nick Dent
As well as a celebration of hard-won workers’ rights, Labour Day is Brisbane’s last public holiday for three months. So you’d better make the most of it.
Three days off are perfect for a short getaway to Straddie, Stanthorpe, Toowoomba or Brunswick Heads (to name a few), but there is plenty to be getting on with if you’re staying in town.
We’ve grouped the list into the four days (including Friday night), but we’ve indicated where events are happening across multiple dates.
Friday, May 3
Broncos players celebrate a try during the round eight NRL match against Wests Tigers in Sydney. Credit: Izhar Khan/Getty Images
Sport: Broncos v Roosters
Start your long weekend with this highly anticipated Round 9 clash between the Broncos and the Sydney Roosters, minus the suspended Spencer Leniu – the local heroes are itching to avenge their defeat at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas.
Suncorp Stadium, Fri May 3, 8pm, $32-$299. Buy tickets.
Movies: Fremont
Looking for a good date movie? This wry black-and-white gem from director Babak Jalali concerns an Afghan refugee (Anaita Wali Zada) leading a monotonous life in California, toiling in a fortune cookie factory and desperate for human connection. The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White also appears.
Dendy Cinemas, from May 2. Buy tickets.
Spooktacular: John Waters in The Woman in Black.Credit: Justin Nicholas
Theatre: The Woman in Black
John Waters and Daniel MacPherson star in this local production of the play, based on Susan Hill’s novel, that recently closed in London’s West End after 33 years of scaring the living daylights out of theatregoers.
Playhouse, QPAC, until May 11, Fri May 3 7.30pm, Sat May 4 2pm & 7.30, $55-$145. Buy tickets.
Musicals: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
Famous as the second-longest running off-Broadway musical (it ran for 12 years), this revue-style show has been updated to reflect the realities of dating in the 21st century. Queensland Academy of Excellence in Musical Theatre is staging the show for a limited run over the weekend.
Cremorne Theatre, QPAC, May 2-4, $45. Buy tickets.
Saturday, May 4
The Valley Pride crew at Towri Growers Market.Credit: Towri Growers Market
Markets: Towri Growers Market
The producer community of the Scenic Rim has weathered fire, floods, drought, COVID and even a tornado. Support their endeavours with a visit to Allenview (70 minutes from the Brisbane CBD) to buy fresh dairy, meat, fruit, veg, baked goods and preserves. Book ahead on the website.
206 Saville Road, Allenview. First Sat of the month, 9am-2pm, $5. Buy tickets.
Movies: Watch the Star Wars saga
Some people would sooner kiss a Wookiee than watch three Star Wars movies in a row, but when the movies are the original trilogy (A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi), then that’s a journey to a galaxy far, far away worth taking.
Event Cinemas, various times. Buy tickets.
Circus Fun House - The Show at Pink Flamingo Spiegeland is the company’s first show for kids.Credit: Pink Flamingo
Kids: Circus Fun House – The Show
The Pink Flamingo team has launched a weekly kids’ show. Every Saturday morning the international circus performers are performing an extravaganza filled with music, comedy, jaw-dropping stunts and dazzling costumes.
The Pink Flamingo Spiegeland, 98 Bincote Street, Northshore, Hamilton, Sat 11.30am, $25-$70. Buy tickets.
Talks: Alvin Rostant Book Launch
Rostant is a world-renowned steelpan player from Trinidad who made his home in Australia following appearances at Expo 88. He is launching a memoir, Carnival Is Me, and he’ll also perform the instrument live.
Logan Art Gallery, Sat May 4, 2pm, free.
Dig It at Thunderbird Park, Mount Tamborine enables kids to operate heavy machinery (under appropriate supervision). Credit: Luke Marsden
Kids: Dig It Excavator Park
Kids can sit in the driver’s seat of a real CAT 1.7 tonne mini-excavator, with hard hats and high vis gear required onsite. Try digging up the dirt, using a claw to stack and move tyres, or using a hook to catch “crocs”.
Thunderbird Park, Tamborine Mountain, 8.30am-4.30pm, closed public holidays, $55-$59. Buy tickets.
Theatre: The Norman Mailer Anecdote
A lawyer is rocked by accusations of historic sexual assault against her husband in this debut play from experienced local screenwriter Anthony Mullins. It’s the first presentation of Queensland Theatre’s Door 3 program, supporting visionary work from independent theatre companies.
Diane Cilento Studio, Wed-Sat May 3-18, 6pm, $35. Buy tickets.
Sunday, May 5
Brisbane Comedy Festival performer Urvi Majumdar.
Comedy: Brisbane Comedy Festival
Performing this weekend are TV sensation Josh Thomas, Captain Jack Sparrow impersonator Cameron James, rising UK star Helen Bauer, tracksuit wearer Daniel Muggleton, dry Aussie wit Ting Lim, queer contrarian Lou Wall, all-girls’ school alumna Urvi Majumdar, and many more.
Until May 26, various venues, times and prices. Buy tickets.
Music: Chelsea Cutler
This folk-pop singer from Westport, Connecticut, has wowed audiences at major festivals and on the top US talk shows. She arrives in Australia to play songs from her three albums, How to Be Human, When I Close My Eyes and Stellaria.
Princess Theatre, Sun May 5, $74.90-$156.46. Buy tickets.
Nundah Farmers Markets takes place next to Nundah train station.Credit: Nundah Farmers Markets
Markets: Nundah Farmers Markets
One of life’s great pleasures is to get up early, get a barista coffee and a breakfast roll at an open-air market, and catch up with friends for a chinwag and a browse. Nundah Village has a great little market hugging the train station that is perfect for just that.
Station Street, Nundah. Every Sunday 6am-12pm, free.
Exhibitions: Seen on the Screen at Brisbane Motor Museum
The museum’s current show features hot rods such as the silver 1976 Datsun 260z used in Netflix series Boys Swallows Universe, a 1966 Sunbeam Tiger made famous by spy sitcom Get Smart! as well as a replica of Doctor Who’s jalopy Bessie.
Brisbane Motor Museum, 959 Nudgee Road, Banyo, Wed-Sun 8am-3pm, until Jun 2, $12.50-$25. Buy tickets.
An emu prowls the grounds at Walkabout Creek.Credit: Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre
Outdoors: Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre
This nature reserve overlooking the Enoggera Reservoir has snakes, lizards, Mary River turtles, an echidna, Queensland lungfish, Spinifex hopping mice, emus, wallabies and more. The open-air cafe up on the deck makes tasty lunches and a creditable coffee, and you can walk the short track around the centre and even swim or canoe in the reservoir.
60 Mount Nebo Road, Enoggera Reservoir, Mon-Sun 9am-4pm, $4.25-$8.90 (family $22.90); with Wildlife Discovery Show $11.45-$17.30 (Sat-Sun).
Musicals: Beauty and the Beast
This lavish, four-star theatrical extravaganza combines technological stage magic with finely tuned vocal and dancing prowess, not to mention 300 costumes. Disney’s classic stage musical is a beast of a show, and it’s hard not to fall in love with it.
Lyric Theatre, QPAC, May 3 7.30, May 4 2pm & 7.30pm, May 5 1pm & 6.30pm, until Jun 9, $80-$250. Buy tickets.
Conventions: Brisbane Model Train Show
The Australian Model Railway Association of Queensland is holding its 46th annual show with trackwork from clubs around the state, hobby shops and private enthusiasts. Kids under 16 enjoy free entry.
Brisbane Showgrounds, May 4 9am-5pm, May 5 9am-4pm, $0-$18. Tickets at the door.
Monday, May 6
Frew Park in Milton is an elaborate kids’ playground inspired by the tennis stadium that formerly stood there.Credit: Nick Dent
Kids: Frew Park, Milton
The playground that adjoins the Roy Emerson Tennis Centre in Milton invites kids to climb their way up over scramble nets and crawl through passages to reach the entrance to a steep silver tube slide. If they keep going they’ll get into the three storey-high “Commentary Box”, a cage that overlooks the park from on high.
Frew Street, Milton, free. Discover more spectacular free playgrounds.
Kids: Jurassic World by Brickman at Queensland Museum
Ryan “Brickman” McNaught reimagines Jurassic World in an exhibition of large-scale dinosaurs, props, scenes and activities made from more than 6 million Lego bricks. Don’t miss the free Dinosaurs Unearthed exhibition downstairs.
Queensland Museum Kurilpa, 9.40am-5pm, until Jul 14, $19.90-$29.90. Buy tickets.
A piece by Brisbane-born artist Russell Fenn, better known as Sofles.Credit: Brittany Campbell, Brisbane Street Art Festival
Festivals: Brisbane Street Art Festival
Launching May 4, the festival will feature local and international artists revitalising public spaces with new murals. Events to check out include the Within These Walls exhibition and the No Expectations First Nations exhibition, both at Superordinary, Northshore and also open Labour Day 8am-2pm.
Various locations, May 4-19. More information.
Exhibitions: mudunama kundana wandaraba jarribirri Judy Watson at QAG
Four decades of beautiful work by this great Queensland artist are comprehensively surveyed in this free show whose title translates as “tomorrow the tree grows stronger”.
Queensland Art Gallery, until Aug 11, daily 10am-5pm, free.
HOTA’s show is an immersive digital experience bringing together the greatest masterpieces of the Renaissance in Italy.Credit: Grande Experiences
Exhibitions: Italian Renaissance Alive at HOTA
The makers of Van Gogh Alive present a multisensory experience featuring projections of works by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Raphael, Caravaggio, Titian, Veronese and more, with an operatic score featuring music by Puccini and Verdi.
Home of the Arts (HOTA) Gallery, Surfers Paradise, daily until Aug 4, 10am-4pm, $0-$39. Buy tickets.
Food & Drink: Margs and Tacos at the Boundary
Hola – West End’s historic pub serves two tacos plus a margarita for $20 at lunch and dinner every Monday and Labour Day is no exception. Bookings recommended.
137 Boundary Street, West End, 11.30am-3pm & 5-9pm, $20. Make a reservation.
Escape Hunt is one of the longest-running escape-room businesses in Brisbane.Credit: Nick Dent
Amusements: Beat the clock at Escape Hunt escape rooms
One of the oldest and best escape rooms in Brisbane is open on Labour Day. Bomb in Parliament House is a good room to start with: the idea is to find an incendiary device concealed somewhere within the governor’s stately residence. Look around at the photos, paintings, wallpaper, furniture and crockery, and find the hidden codes needed to expose the threat and diffuse it.
77 Russell Street, West End. Mon-Sun, $40-$46pp. Book a room.
Parades: Brisbane Labour Day March
Proud union members and their families may consider joining the official march, which leaves from Cathedral Square and ends at the Brisbane Showgrounds where there is food, drink, entertainment and kids’ rides until 2pm.
Corner Wharf and Turbot streets, Brisbane, 10am, free.