With 300 days of sunshine throughout the year, it’s no surprise the Gold Coast offers a large and diverse social calendar for everyone to enjoy.
Here are our picks for the best festivals and events to keep you amongst the good vibes.
Summer 2024/25
The Makers Market @ Circle on Cavill: 3 November, 1 December and 5 January
The Market Folk are bringing their wares to Surfer’s Paradise this summer! See creativity unleashed at The Makers Market over three Sundays—shop for unique Christmas presents and locally made produce at the hippest spot in town. The market runs from 10am to 2pm and will include live music to serenade you while you browse.
Autumn 2025
Gold Coast Film Festival: 16—27 April
Movie buffs—prepare yourselves. The three Ps (panels, parties and pop-up cinemas) of the Gold Coast Film Festival (GCFF) are on the horizon once again. Hosted by HOTA, GCFF is a celebration of filmmaking and sees thousands gather for the love of cinema.
The 2025 program is yet to be released, but you can stay up to date on Facebook and Instagram. GCFF is one of the Gold Coast’s best festivals and is not to be missed.
Blues on Broadbeach: 15—18 May
May sees a cool change sweep through the city, and we don’t just mean the weather. Blues on Broadbeach returns for its 24th year to celebrate all things rhythm and blues over four soulful days. You don’t need a ticket to access most of the festival, making it one of the best free things to do on the Gold Coast.
Curious to know more? Catch the details here.
Winter 2025
Botanical Bazaar: 2—3 August
The Gold Coast’s premier gardening and sustainable living festival, Botanical Bazaar, returns to Nerang in August. Get your fingers green over two days with guided foraging walks and gardening demonstrations. Once you’ve picked up a cute pot plant, grab some tasty treats from the many food vendors and relax on the grass with some live music.
You can buy tickets to the festival, as well as some seriously cool workshops, here.
Stay tuned for more
Swell Sculpture Festival: Dates TBC
Queensland’s largest outdoor sculpture exhibition, Swell Sculpture Festival, will return in 2025 to bring you more awe-inspiring artworks on the shores of Currumbin Beach. The dates haven’t been set yet, but you can expect all the magic from 2024 including guided walks, live music and comedy, workshops and artist presentations.
Stay up to date on Facebook and Instagram—Swell is an absolute highlight of the Gold Coast festival scene.
Bleach: Dates TBC
Bleach is the Gold Coast’s annual contemporary arts festival and pushes the boundaries of artistic expression. The festival will return in 2025, packed full of exceptional creations and unique experiences across the entire city.
While you wait for the new program to drop, take a peek at previous years to give you a taste of what’s to come.
Read more:
