Festivals and Fairs

Plan your year ahead with this handy list of all the Brisbane festivals and fairs in Queensland and Northern NSW. 

Festivals and Fairs in Brisbane happen often because of the awesome weather we seem to experience all year round. Brisbane Kids offers free calendar event advertising for all community fairs and school fetes without exception ensuring all schools and community groups have a chance to get their event out to a wide range of people.

Listing your fete or fair early on our calendar will give it the opportunity to be listed in our Brisbane Kids Magazine and also to be picked up by other publications that use our calendar to fill their own events listings.

Attending a festival with your child

Before you head to a festival with your Brisbane Kid make sure you consider a safety plan. Some tips include.

  • Dressing your child in brightly coloured clothing.
  • Establishing a safe zone when you arrive so everyone knows where to go if they get lost.
  • For bigger events like the Queensland Exhibition, go to the police stand on arrival and get your child a security band before you head off to have fun.

Schools Fetes in Brisbane

We list school fetes for free on the Brisbane Kids Calendar. If you want to list your fete or fair, just head to the Brisbane Kids calendar and use the submit event button. Find a Brisbane Fete or Fair near you.

January Festivals

LIfeline Bookfest image of people looking through hundreds of books on a table.

  • Lifeline Bookfest: The Lifeline Bookfest in Brisbane is held biannually – every January and June. Entry to the event is free, and books range in price, but many are as little as $1 each. Lifeline Bookfest Review. 

February Festivals

BCC chinese dancing lion

  • Brisasia Festival: celebrate the best of Asian arts and culture including theatre, dance, food, music, film, talks and visual arts. Brisasia Festival Review.

March Festivals

The World Science Festival 2022 Turtle Hatchery event image of a baby turtle swimming in the water.

  • Bluewater Festival: Rides, markets, entertainment and fireworks to celebrate the start of the Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race. 
  • World Science Festival: Includes events such as live turtle hatchings, star gazing, workshops, a Street Science Weekend just for kids and guest speakers. World Science Festival review. 

April Festivals

Redcliffe Festival of Sails image of a girl in an Easter bonnet on the beach.

  • Buddha Birth Day Festival: Free events including Thai Chi, meditation, lion dancing, dragon boat racing, amazing food, lanterns fireworks and much more. This event is held during April/May each year. 
  • Redcliffe Festival of Sails: A celebration of music, food, the Easter bunny and waterside fun – the Festival may be named for the race but that is really only just where the party starts. Redcliffe Festival of Sails review
  • Brisbane Kite Festival: Make your own or choose from several reasonably priced kites for sale on the day. There will also be food available and market stalls, jumping castles and face painting along with kite making and street performers. Brisbane Kite Festival review

May Festivals

Paniyiri greek festival image of two boys and two girls in traditional Greek outfits.

  • Paniyiri Festival: Queensland’s largest cultural festival, Paniyiri, is a massive celebration each year in May which honours all things Greek. Held in Musgrave Park. Paniyiri Greek Festival review
  • The Brookfield Show: Traditional country show treats such as equestrian events, arts and crafts
  • The Planting Festival: The Planting Festival Woodfordia is a family orientated festival where nature, art and culture are celebrated.  Planting Festival review 
  • Goomeri Pumpkin Festival: The family-friendly event now includes more than just pumpkins. There will be pig races, pony and camel rides, and an animal nursery. Kids can get involved in the skateboarding workshops and there will be chainsaw demonstrations and competitions to watch. Goomeri Pumpkin Festival review

June Festivals

Green heart fair image of father and son doing a craft activity at the fair.

  • The Green Heart Fair at Chermside: Cooking and gardening displays, plant sales, food, entertainment, and special guest appearances. Green Heart Fair review
  • Out Of The Box Festival: The Queensland Performing Arts Complex becomes a hub of performances, workshops and creative activities for kids aged 2-8. This is a biennial event. Out of the box review
  • Mary Poppins Festival: The ‘Art of Storytelling’ program includes film, art, music, performance and literature during the 10-day event. Mary Poppins Festival review
  • Lifeline Bookfest: The Lifeline Bookfest in Brisbane is held biannually – every January and June. Entry to the event is free, and books range in price, but many are as little as $1 each. Lifeline Bookfest review 

July Festivals

Abbey medieval festival image of two knights n amour fighting with swords.

  • Abbey Medieval Festival: Held across two weeks, there are banquets, jousting, a Tournament weekend and a Medieval fun week just for kids. Abbey Medieval Festival review 
  • Snowflakes in Stanthorpe: The winter festival has everything from amazing fireworks displays to bonfires, ice skating, snowman building competitions and lots of entertainment and activities. This is a biennial event. Snowflakes in Stanthorpe review 
  • NAIDOC festival: Musgrave Park becomes a family day out in July to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders culture with lots of free activities including rides, show bags, face painting and giveaways. 
  • Regional Flavours: Southbank hosts this flavoursome festival each July with the freshest and tastiest treats to sample and buy. Regional Flavours review
  • Tenerife Festival: Vernon Terrace in Teneriffe hosts this annual festival in July with a rich programme of concerts, historical displays and street markets
  • SPARK Ipswich Festival: An 11 day celebration featuring the popular SPARK after Dark, shows, live entertainment and a music festival just for Brisbane kids. 

August Festivals

Kiefest event image of Bluey and Bingo on stage with lots of kids in the crowd and parents watching the live show.

  • Redcliffe Kite Festival: Over 2 massive days, Redcliffe Kitefest is all about rides, food, fun, entertainment, markets and of course, kites, down on the Clontarf waterfront. Kitefest review
  • Strawberry Festival: Celebrate the strawberry with activities on the day including rides, live entertainment (including a stage just for kids), fireworks and eating lots of strawberries. Strawberry Festival review
  • Ekka: Jam-packed full of fun events and entertainment to ensure that everyone has a great day out! More than 70 per cent of the Ekka is dedicated to free family entertainment and activities. Ekka review. 

September Festivals

Riverfire event image of fireworks over the Brisbane River with the story bridge and city buildings in the background.

  • Nundah Village Festival: featuring stage and street performances, market stalls and displays from local schools.
  • The Brisbane Festival: A mix of free and ticketed events across 16 of Brisbane’s premier entertainment venues including the famous Riverfire. Riverfire review Brisbane Festival review 
  • Word Play: Grades 4 – 10 can select from 6 different segments each day in a program at the State Library of Queensland that encourages students and teachers to explore an amazing literary wonderland.
  • ImagiNation Children’s Festival: A 16 day action-packed program brings together a monster-sized range of free and low-cost activities. ImagiNation Childrens Festival review
  • Ozcomic Con: Get ready to see superheroes, princesses, Star Wars Troopers, fairies, and TV show and movie stars as the ultimate pop culture event.  Oz Comic Con review
  • Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers: A Grand Central Floral Parade and an awesome program of family-friendly entertainment with everything from amazing parades to kids rides, live entertainment, kids activities and much more. The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers review

October Festivals

  • The Green Heart Fair at Carindale: Cooking and gardening displays, plant sales, food, entertainment, and special guest appearances. Green Heart Fair review
  •  Oktoberfest Brisbane: A 2 day festival featuring a Kinderzone, a range of traditional stalls showcasing delicious food, world-famous beverages, and an exciting festival program featuring a line-up of traditional entertainment. Oktoberfest review
  • Einbunpin Festival: A community festival of food, market stalls, all day entertainment, craft activities and workshops. 
  • Moreton Bay Kids Festival: 6 worlds for kids to explore, all full of fun, excitement and adventure which include Fun Kids, Green Kids, Tech Kids, Creative Kids, Curious Kids and Active Kids. Moreton Kids Festival review

November Festivals

The Enchanted Garden event images of fig tree illuminated by hundreds of fairy lights and coloured lights.

  • Diwali Festival Of Lights: King George Square in Brisbane City lights up with lanterns and lights each November to celebrate this traditional Indian festival. Cultural stalls, Indian cuisine, and performances make this a magical night of colour and light. Suitable for all Brisbane Kids.
  • Sherwood Community Festival: Sherwood Road turns into one massive street party in November for this event. Market stalls, rides, show bags, baby animal farm, and 4 stages with entertainment.
  • Celebrate Christmas in Brisbane:  a 4 week spectacular, features everything from concerts, parades and fireworks, to markets, movies, carols, enchanted gardens and a light show. The event starts in November with the lighting of the Christmas Tree at King George Square.

December Festivals