Gold Coast Events and Festivals

The Gold Coast’s calendar of festivals and events is impressive. Everything from the most demanding of sporting events, including surfing and the Ironman triathlon, to cultured eating and drinking and several notable music events ensure a busy year.

Big Day Out: is a touring music festival held at quality venues throughout the Gold Coast on the third Sunday of the month.

Australia Day: the biggest day of the year for the majority of Australians sees numerous cultural events including a rodeo, sheep sheering, blacksmithing, and lots of food, wine, beer and entertainment on the 26th of the month. The day celebrates the landing of the First Fleet under Captain Arthur Phillip at Sydney Cove in 1788.

Gold Coast Surf Lifesaving Titles: previously held every year in February on the superb Kurrawa surfing beach, the Lifesaving Titles is now rotated between the Gold Coast, Scarborough in Western Australia, and Coffs Harbour in New South Wales.

Annual East Coast Blues and Roots Music Festival: is a fine festival for music fans that is held a along the coast in Byron Bay over the Easter weekend. Expect to rub shoulders with bohemian types in this artsy town.

Beenleigh Rotary Cane Festival: sees locals and visitors celebrating Beenleigh’s colourful history with concerts, art shows, BMX riding and skateboard displays, as well as war memorabilia from Canberra Memorial.

Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show: is one of the largest boat shows in Australia with mariners from around the world coming to see the new and old vessels.

Wintersun Festival: this 10-day event in June is one of Australia’s largest nostalgia festivals featuring music, cars, dance and lifestyle from the 1950s and ‘60s at the border towns of Tweed Heads and Coolangatta. Dozens of bands perform for free on stages and in hotels in Coolangatta and Tweed Heads.

Down Under Bowl: is the largest gridiron tournament contested outside America with hundreds of athletes arriving from all over to take on the locals.

Greek Festival: is great for the whole family and especially those who like to savour European delicacies, namely Greek food and dancing. The event is hosted by the Gold Coast Greek community and has lots of children’s amusements to go with the food and cultural exhibitions.

Gold Coast Show: towards the end of July, involves lots of fun at the fair, with plenty of rides and games, a rodeo, circus, wood chopping competitions and lots of other free entertainment. 

Winter Gourmet Weekend: the Binna Burra Mountain Lodge on the picturesque Mount Tamborine is the venue for this weekend of gourmet cuisine. Fine wines and classical music also accompany this laid-back winter event.

Gold Coast Tropicarnival Eisteddfod: is an event of huge proportions with tens of thousands of young performers coming from all over Australia to perform in music, drama and dance.

Springfest Welcoming: celebrates the arrival of spring with lots of entertainment in the arts, Springfest surfing, netball and golf tournaments, as well as live music, food and lots of other interesting knick knacks. A huge street parade with buskers and clowns is the highlight of the event.

Gold Coast Food and Wine Festival: a week-long event of Gold Coast food, wine and produce in Surfers Paradise. Try out some of the many types of grape, see cheese being made, and join in the Longest Dinner.

Indy Carnival: in Surfers Paradise features four days and nights of excessive speed with some motors reaching speeds of up to 180mph. The SEA FM air show is also part of the event with death-defying moves from overhead.

Bird Week: in Mount Tamborine is Australia's most popular bird watching week where rare species can be spotted with the help of expert leaders.

Broadbeach Festival: this favourite event on one of the Gold Coast’s finest beaches sees an array of food and drink and lots of entertainment in the sun. Everyone is welcome.

Broadbeach Festival: this favourite event on one of the Gold Coast’s finest beaches sees an array of food and drink and lots of entertainment in the sun. Everyone is welcome.

Christmas Day: the whole place really comes alive at this joyous time of year with hotels and shopping centres all getting in on the action. Additionally, local churches hold services and welcome visitors.

Gold Coast Half Ironman Triathlon: is held annually here at the end of the year with top athletes coming in from around the world to win the Ironman of the year title. A substantial swim, bike ride and run separate the men and women from the boys and girls.