What's On This Weekend in Brisbane: Sitchu's Top Picks

Social season is well and truly here. Shows, festivals and events are lighting up our calendar, and we hope you're ready for it. Melt Festival begins this week to showcase the LGBTQIA+ talent across the city, and it's your last chance to soak up Cirque du Soleil and Limbo, before the next performances roll onto the radar. 

We've also scored two new bars at Howard Smith Wharves this month, so cosy up with a drink and enjoy the moody ambience of the city's hottest new watering holes. 

Without further ado, let's see what's on in Brisbane.

Discovering Ancient Egypt

Step back in time at the Queensland Museum this week and explore mysteries, art and rituals from ancient times. The Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition has just arrived from the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities and offers a peek into the culture, daily life and beliefs practised in ancient Egypt.

Explore 3D light projections of the Temple of Taffeh, sculptures, Book of the Dead scrolls, jewellery, artwork and so much more. 

From Friday 25 October

Level 3 Queensland Museum Kurilpa, Grey Street &, Melbourne Street, South Brisbane

House of Lobster at One Fish Two Fish

One Fish Two Fish is making this month all about lobster with the month-long House of Lobster event!

Shell-ebrate your love of seafood with a menu of lobster toast, lobster bisque, your choice of summer lobster salad or lobster ravioli for entrée and so much more… we don’t want to spoil the seafood surprise. 

There’s a gluten-free option for each course, and a delicious dessert to finish the evening off on a sweet note. Don’t miss your opportunity to dine like royalty at this seafood restaurant.

Until 31st October

One Fish Two Fish, 708 Main Street, Kangaroo Point

Melt Festival

Melt Festival returns in 2024 to celebrate the queer community, promoting inclusivity and visibility amongst the greater Brisbane population. This year the program features over 120 events, 220 different performances, 70 different venues and a big boat parade.

With evocative discussions, art and photographic exhibitions and performances by some of Brisbane's best creatives from the LGBTQIA community, there’s a wide variety of mediums to enjoy at the Powerhouse this month in Brisbane.

From $32 per person

23 October to 10 November

Brisbane Powerhouse, 119 Lamington Street, New Farm

Darkfield & Maho Magic Bar

Enter a dark and mysterious world this month in Brisbane, as Darkfield makes its long-awaited return to our river city.

Featuring the fan-favourite Darkfield experiences SÉANCE and FLIGHT, 360-degree multisensory experiences housed in shipping containers, there’s even more to experience this time. Not for the claustrophobic, these immersive sonic performances challenge your senses and take you on a journey into other realms.

Popular Japanese immersive magic show Maho Magic Bar will also be in session alongside Darkfield’s unique experiences, with fresh tricksters, fresh tricks and importantly… fresh cocktails. Step into the backstreets of Tokyo and let the mischievous magicians entertain and delight you with their crafty antics.

From $23.83 per person

3 October to 8 December

Maritime Museum, 412 Stanley Street, South Brisbane

Champagne Day Lunch at Beechmont Estate

Heralding the beginning of spring, and in celebration of World Champagne Day, is a very special lunch at Beechmont Estate. 

The first event of its kind, sees this two chef-hatted restaurant partnering with a champagne house to deliver an exquisite, bespoke five-course meal, paired the seven prestige wines from Moët & Chandon.

Each course will pair perfectly with the flavour profile of the champagne, so you can expect delicate flavours drawn from premium, hyper-local ingredients. 

From $295 per person

Saturday 26 October, 11:30am to 3:00pm

422 Binna Burra Road, Beechmont

Night Feast 

Brisbane’s most exciting immersive foodie event has returned for its third year this October!

Night Feast will once again package live music, installations, roaming performers and incredible food into an immersive Spring Feast extravaganza.

Amidst a program of free events and art, you’ll enjoy pop-up micro restaurants from Boom Boom Room, Gelato Messina, Lek’s Thai, Allonda, Byblos, Donna Chang and so many more.  

Head down to the Powerhouse to explore the installations and feast upon some of Brisbane’s best restaurant menus, reinvented in an enthralling new way. 

Wednesday 16 October to Thursday 10 November

The Powerhouse, 119 Lamington Street, New Farm

LUZIA by Cirque du Soleil

Inspired by the people, places and stories that define Mexico, LUZIA by Cirque du Soleil is a must do this month, for anyone who loves circus acts or performance. 

Luzia takes you on a journey through an imaginary Mexico, from old folklore to the urban landscape of modern day. Expect a surrealistic series of visual surprises and acrobatic performances that will take your breath away.

From $84 per person

Wednesday 25 September to Sunday 10 November

Under the Big Top, Next to Royal Queensland Golf Club, 431 Curtin Ave West, Eagle Farm 

Limbo - The Return

West End’s most exciting new theatre and bar is welcoming an international circus spectacle this month with Limbo - The Return opening to the public on the 29th of August. The award-winning performance has toured 17 countries and has now been reimagined, in time to form part of the Brisbane Festival 2024. 

Prepare to be dazzled by a cast of world-renowned circus performers, prolific musicians and magnificent magicians in this captivating show. 

From $59 per person

From 29 August

The West End Electric, 125 Boundary Street, West End

Thinking about getting out of town this weekend? Head to our destinations pillar to find out everything you need to know about Queensland's best vacation spots. Or for more of what's happening in and around Brisbane this month, check out of monthly guide of fun things to do in Brisbane.