Live shows
A bunch of must-see concerts, gigs and music-soaked soirees are coming to Brisbane this weekend, and we are ready to treat our ears to some live tunes. Uniting a rag tag team of Aussie musos, Dots+Loops Nonstop returns for a seven-hour celebration of Australia’s most exciting artists this Sunday at The Tivoli. The festival will see a magical line-up of performers, composers and producers including Jo Davie, Nick Photinos, Nozomi Omote, Jen Hankin, Cre8tive Nations, Ensemble Cherubim, Rubiks Collective, Mindy Meng Wang, Tim Shiel, Pat Carroll, Lost Few, Shandy and DJ Sweaty Baby. Electronic icons Caribou will bring their dynamic dance tunes to The Tivoli on Thursday, as part of a long-awaited string of shows taking place throughout Australia. On Friday, Anjunadeep makes its Brisbane debut with a unique show at The Princess Theatre that features an expertly curated line-up of label artists. The night will welcome performances from Durante b2b HANA, Jody Wisernoff, Marsh, Luttrell, Taglo and a DJ set from CRi. On Friday, Chase Atlantic will take the stage at The Princess Theatre while US singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin is bringing his The (Un)Commentary Tour to The Triffid. Queensland’s five-star festive hit Christmas Actually returns this weekend to Fortitude Music Hall. Now in its fifth year, Naomi Price and friends return to stuff your stockings with the music of Love Actually live on stage, wrapped up with a sprig of holly and bucketloads of comedy and charm. The show will features hits from artists including Mariah Carey, Joni Mitchell, Norah Jones, Eva Cassidy, The Beach Boys and The Beatles.

Exhibitions
One of our favourite ways to spend our free time is strolling through an art gallery, and there’s no better place to do this than at QAGOMA. The gallery’s summer blockbuster exhibition, Air, is showcasing immersive and large-scale works by leading international and Australian artists exploring the cultural, ecological and political dimensions of air. Courage and Beauty is another fresh exhibition to grace the gallery, and this spellbinding showcase celebrates the vision and generosity of Queensland art collector and philanthropist James C. Sourris AM. Curious culture lovers can also check out Embodied Knowledge, a focused survey of new work by Queensland artists showing at Queensland Art Gallery. This group of commissioned and recent projects brings to the fore the voices of women, people of colour and LGBTIQA+ artists, all with a close connection to the sunshine state. Fans of Mickey, Minnie, Elsa, Anna and everyone in between are sure to adore Queensland Museum’s newest exhibition, Disney: The Magic of Animation. This kid- and adult-friendly exhibition will draw back the curtain on almost 100 years of the Walt Disney Animation Studios, revealing the magic and hard work behind scenes of your favourite animated films. Giving us the perfect excuse to wander around the city is Brisbane City Council’s Outdoor Gallery exhibition, play/ground. Art enthusiasts are set to be wowed by a series of breathtaking artworks in light boxes, banners, vitrines, and evening projections across destinations including Howard Smith Wharves, Ann Street and Fish Lane. MoB is once again inviting art lovers to escape the world outside and enter a new, far more colourful one inside its fun-filled exhibition Play Moves. Sticking around until April 16, 2023, this fantastical display is bringing together a bounty of local and national artists for a boundary-breaking art experience like no other. Exhibition-goers can stroll through six large-scale installations where every action you take makes the art around you come alive. While you’re there, pop into the MoB Shop for some last-minute Christmas shopping. You can stuff your stockings with handmade jewellery, ceramics, prints, art pieces, homewares, candles, puzzles and much more.

Theatre
Lovers of F. Scott Fitzgerald can immersive themselves in 1920s glamour at The Great Gatsby: An Immersive Theatrical Production. Led by an ensemble cast of the highest calibre Australian actors, this production will offer audiences the opportunity to experience the story of Gatsby as they have never seen it before. Expect secret rendezvous, dramatic confrontations, bootleg gin and a party that only Gatsby could throw. We hope you’re holding onto your umbrellas as Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s supercalifragilistic new production of Mary Poppins is currently showing at QPAC for a strictly limited season. Adapted from the beloved stories by PL Travers and the original film, this stage show is a practically perfect time. Whisk the entire family away this festive season to a magical party where snowflakes flutter, fireplaces crackle, and enchanted toys come alive to frolic and play in The Nutcracker. Coming to QPAC this weekend, this family favourite is a glorious way to welcome in the most wonderful time of the year. Featuring a live band, a rag-tag team of Brisbane’s best (and rowdiest) performers and a soundtrack of Christmas classics that have been given a titillating twist, A Very Naughty Christmas is sure to have you feeling festive this December. Now in its sixth year, the scintillating show has moved to the La Boite Roundhouse Theatre for a more up close and personal experience. Pack your mince pies and Christmas spirits – The Kransky Sisters are bringing the party back to town this weekend! From Britney Spears to Aerosmith, M to AC/DC, and carols like you’ve never heard them before, a night with this delightfully twisted trio will more than fill your Christmas stockings.

Out-of-the-box activities
Experience a Christmas lights display like no other when Brisbane’s inaugural Christmas Boat Parade takes to the river near Northshore Brisbane this Sunday. Commercial boats of all shapes and sizes will be festooned in jolly lighting and decorations as they float and flow to a soundtrack of Christmas classics. Enjoy the thrill of entertainment on the water and onshore with roving performance artists, live music, photo opportunities and more! Lasers, lizards and 22,000-sqm of custom-made lighting is just a taste of what you can expect to find at this year’s The Enchanted Garden, which is set to light up Brisbane once more. Taking over Roma Street Parkland until December 21, the family-friendly showcase sees the lush grounds light up in a spectacular technicolour display that is sure to take your breath away. Just a short stroll away is Moonlight Cinema, which is screening hits and serving up popcorn in Roma Street Parkland. The outdoor cinema is set to showcase this season’s biggest blockbusters, hottest new releases and certified cult classics. Those feeling extra adventurous this weekend can hit up Brisbane’s most ‘grammable experience – Imaginaria. The stunning immersive play experience combines audio-visual art, inflatable architecture, light installations and futuristic gamification suitable for all ages. Nerdy about NASA? If that’s a yes, then you’re going to love the new space-centric experience that’s landed in Brisbane. Neighbourhood Earth is an out-of-this-world experience that lets visitors explore the solar system and our place within it. Christmas in Brisbane is back and better than ever, featuring a line-up of magical events to celebrate family, friends and the festive season. Grab your tipple of choice and raise a toast to the silly season at the Tinsel Tavern Bar presented by eatSouthBank. This shiny new pop-up bar on Little Stanley Street Lawn is serving up Christmas cheer from 4:30 pm to 10:00 pm daily from December 17 to 22. Order a refreshing drink and soak up the sounds of festive beats from a line-up of local musicians. Those looking to get into the Christmas spirit can have a whole bunch of festive fun at Christmas Putt Putt at Victoria Park. Aim for a ho, ho, hole in one as you putt through festive fairways decked out with bells, bows and bright twinkling lights.

Markets and foodie fun
If you’re eager to stroll through some stalls and stock up on some fresh fruit and veg this weekend, be sure check out these markets happening – Saturday Fresh Market, Riverside Markets, Kelvin Grove Village Market, Jan Powers Farmers Markets, Davies Park Market, Carseldine Markets and the Redcliffe Markets. For delicious dinnertime eats, Eat Street Northshore is on for your snacking pleasure on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights or a hint of mystery, head to Westoria this Friday – a unique night market bringing a sense of wonder, excitement and sense-enlivening magic to West End. This Sunday, finish off your festive shopping at the Portside Wharf Christmas Market. From the shop-happy minds of The Market Folk, this merry market will boast more than 50 stallholders offering limited-edition and one-of-a-kind wares. Fish Lane Markets are returning this Sunday for a festive local shopping event at Town Square in South Brisbane. Market-goers can expect an array of independent local makers and designers selling the likes of ceramics, art, accessories, plants, dog accessories, natural skincare and more. For a sweet treat, head to South Bank to check out pop-up Japanese eatery Kumo Kumo, which is slinging its signature jiggly souffle pancakes and speciality drinks for a limited time only. This silly season you can indulge in a festive high tea full of tantalising treats at W Brisbane’s Living Room Bar. Glam up and indulge in a curated selection of savoury and sweet themed treats including a build-your-own gingerbread house! Set to make our Sunday afternoons way more impressive are Will & Flow’s SUNDAZE sessions, which continue this summer. Happening every Sunday from 11:30 am to 6:00 pm, these sun-soaked sessions offer a primo position to soak up Brisbane’s natural splendour, as well as live entertainment, whistle-wetting tipples and delicious fare. The Nautilus Beach Club at The Westin Brisbane is opening on Friday for the summer to both guests and the general public, and it’s the perfect place to cool down with a cocktail in hand. For just $29, guests can enjoy the pool for up to seven hours and you’ll even get a welcome spritz on arrival!

This article was written by Sara Weckerle at The Weekend Edition.