Five Essential Autumn Festivals and Exhibitions in Queensland

March to May is festival season in Queensland. The summer weather has dissipated, leaving behind warm, sunny days and cool, crisp nights, perfect for watching a blues band on the Gold Coast, or seeing Carmen performed under a blanket of stars in the middle of nowhere. But the good times are indoors as well, with world class exhibitions and science festivals to check out. Here’s Broadsheet ’s pick of the best autumn festivals and exhibitions in the Sunshine State.

Pop Masters: Art From the Mugrabi Collection, New York at HOTA
Gold Coast’s HOTA (Home of the Arts) has snagged an Australian exclusive with this blockbuster exhibition that showcases some of the masters of pop art. On loan from New York art collector Jose Mugrabi’s personal collection, works from pop art masters Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat will be showcased alongside pieces by artists who drew inspiration from these trailblazers. Tours run daily in addition to general admission tickets, offering a fully curated experience that tells the story behind some iconic works.
Feb 18–June 4

CMC Rocks QLD
Tickets were originally released in October for this year’s CMC Rocks QLD Festival, so you’ll need to keep a very close eye on resale tickets if you’re keen to snag some. The country and roots festival will see more than 15,000 punters gather at Willowbank Raceway in Ipswich, 45 minutes south-west of Brisbane, for three days of camping, cowboy hats and music. The line-up is heavy on American artists, including Jordan Davis, Morgan Wallen, Kip Moore, Hardy, Randy Houser and Bailey Zimmerman. To get on the ticket waitlist you’ll need to sign up to The Drove on the CMC Rocks website, then keep your eye out for the resale facility to go online (should be any day now). Alternatively, register as a volunteer to receive a full festival ticket in exchange for two six-hour shifts.
March 17–19

World Science Festival and Curiocity Brisbane
Held at various venues across South Brisbane’s cultural precinct, the annual World Science Festival Brisbane is all about inspiration, innovation and creativity in all things STEM. This year’s theme is “Open your mind”, and the program is packed with more than 130 events and workshops. Expect plenty of hands-on activities, as well as conversations, including festival founder Brian Greene chatting with Nasa scientist Thomas Zurbuchen about plans to set foot on Mars. You can also visit baby turtles in a hatchery and have a close encounter with dinosaurs at Erth’s Prehistoric Picnic (great for kids of all ages). March 24 and 25 will see Queensland Museum transform into a social science hub where you can submit yourself to some uncomfortable scrutiny inside the Truth Machine: a lie-detector with a twist. The festival features Curiocity Brisbane, where you can follow a walking trail that explores the intersection of science, art and technology through art installations. Most events are free, but some require bookings.
March 22–26. Curiocity Brisbane runs until April 2.

Blues on Broadbeach
Tommy Emmanuel headlines a blues and roots festival that’s been an autumn staple in the Gold Coast’s Broadbeach precinct for more than 20 years. Held over four days, the festival is free to attend, but members of the VIP Twelve Bar Society get some tasty extras, such as an exclusive bar, a limited edition merchandise and goodies bar, entry to a secret show and even an acoustic guitar masterclass with Tommy Emmanuel himself – you can sign up at any time. This year’s line-up includes the legendary Don Walker, Aboriginal songwriter Emma Donovan & the Putbacks, the Kevin Borich Express, plus American visitors the Turner Brown Band.

May 18–21

Festival of Outback Opera
Last year’s inaugural Festival of Outback Opera was an enormous success, bringing soaring performances to the most unlikely of locations in Central West Queensland. Spanning country pubs, cattle stations and the boundless plains, often performed under a blanket of stars, this year’s festival returns to Winton and Longreach in May, when the days are cool(ish) and the nights are sublime. Along with opera performances, there’ll be panel discussions, live music and more. Festivities kick off at Winton’s Royal Theatre, and the full program and venues will be announced closer to the date.
May 19–22

This article is produced in partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland.