The Brisbane Festival 2024 boasts a program of fun family-friendly events, and many of them are FREE! Read all about it here.
Brisbane Festival 2024 brings Brisbanites and visitors together this August and September for an explosion of arts performances and experiences. Brisbane Festival’s program of family-friendly events is packed full of the wonderful and the whimsical, where colour, rhythm, art, comedy and activity unite. Here is our roundup of this year’s best FREE Brisbane Festival events for families on a budget.
Free Brisbane Festival shows for families
There is no need to break the bank or miss out on all the fun of Brisbane’s biggest festival. The shows listed below are all free!
Brisbane Serenades
Brisbane Festival’s smash-hit Serenades program is back for its fifth year. This year five incredible outdoor concerts will occur, taking place from the north and the south, amongst the city’s gorgeous green spaces, gardens, parks and rivers. It’s the perfect way to explore Brisbane and experience the joy of music, dance and connection.
Event details:
- Venues: Moorooka, Portside, Victoria Park, St Lucia, and Kuraby
- Dates: 7 – 21 September
- Showtimes:
- Moorooka Block Party: 7 September, 4pm – 8pm
- Voices of Victoria Park: 8 September, 3:45pm – 7pm
- St Lucia Serenades: 14 September, 2pm – 5pm
- Portside Serenades: 15 September, 4pm – 7pm
- Pasifika Made: 21 September, 5pm – 9pm
- Booking: Non-ticketed
Proudfoot and Friends
As part of the Lord Mayor’s Children’s program, award-winning children’s performer Lucas Proudfoot will perform at the Brisbane Festival on Thursday September 19.
Proud First Nations performer Lucas leads the audience on a hilarious interactive sing-along adventure. He’ll perform on stage with his guitar, stomp box, didgeridoo and a cast of unforgettable characters on a non-stop musical adventure around Pelican Bay.
This 45-minute musical comedy show is perfect for 3-7-year-olds. It features state-of-the-art digital puppeteering and choreographed animated projections that will delight and captivate kids and adults.
Event details:
- Venue: Brisbane City Hall, 64 Adelaide Street, Brisbane City
- Dates and Times: 19 September, 10am and 1pm
- Booking: Required
- Duration: Approx. 55 minutes
Spectrum of Happiness
Spectrum of Happiness is an interactive swing that invite people of all genders and generations to experience shared moments of happiness together. The rainbow symbolizes an optimistic, new, bright beginning. It embodies diversity in its diverse colours, the same as diversity in each individual, which together shines as the beloved and celebrated rainbow of humankind. This is a great Insta worthy installation – tell your teens about this one!
Event details:
- Venue: Portside Wharf, 39 Hercules Street, Hamilton
- Dates and Times: 30 August – 21 September, closed on Mondays
- Booking: Non-ticketed
Friday Feels
Friday Feels is the perfect way to start the weekend. Head to the Portside Wharf every Friday evening for a delectable series of pop-up music events featuring a range of acts, roving performances and workshops. Dance along, join in, and celebrate the end of the week every week.
Event details:
- Venue: Portside Wharf, 39 Hercules Street, Hamilton
- Dates and Times: 6, 13 and 20 September
- Booking: Non-ticketed
Flow
Flow is a site-specific immersive installation that beckons the audience to explore the depths of shared human emotion through the metaphorical lens of water. The interactive artwork uses projection-mapped generative animation, electronic modular sound and a custom audiovisual sensory system to invite participation.
Event details:
- Venue: Portside Wharf, 39 Hercules Street, Hamilton
- Dates and Times: 30 August – 21 September, closed on Mondays
- Booking: Non-ticketed
Festival Favourites
Get a taste of the Festival’s best – for free! – under the dome at Westfield Chermside.
Enjoy live entertainment from Brisbane’s talented musicians. Families can also master new skills at the free workshops. Master new circus skills, drop by for a hip hop workshop and join in a dance cypher with some of the best dancers in town.
Event details:
- Venue: Westfield Chermside, Gympie Road, Chermside
- Dates and Times: 12 – 21 September, closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- Booking: Non-ticketed
Skylore – The Rainbow Serpent
Back by popular demand and following the huge success of last year’s Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale, a three-dimensional multicolour drone show returns for another glittering spectacular.
At Festival Garden in South Bank or at Queen’s Wharf, watch as 400 drones dazzle over Brisbane’s iconic skyline, telling the captivating story of The Rainbow Serpent. This First Nations creation story for the Brisbane River, narrated by Traditional Owner and Tribal Experiences Managing Director Shannon Ruska, will be brought to life through a carefully choreographed drone performance, accompanied by an original sound composition by Guy Webster.
Skylore — The Rainbow Serpent is a larger-than-life highlight of the Brisbane Festival, celebrating culture and place in a bright and bold display.
Event details:
- Venue: Festival Garden, 186 Little Stanley Street, South Brisbane
- Dates and Times: 19 – 21 September
- Times: 7:15pm, 8:15pm, 9:15pm each night
- Booking: Non-ticketed
- Duration: 15 minutes
Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust (FREE) 31 August 2024
Of course, the most famous and spectacular free Brisbane Festival event is Riverfire.
Riverfire is one of the most electrifying fireworks displays in Australia, launched from multiple bridges, barges and city rooftops, and with aerobatics from the Australian Defence Force. Riverfire kicks off Brisbane Festival with a not-to-be-missed pyrotechnic extravaganza set to an almighty soundtrack.
- Date: Saturday 31 August 2024
- Location: Brisbane River and surrounds
- Price: Free, non-ticketed
- Entertainment from 4pm, Fireworks from 7pm
Find out all about Riverfire here and click here for Riverfire parking deals and find the best vantage points to see the fireworks here.
Looking for more family fun? Check out list of all the family friendly festivals around Brisbane here.
