Plan ahead for Easter in and around Scarborough
WHAT: Easter weekend
WHEN: Good Friday, March 30 to Easter Monday, April 2, 2018
DON’T blame us for writing about Easter in February.
Blame the supermarket chains that started flogging hot cross buns and chocolate Easter bunnies and eggs in January, when half the country was still recovering from the excesses of Christmas and the New Year!
In our defence, it is a good idea to start organising sooner rather than later when it comes to a getaway over the Easter break.
We’re here to remind you it’s still nice and warm at Scarborough on the Easter weekend, which runs from Good Friday, March 30, to Easter Monday, April 2.
There’s lots going on here, too, whether you prefer organised activities or a more loose and free-range schedule.
Up there in the sky – it’s a flying Easter bunny
If you don’t already know about it, Redcliffe Festival of Sails is an incredible annual event right on our doorstep. This year, it takes place on Good Friday, March 30.
The festival has an Easter theme, with a 10am appearance from a skydiving Easter Bunny loaded up with treats for the kids.
Redcliffe Jetty Markets
Enjoy a relaxed Easter Sunday browsing a huge variety of stalls at the Redcliffe Jetty Markets, which operate every Sunday from 8am-12noon on Redcliffe Jetty Parade, Redcliffe.
Redcliffe Jetty Markets will also be holding a special Good Friday market which will run alongside the Commonwealth Games baton relay.
Easter egg hunt
On Easter Saturday, March 31, from 2pm-5pm (3pm start), Star Christian Church in Clontarf has promised to deliver “Redcliffe’s biggest Easter egg hunt” with thousands of chocolate eggs up for grabs.
Each child must be registered and it is necessary to bring a basket for the eggs. An entry fee of $2 per individual applies.
Book accommodation nearby at Scarborough Beach Resort. Offering a selection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom fully-self contained holiday apartments and onsite facilities including swimming lap pool, large heated spa and more. BOOK YOUR SCARBOROUGH BRISBANE ACCOMMODATION NOW
I scream ice cream at Redcliffe Festival of Sails
WHAT: Redcliffe Festival of Sails
WHEN: Good Friday, March 30, 2018
WHERE: Suttons Beach, Redcliffe
EVERY year Redcliffe Festival of Sails grows bigger as more events are added to the day to make it a wonderful experience for all ages – and we’re talking bubs to grand parents.
Offshore after 11am
Get down to the beach in the morning to witness the majestic sight of a fleet of yachts competing in the 70th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, which sets off from Shorncliffe, Moreton Bay.
Up in the sky at 10am
A skydiving Easter Bunny floats to terra firma with a basket of chocolate treats – kids only please! (weather permitting)
On the sand from 9am-4pm
Watch professional sand sculptors mould sand into works of art and participate in sand sculpting workshops.
Try your hand at beach cricket and beach volleyball – bikinis optional.
Action everywhere else
On its way to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018), The Queen’s Baton Relay will pass through Redcliffe held proudly aloft by Redcliffe Mum, Michelle Wardle.
You might not know her but Michelle is a local legend, having completed an Olympic standard triathlon just seven weeks after she finished 10 months of treatment for breast cancer. In doing this, she raised more than $20,000 for three charities.
If that isn’t enough, for the first time a mini ice-cream festival will be held within the festival. Expect experimental taste sensations that stretch beyond vanilla.
Entertainment will take place on the main stage and acoustic performers on northern and southern stages.
The kids zone will host a pop-up library and free craft workshops.
Market stalls and rides and amusements will enliven the festival atmosphere.
Book accommodation nearby at Scarborough Beach Resort. Perfect for attending an event at Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Offering a selection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom fully-self contained holiday apartments and onsite facilities including swimming lap pool, large heated spa and more. BOOK YOUR SCARBOROUGH BRISBANE ACCOMMODATION NOW
Harry Styles is on a roll: catch him at BEC in April
WHAT: Harry Styles Live on Tour 2018
WHEN: Saturday, April 28, 2018, from 7.45m
WHERE: Brisbane Entertainment Centre
IT is likely that a great many punters would have written off Harry Styles as another boy-band casualty when One Direction (aka 1D) started to lose its way after the unexpected departure of member Zayn Malik in early 2015.
But Styles, the baby of the hugely successful group of five singers brought together by the judges on the UK X Factor, has proved the critics wrong.
Last year, the 24 year old with the cover-model pout pulled off some amazing feats to prove he is more than just a pretty face.
For starters, he made his acting debut in Christopher Nolan’s epic World War II film Dunkirk.
He went on to shine in interviews on The Graham Norton Show and joked and sang with James Corden in Carpool Karaoke on the Late Late Show. In December, he stepped in to host an episode of the show while Corden spent time with his wife and new baby.
There were rumours that Styles auditioned for the role of a young Han Solo in the Star Wars franchise!
He also managed to release a self-titled solo album and popped Down Under in November to perform in Sydney at the hip boutique Enmore Theatre.
Now, riding the crest of a wave, Styles is back in Oz for a full-blown arena tour – Harry Styles Live on Tour 2018.
He has chosen his support act well, placing the highly-regarded Aussie band Preatures in the hot seat to warm up the audience.
Expect fun… entertainment… and maybe a little bit of screaming.
Book accommodation nearby at Scarborough Beach Resort. Perfect for attending an event at Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Offering a selection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom fully-self contained holiday apartments and onsite facilities including swimming lap pool, large heated spa and more. BOOK YOUR SCARBOROUGH BRISBANE ACCOMMODATION NOW
Dolphin Stadium to host the 2018 Rugby League Commonwealth Championship
WHEN: Friday, February 23 and Saturday, February 24, 2018
WHERE: Dolphin Stadium, cnr Ashmole and Klingner Rds, Redcliffe
THE new stadium at Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe, will get a major workout in late February as the fixture for the 2018 Rugby League Commonwealth Championship.
Over the past two years, the home of the Redcliffe Dolphins has undergone a $12 million facelift that includes an upgraded field and dressing room facilities and the construction of a stadium with seating for 10,000 spectators.
What’s it all about?
The nine-a-side tournament will feature 10 Commonwealth nations. These are Australia, England, Wales, Scotland, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands and Tonga.
It’s going to be a huge two days where footy fans can enjoy powerhouse performances from eight men’s under 23 teams, six open women’s teams (expect to see star players from the Jillaroos in the lineup) and three teams of players with physical disabilities.
The event is an alluring teaser for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in April.
The event has been praised by locals who consider the Redcliffe Dolphins Rugby League Club a valued institution with a proud history.
Legend and one of only eight rugby league Immortals (the late) Arthur Beetson cut his teeth on the paddock at Redcliffe and, later in his career, coached the Redcliffe Dolphins.
The club was established in 1947 and last year members celebrated its 70th anniversary.
This year’s event should put an extra layer of icing on the cake.
Tickets to the 2018 Rugby League Championship are on sale now.
Book accommodation nearby at Scarborough Beach Resort. Perfect for attending an event at Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Offering a selection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom fully-self contained holiday apartments and onsite facilities including swimming lap pool, large heated spa and more.BOOK YOUR SCARBOROUGH BRISBANE ACCOMMODATION NOW
Deception Bay goes mad for Minions at a big night out under the stars
WHEN: Saturday, October 14, 2017, from 5-8.30pm
WHERE: Deception Bay Sports Complex, Maine Terrace, Deception Bay
There is something absolutely magical about watching a movie under the stars. Better still, when it’s FREE.
The experience is coming our way, with an outdoor screening of the computer-animated comedy Minions at Deception Bay this October.
Moreton Bay Regional Council has organised the event as part of its ‘Movie in the Park’ series of screenings across the region.
The evening kicks off with a range of activities for the kids. They’ll get the chance to tackle an obstacle course. Or if that’s too challenging, there’s the option of getting their faces painted with a spirit animal of choice.
An LED light show is bound to be a thrilling pre-show spectacle.
All the good old fashioned staples of popcorn, fairy floss and a sausage sizzle will be available for sale, with the proceeds going to local community groups.
Pencil this one in the diary. And don’t forget to bring along your picnic paraphernalia, whether it be a comfy chair or rug.
Book accommodation at Scarborough Beach Resort. Perfect for a family holiday to Queensland, it’s just 35 minutes drive from Brisbane airport, offering a selection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom fully-self contained holiday apartments and onsite facilities including swimming lap pool, large heated spa and more.BOOK YOUR SCARBOROUGH BRISBANE ACCOMMODATION NOW
Cirque Du Soleil’s Toruk: the first flight – James Cameron’s Avatar reimagined
WHEN: October, 2017
WHERE: Brisbane Entertainment Centre
It has been described as an “odyssey in sound and light and acrobatics” and an “immersive experience”.
One thing is for sure, Toruk: the first flight is not your usual fare from the artistic performance company that has turned the concept of circus on its head since forming in Canada in 1984.
Cirque Du Soleil’s latest production is unlike anything that has come before it.
It is the first time a Cirque Du Soleil show has been inspired by a movie – James Cameron’s 2009 epic Avatar – and the first time a narrator has guided the storyline of three N’avi teenagers who set off on a journey to save their planet Pandora. Their quest leads them to Toruk, the mighty red and orange predator that rules the Pandora sky.
Toruk: the first flight is set on Cameron’s fictional planet of Pandora 3000 years before the events that took place in the movie.
Since its debut in Canada in 2015, Toruk: the first flight has entranced and enthralled audiences across Planet Earth.
This incredible production is coming to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in October so get ready to be thrilled by spectacular sets, props, puppets, sound, lighting and performances from some of the world’s most talented and skilled acrobats.
(Cirque Du Soleil has always fashioned its shows towards families – however, in this production there is a note that loud noises and darkness may frighten some children).
Book accommodation nearby at Scarborough Beach Resort. Perfect for a family holiday to Queensland, it’s just 35 minutes drive from Brisbane airport, offering a selection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom fully-self contained holiday apartments and onsite facilities including swimming lap pool, large heated spa and more. BOOK YOUR SCARBOROUGH BRISBANE ACCOMMODATION NOW
Celebrate this beaut place! Redcliffe Festival gets bigger and better in 2017
WHEN: August 26-September 10, 2017
It is arguably the BIGGEST event on the Moreton Bay region calendar (we think so), and every year Redcliffe Festival grows bigger and better.
In previous posts we have plugged some of the amazing events locked into the celebration of the people and places of the Redcliffe Peninsula across three weekends in August and September.
Catch up on our blog posts on Redcliffe Kite Fest, Scarborough Sounds, What’s Cooking in the Gardens and Redcliffe Jetty Fiesta.
It would be remiss of us not to mention a new event and the massive not-to-be-missed grand finale.
The Legends Lunch from 12 noon on Friday, September 8, is a new event that is bound to inspire: Join swimming legend Geoff Huegill, actor and author William McInnes, poet Rupert McCall and two-time Australian ironwoman champion Rebecca Creedy for a two-course lunch that celebrates their achievements and special connection to Redcliffe. The lunch venue is Redcliffe Leagues Club and bookings are essential for the lunch and drinks package.
Redcliffe Remembers: What better way to celebrate the final weekend of the festival than with an indigenous welcome from the Gubbi Gubbi people, the traditional custodians of the land, and a re-enactment of the first landing in September, 1824.
The day will salute the past and celebrate the present – with an optimistic eye on the future of this amazing part of the world.
Redcliffe Parade will be buzzing with buskers and street performers and a huge market plus custom car display. There will be musical tributes to the 1950s and a chance to step back in time through the Penny Arcade.
Miss Redcliffe Festival Pin Up Pageant is sure to be a highlight, with rockabilly fashionistas lining up to become the face of the Redcliffe Festival 2018/2019 (Be quick if you would like to enter as the cut-off date is Friday, August 18).
Book accommodation nearby at Scarborough Beach Resort. Perfect for a family holiday to Queensland, it’s just 35 minutes drive from Brisbane airport, offering a selection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom fully-self contained holiday apartments and onsite facilities including swimming lap pool, large heated spa and more. BOOK YOUR SCARBOROUGH BRISBANE ACCOMMODATION NOW
Taking it to the streets at the Redcliffe Jetty Fiesta
When: Saturday, September 9, 2017, 3-9pm
Where: Redcliffe Parade, Redcliffe
How much free fun can you have in one night?
The only way to find out is to get yourselves over here for the Jetty Fiesta, a huge street party that transforms Redcliffe Parade into a juke-joint jumpin’ pedestrian precinct complete with fire twirlers, beach performances and other surprises.
Arrive early to sample yummy local cuisine from the twilight markets and food stalls.
Dance off to Latin American and Mexican mariachi bands, and more, on the main stage.
Be dazzled by a fireworks display at 8pm, which casts a kaleidoscope of colours across the water and Redcliffe Jetty.
This year, ‘Bay of Boats’ is being “launched”. This wonderful initiative encourages seaworthy vessel owners to festoon their boats in fairy and solar powered lights for an extra magical light show. *To participate, complete the registration form on the website*
Book accommodation nearby at Scarborough Beach Resort. Perfect for a family holiday to Queensland, it’s just 35 minutes drive from Brisbane airport, offering a selection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom fully-self contained holiday apartments and onsite facilities including swimming lap pool, large heated spa and more. BOOK YOUR SCARBOROUGH BRISBANE ACCOMMODATION NOW
MasterChef’s Matt Sinclair cooks up storm at Redcliffe
When: Sunday, September 3, 2017, 9am-3pm (entry gold coin donation)
Where: Redcliffe Botanical Gardens, 20 Henzell St, Redcliffe
MasterChef Australia runner up (2016) Matt Sinclair will be one of the star attractions at What’s Cooking in the Gardens on September 3.
The Queenslander who hails from Noosa will join veteran chef Ian “Huey” Hewitson on the Strathpine Centre Cooking stage at the festival where the emphasis is on the connection between food, lifestyle and sustainability.
For green thumbs, Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadias will share his love of all things organic on the Ballycara Garden stage while Lifestyle and DIY stage presenters will satisfy the creative urge in all of us.
The annual event on the Redcliffe Festival calendar also encourages everyone to get involved through interactive workshops and demos that include jam making and felt flower making. And let’s not forget the kids who are encouraged to get creative at Little Grubs.
(Photo: Courtesy of Network Ten)
Book accommodation nearby at Scarborough Beach Resort. Perfect for a family holiday to Queensland, it’s just 35 minutes drive from Brisbane airport, offering a selection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom fully-self contained holiday apartments and onsite facilities including swimming lap pool, large heated spa and more. BOOK YOUR SCARBOROUGH BRISBANE ACCOMMODATION NOW
Groovin’ on a Sunday afternoon: Scarborough Sounds on Father’s Day
When: Sunday, September 3, 2017, from 4-8pm
Where: Scarborough Park, Scarborough
Dads everywhere will wish they were up our way on Father’s Day when Scarborough Sounds comes to Scarborough Park as part of the annual Redcliffe Festival.
This year’s lineup is grooving and moving and shaking (no faking) with the hip sounds of two local “big bands” and several more accomplished acts.
The Steele Syndicate, an octet, are guaranteed to knock Dad for six with their funk, reggae, ska and indie-rock inspired sounds.
It’s a great opportunity to watch Dad “dance” and have a gentle chuckle among yourselves (but never at his expense – at least not on his special day).
Food and drinks will be available from market stalls and a bar will be located near the main stage (BYO is not permitted at this event).
Weather permitting, the evening will end with a huge bonfire that emits magical rainbow flames.
All this for Dad? What’s more – it’s FREE!
Book accommodation nearby at Scarborough Beach Resort. Perfect for a family holiday to Queensland, it’s just 35 minutes drive from Brisbane airport, offering a selection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom fully-self contained holiday apartments and onsite facilities including swimming lap pool, large heated spa and more. BOOK YOUR SCARBOROUGH BRISBANE ACCOMMODATION NOW