This weekend brings a gentle Halloween feel to Brisbane on Saturday 31 October, followed by a relaxed Sunday 1 November. From library craft sessions to evening festivals, early-morning parkruns and free garden walks, there’s plenty to keep families busy without stretching the budget.
Halloween craft and story sessions at Brisbane libraries
Brisbane City Council libraries are running free drop-in “Make and create: Spooky Halloween” craft sessions on Saturday, plus two “Story explorers: Spooky Halloween” sessions where kids are invited to come dressed in their Halloween best. Most craft sessions are aimed at children aged 4–8, and times vary by branch, so pick the one closest to you.
- Fairfield Library: Make and create – 10am–11am, Fairfield Gardens Shopping Centre, 180 Fairfield Road, Fairfield, ages 4–8 (library details)
- Grange Library: Make and create – 10am–12pm, 79 Evelyn Street, Grange, ages 4–8 (library details)
- Coopers Plains Library: Make and create – 10am–11am, 107 Orange Grove Road, Coopers Plains, ages 4–8 (library details)
- Toowong Library: Make and create – 10am–11am, Toowong Village Shopping Centre, 9 Sherwood Road, Toowong, ages 4–8 (library details)
- Wynnum Library: Make and create – 10am–12pm, 145 Florence Street, Wynnum, ages 4–8 (library details)
- Sunnybank Hills Library: Make and create – 10am–11am, Sunnybank Hills Shoppingtown, 661 Compton Road, Sunnybank Hills, ages 4–8 (library details)
- Banyo Library: Story explorers – 10am–11am, 284 St Vincents Road, Banyo, ages 5–12 (library details)
- Hamilton Library: Make and create – 10:30am–11:30am, 36 Racecourse Road, Ascot, ages 4–8 (library details)
- Mt Gravatt Library: Make and create – 10:30am–11:30am, 8 Creek Road, Mt Gravatt
- Carina Library: Make and create – 10:30am–11:30am, Corner Mayfield Road and Nyrang Street, Carina, ages 4–8 (library details)
- Chermside Library: Make and create – 11am–12pm, 375 Hamilton Road, Chermside, ages 4–8 (library details)
- Garden City Library: Make and create – 1pm–2pm, Westfield Mt Gravatt, Level R4, corner of Logan Road and Kessels Road, Upper Mount Gravatt, ages 5–12
- New Farm Library: Make and create – 1pm–2pm, 135 Sydney Street, New Farm, ages 4–8 (library details)
- Indooroopilly Library: Make and create – 2pm–3pm, Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, Level 4 (next to Event Cinemas), 322 Moggill Road, Indooroopilly, ages 4–8 (library details)
- Stones Corner Library: Story explorers – 2pm–3pm, 280 Logan Road, Greenslopes, ages 5–12 (library details)
Evening festival: Fright Night Festival
Head to Fright Night Festival at Mt Ommaney Centre from 5pm to 8pm. The free event features food trucks, rides, live music and roaming performers in a family-friendly Halloween atmosphere.
Saturday morning outdoors
parkrun
Join the weekly parkrun at New Farm Park at 7am. It is a free 5k event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or simply watch, and there is no time limit.
Free guided garden tours
Volunteer guides lead walks through the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha from 11am to 2pm. A second tour runs at the City Botanic Gardens at the same time. Both are free volunteer-led walks about the plants and features of each garden. There is also a shorter free tour at Mt Coot-tha on Sunday from 11am to 12pm.
Museum and planetarium
The Museum of Brisbane in City Hall offers several free activities on Saturday: Little Artist’s Eye Spy (10am–5pm), the Clock Tower Tour (10:15am–4:45pm) and the Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards 2026 exhibition (10am–5pm). The free exhibition Precious, which brings together items from more than 30 public and private collections, runs until 2 April 2027.
At the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium on Mt Coot-tha, the family show Perfect Little Planet runs at 10:15am–10:50am (Adult $11, Child (3–14 yrs) $11). A second show, Tycho Goes to Mars, follows at 11am–11:35am at the same price.
Music in the parks
Saturday afternoon brings Bands in Parks: Music, Magic and Mayhem at New Farm Park from 3pm–4pm – a free Halloween-themed concert. On Sunday, Bands in Parks: Flux, Flight and Flow plays at Kalinga Park from 2pm–3pm, and Echoes and Landscapes performs at Old Government House at 11am–12pm (both free).
Sunday markets and walks
- Northey Street Organic Farmers Market – 6am–11am at Northey Street City Farm, Windsor (free entry).
- Suitcase Rummage – 12pm–5pm in Queen Street Mall (free entry).
- Brisbane Greeters guided walk – 10am–12:30pm starting from Brisbane City Hall (free).
More Sunday options
- STEAM Sundays at Indooroopilly Library – 11am–12pm (free, all ages).
- First 5 Forever storytime at Garden City Library – 10:30am–11am (free, ages 2-5).
Shakespeare in the park
The 4MBS Brisbane Shakespeare Festival, now in its 20th year, is on at Roma Street Parkland on both Saturday and Sunday from 3:30pm to 7:30pm, with a professional production plus talks, dance and swordplay. Tickets are $22 for adults, $17 concession and $12 for students, and children are free.
Before you go
Event times, costs and details can change. Check the linked pages for the latest information before heading out. For more ideas, browse the Things to do in Brisbane hub or the full What’s On calendar.