Australia Day 2025: What’s on this long weekend

It’s time to celebrate our national day again and with venues across the state putting on Aussie-themed events there is no shortage of patriotic ways to spend Sunday January 26.

Abi Holmes and Laura Shaw at the Pineapple Hotel fthat will be hosting an Australia Day event. Picture: Richard Walker

It’s time to celebrate our national day again and with venues across the state putting on Aussie-themed events there is no shortage of patriotic ways to spend Sunday January 26.

Here are just a few of the fun things planned for the long weekend:

Pineapple Hotel

The Pineapple Hotel in Kangaroo point will have live music, food and drink specials, prizes for the best dresses and a thong throwing competition. Entrants are to register at 2pm on the day with a gold coin donation for the thong throwing competition. The throwing begins at 3pm and a thong will be provided.

Club Paradiso Australia Day Cruise

Set sail and travel the Brisbane brown snake on board Oasis Australia Day Cruise.

Across three levels house, Baleraic, Trival and Afro House beats will get partygoers going, with a Sunday cocktail tiki bar menu on-board.

OASIS cruises are over 18’s events. Please ensure you have valid photo ID to produce on request. Tickets can be purchased on the website, and the boat takes off from City Botanic Gardens River Hub at 1:30pm and returns at 5:30pm.

Great Australian Bites Brisbane

Riverside Green at South Bank Parklands will hold pop-up stalls serving up food from vendors, while homegrown performers hit the stage for music and family-friendly fun to keep everyone entertained!

Entertainment will kick off in South Bank from 2 to 7.30pm.

Bluey will make an appearance on Australia Day.

Australia Day Eat Street with a Bluey and Bingo appearance

Bluey and her little sister Bingo will be making a special appearance at the Eat Street Northshore on the main stage. Families can eat, drink and floss the afternoon away and be in the draw to win a photo opportunity and meet-and-greet with Bluey and Bingo on Sunday.

The competition can be found on the Eat Street Northshore facebook page.

Doors will open from 4pm.

Australia Day Music in the Park Bribie Island

Bribie Island will host free live music for families along with activities at Brenndan Park in Bonaree from 1pm on Sunday.

Families are invited to bring a picnic rug, folding chairs for an afternoon along the water. Food trucks will also be available.

Australia Day Crab Races at Brighton Roosters JRL

Back for another year Brighton Roosters Junior Rugby League Club will host their famous mud crab races this Australia Day. There will also be rides for the kids, games, face painting, a petting zoo, lamington eating and thong throwing competitions. To top off the night there will be live music and a fireworks display. The event starts at 12pm and finishes after the fireworks show at 8pm.

Mud crab races are an Aussie Day favourite.

Regatta Hotel

Celebrate the long weekend across three jam-packed days by the water at the Regatta Hotel. Start off strong listening to Australia’s favourite songs of the year for Triple J’s Hottest 100 on Saturday and back it up on Sunday with live music and refreshing drinks.

Oxley Bowls Club

Oxley Bowls Club will be hosting a classic Australia Day bash with traditional Australian games for kids and adults, delicious food vans, live music, and raffles. The event is free and will kick off on Sunday from 1pm to 8pm.

Lawnton Aussie Arvo

Aussie Arvo is a free pool party celebrating all things Australia Day with live music, DJ sets and an unmissable fireworks display. Held at Lawnton Aquatic Centre from 2pm to 7pm, it is the perfect spot to cool off and have some family fun.

Sandstone Point Hotel

Relive your childhood memories and have a go at the 50 metre slip and slide on Sunday. The Sandstone Point Hotel will also be holding kangaroo relay races, lamington-eating contests and an adorable wildlife show to keep everyone entertained.

Pie eating comps will be held across the country.

The Paddo

What better way to celebrate Australia Day than with a pie-eating contest at The Paddo this Sunday from 2pm to 6pm. Once you have had your fill of pastries jump into the thong-throwing competition before listening to The Gents play all the classic Aussie tunes.

Bracken Ridge Tavern

A huge day of Aussie activities is happening at the Bracken Ridge Tavern on Sunday with a lamington eating competition and The Great Aussie Thong Toss on the cards.

Don your finest clothes for the fancy dress competition with prizes up for grabs. If that isn’t enough, why not take a bite out of the tavern’s vegemite parmy.