Ten things to do in Toowoomba this weekend

There are plenty of fun, family-friendly events on in Toowoomba this weekend. Here are 10 of the best.

Rameen Minerals stall owner Hayat Malik of Sydney at Gemfest hosted by Toowoomba Lapidary Club at Centenary Heights State High School, Saturday, October 19, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Toowoomba Sports Ground will be filled on Saturday with some of Australia, New Zealand and United States best rugby sevens stars in action.

Toowoomba Sports Ground will be filled on Saturday with some of Australia, New Zealand and United States best rugby sevens stars in action.

Kicking off at 9.30am, the day will see all three women’s teams go head-to-head across four games.

Some of the Downs rugby sevens’ best young stars will also be in action.

In another huge bonus for rugby fans, the Queensland Reds will take on Japanese rugby powerhouse Saitama Wild Knights.

Tickets are available through Ticketek.

2. Gemfest

The Toowoomba Lapidary Club will host its 44th Gemfest, and the public and visitors are all invited.

Through the weekend there will be stalls selling gemstones, jewellery, crystals, mineral specimens, beads and fossils.

The ever-popular fossicking for children, a drawcard for many years, is back again.

Admission is $5 at the Centenary Heights State High School assembly hall.

3. Stroll-n-Roll Cemetery Tours

This accessible tour of the Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery is suitable for wheelchairs, wheelie walkers, slow walkers, and those who don’t want to walk too far.

Discover ordinary people who did extraordinary things to make the Toowoomba region what it is today: a war hero, a mischievous youngster, farming battlers, an outback queen, a grieving father, an Italian angel, to name a few.

Along with unearthing the stories of some fascinating people who rest at the cemetery, the tour will explore cemetery symbolism, craftsmanship, and funeral and burial practices of a bygone era.

Bookings are essential via cemeterytourstoowoomba.com.au.

Queensland Dahlia Society Annual Dahlia Tuber Sale will be held at the St Paul’s Lutheran Church Hall.

4. Dahlia Sale

If you are looking for some Summer colour for your garden this year, why not come along to St Paul’s Lutheran Church Hall for the Queensland Dahlia Society Annual Dahlia Tuber Sale.

The tubers all come from members’ gardens and farms, and range from garden varieties to rare and sought after exhibition quality tubers.

Members and growers will be on hand to answer any of your questions about dahlias.

Doors open on Saturday from 8am-1.30pm

5. Toowoomba and Darling Downs Record Fair

Rummage through thousands of vintage and new release vinyls at the Drayton Memorial Hall.

Doors open from 9am-3pm on Saturday.

At the Toowoomba and Darling Downs Record Fair are (from left) Jasmine Gordon, Elijah Thomas and Nicky Hansen at the Drayton Memorial Hall, Saturday, May 31, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

6. Rail ride

DownsSteam Tourist Railway and Museum will host its family fun day at the Drayton complex with a sausage sizzle, tours and live music.

At 9.30am Saturday the Commissioner Rail Car will leave Drayton for Brookstead with a group of 50 from the Cessna Flying Group on-board. The Brookstead Hall Committee will do a barbecue lunch and the tour will be entertained by Pittsworth Ukulele Players. Buy tickets at
downssteam.com.au.

7. Grand reopening

Take a drive out to East Greenmount at the weekend and enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the beer garden at the Wheatsheaf Hotel.

Now under new management, the pub is hosting a grand reopening.

There will be live music, food trucks, good times and cold beers.

The opening runs on Saturday 11am until late.

8. Hike for the homeless

BASE Services will hold its annual hike to raise money for people sleeping rough. Held at Jubilee Park, the entrants will depart in several staggered starts from 5.45am on Saturday. Funds raised will help the Basement Soup Kitchen continue offering lunchtime meals, blankets, clothing, and other crucial services to individuals who are homeless or at high risk of becoming homeless in Toowoomba.

9. Visit the markets.

There will be plenty of markets on offer this weekend, including a spooky night time event just in time for Halloween.

On Saturday the Farmers Markets will be held outside the Cobb and Co Museum from 7am.

The Halloween Twilight Markets will then be held at the Toowoomba Showgrounds’ Founders Pavilion from 3-8pm.

Sunday will see Toowoomba markets held at Queens Park from 8am-1pm and at the PCYC from 7am.

The Lions Sunday Market will be held at the QRail carpark in Oakey from 8am.

10. Mini trains.

If you’re a train enthusiast or simply looking for a fun Sunday activity, then hop on the mini train at Kearneys Spring.

Make sure to wear enclosed shoes and get ready for a fun day on the tracks from 11am.

Tickets cost $2 per ride.