Thousands of tourists set to flood Toowoomba ahead of Meatstock, Red Hot Summer Festival and Clydesdales game day

Pubs, clubs and motels are primed for one of the biggest weekends on the tourism calendar, as thousands descend on Toowoomba for three massive events.

Garden City hotel operators are bracing for a bumper weekend with the perfect storm of three major events drawing thousands of tourists to the region.

Almost every hotel and motel in the city is at capacity.

Meatstock, a three-day celebration of barbecue held at the Toowoomba Showgrounds, is expected to attract an estimated 20,000 patrons.

While this is happening the Red Hot Summer music festival will take over Queens Park.

Legend Suzi Quatro will headline, backed up by Chocolate Starfish, The Screaming Jets, Baby Animals, The Angels, Jon Stevens and Cheap Trick.

The opening round of the Hostplus Cup and the BMD Premiership kick off at the Toowoomba Sports Ground.

The Western Clydesdales will face off against the Central Queensland Capras, hailing from Rockhampton.

These games will be preceded by the Roma and District Development Cup which will draw league teams from the Maranoa and Darling Downs regions.

A big weekend is coming to Toowoomba with Red Hot Summer music festival, Meatstock and the opening round of the Hostplus Cup and the BMD Premiership all happening.

Park Motor Inn manager Jenny Burling said every room at her Margaret St venue was booked out as soon as the Red Hot Summer festival was announced.

“It is only a two to three minutes’ walk from our place,” she said.

“Being so close to Queens Park and the CBD we always book out for Red Hot Summer, the Carnival of Flowers Floral Parade and the Festival of Food and Wine.

“Being so close to the Toowoomba Sports Ground is a bonus.”

Big numbers of tourists are expected to make the trip up the Toowoomba Range from Brisbane, southeast Queensland and northern NSW.

Toowoomba is one of only three Queensland cities – including Bribie Island and the Southport – to host the Red Hot Summer festival.

Meanwhile, Meatstock’s Australian tour is exclusive to Toowoomba, Bendigo, and Sydney.

“The weekend will be great for Toowoomba and the region as a whole,” Ms Burling said.

Our city’s pubs and clubs are in a prime position to benefit from the extra foot traffic as patrons pour into the CBD after the festivals power down.

Fitzy’s owner Brad Fitzgibbons said he had rostered extra staff to cater for the influx.

We are extremely excited,” he said.

“This is the first time since Christmas that we have had the buzz of this many people around town.

“It is not very often that the stars align and you get events of this caliber in the region.”

Meatstock and Red Hot Summer were held on the same weekend last year, bringing in record trade for the city’s clubs and pubs.

Mr Fitzgibbon is hoping for a repeat of those good times.

“It is very timely given that the traditionally slow period of January and February are behind us and this will give us a good platform to kick off the year.”