TGIF: All the great Darling Downs events to enjoy this weekend

From short film festivals to children’s book launches, here are all the great events happening around the region this weekend.

OFF AND RACKING: Grab the girls and make a day of it at Clifford Park’s Ladies Race Day this weekend. At the races (from left) Gemma Johnston, Leonie Ford and Margot Black.

1. Explore Toowoomba art on a guided tour

Discover some of Toowoomba’s hidden laneways and their incredible street art this weekend on a Toowoomba Trails walking tour.

Starting Saturday at 1pm or Sunday at 9am the walking tours run for approximately two hours and take off from the corner of Ruthven St and the Bell St Mall and includes a coffee at the end of the tour.

For more details and tickets check out the Toowoomba Trails Facebook page.

Explore Toowoomba’s exciting street art scene on a guided walking tour with Toowoomba Trails. Photo: Leanne Edmistone

2. All aboard: take a ride on a mini steam train

Take the whole family our to the Highfields Pioneer Village for a day of fun and activities this Sunday.

From 10am-2.30pm the Village will be running their famous miniature steam train and Ford Model T Bus with tickets to ride $5 for adults and $3 for children.

Highfields Pioneer Village Founder Ray Ashford driving the Model T Ford bus.

3. Peruse amazing Australian art at Grammar

The extremely popular Grammar Art Show is back this weekend and is set to be bigger than ever with a diverse range of 1160 pieces of paintings, sculptures and jewellery from 292 artists across Australia.

The public is welcome to view the art show all weekend from 10am-5pm on Saturday and from 10am-4pm on Sunday, entry is just $5.

The beautiful pop-up coffee shop will be operating for people to sit back and relax with friends over both Saturday and Sunday with a number of Grammar students performing live music throughout both days.

Grammar Art Show president Rebecca Statton with three of the works featured at this year’s art show. Picture: Nev Madsen.

4. Listen to the Music at TAS

Head out on Saturday night and enjoy a concert hosted by Toowoomba Choral Society with special guests, the Toowoomba Anglican School Secondary Chapel Choir and String Ensemble.

The ‘Listen to the Music’ concert will feature tunes you know and love from the sixties to the naughties, running from 7-10pm in the Toowoomba Anglican School Millennium Centre.

Tickets are $20 and $10 for concession card holders and can be purchased from trybooking.com.

Get the girls together and enjoy the ponies and Pimm’s at Clifford Par this Saturday. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

5. Enjoy some ponies and Pimm’s at Clifford Park

After taking a year off last year, the much loved Ponies & Pimm’s Race Day is back and is bound to be a ladies race day not to be missed.

It’s your chance to dress up and enjoy a delicious four-hour canape package, live entertainment and Pimm’s on arrival all inside the comfort of Clifford Park’s beautiful “Winning Post” function space.

Tickets are $75 and are still available via Toowoomba Tickets.

Author Nola Lorraine (aka Nola Passmore) will be leading a writing workshop at Canvas Coworking this weekend. Photo: Jess Yarrow

6. Get your creative writing juices flowing

Toowoomba Writers are hosting a setting and description workshop this Saturday from 2pm at Canvas Coworking on Ruthven St.

Lead by published author Nola Lorraine this workshop will show you what it really means to enter the world of your characters, and how to use setting and description to deepen their experiences and that of your readers.

Everyone is welcome to attend and the cost is only a gold coin.

7. Shop local at Pillar Street Markets

There will be something for all ages this Saturday afternoon with market vendors, food vans and a climbing wall all on offer at the Toowoomba Valleys Roosters Rugby League Football Club on Pillar Street from 2pm to 6pm.

Enjoy some refreshing sangrias at Fitzy’s this Sunday. Photo: Jenifer Jagielski

8. Bust a move at sangria Sunday

Round up your favourite señor and señoritas and head on down to Fitzy’s for their RnB inspired sangria Sunday sesh from 2-6pm.

Bust your best dance moves to live entertainment by the Gold Coast’s 42Band, indulge in the spicy and sweet flavours of Spain with Fitzy’s sensational Sunday bites and most importantly, savour every sip of the seriously scrumptious sangria.

Join children's author Rory H. Mather at Walton Stores this Saturday from 10am for the launch of his second picture book titled Easter Hat-astrophe published by Scholastic Australia.

9. Attend the Easter Hat-astrophe book launch

Join children’s author Rory H. Mather at Walton Stores this Saturday from 10am for the launch of his second picture book titled Easter Hat-astrophe published by Scholastic Australia.

There will be plenty to do with readings at 10.15am and 11.45am as well as book signings, prizes and craft for the kids.

10. Catch some of the best Aussie flicks

Celebrating 30 years, FLiCKERFEST is Australia’s leading Academy Award accredited and BAFTA recognised Short Film Festival, and the country’s largest Australian and International short film competition, screening the best of shorts from Australia and around the world, hand-picked from 3,500 entries.

Gather at the Empire Theatre’s Armitage Centre Saturday from 6pm to catch the Best of Australian Shorts Program.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online from the Empire Theatre’s website.