What's on for Australia Day in the Darling Downs

There is something for everyone across the Darling Downs, however you want to mark Australia Day. See the event list here.

There is plenty to do across Toowoomba and the Darling Downs to mark Australia Day in 2024, assuming the weather is okay.

Here is a brief list.

1 - Australia Day at Picnic Point. Toowoomba will hold its official Australia Day celebration at Picnic Point from 8.30-11am. The service starts with a Call to Order, Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony followed by a flag-raising ceremony and national anthem recital.

There will be a free sausage sizzle, damper, flag tattoos and Dreamtime Games, a Mayoral Message, Australia Day affirmation and flag presentation. At 9.45am the winners of the William Groom Scholarship and the Australia Days Awards will be announced.

Srisamon Overs proudly wears her flag glasses. Australia Day celebrations at Picnic Point in Toowoomba on January 26, 2023. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Small town celebrations.

2 - Cambooya: Cambooya Recreation Grounds, Lucy Street, 8-10am. Free barbecue breakfast, free children’s face painting, coffee van. Awards ceremony from 9am.

3 - Clifton: Pioneer Park, 99 King Street. Free barbecue breakfast and the Australia Day Awards ceremony from 7- 10am. BYO chair or picnic blanket.

4 - Crows Nest: Centenary Park 7.30-10.30am. Gold coin donation breakfast. Flag raising and presentation of Australia Day Awards from 9am. Tea, coffee lamingtons served after the official ceremony. Entertainment by Cloud 9 and Adele Adams, with Paul Fleming reciting bush poetry. (Wet weather venue: Anglican Church Hall)

5 - Goombungee: Goombungee Hall, King Street, Goombungee. 8am free community breakfast, entertainment by Kadi Lillis and children’s activities; 9am official ceremony, including presentation of Australia Day Awards.

6 - Highfields: Highfields Library. Free breakfast from 7am with entertainment by High Country Community Band and Sing Australia. BYO chair or picnic blanket. Australia Day Awards ceremony to follow. Australia Day Ambassador Dr Tim Baker to give an address after 9am.

7 - Jondaryan Woolshed: A two-day family event from January 26-27 from 8.30am-4.30pm. Entry fees apply. Enjoy live music, historical displays and browse Australia’s farming heritage.

8 - Millmerran: Millmerran Lions Park. Free barbecue breakfast from 8-9am followed by an awards ceremony from 9-10am with acknowledgment of traditional custodians, national anthem, councillor address, announcement of award nominees and recipients.

Brendan Jones (front) strains to hold his team together during the tug-o-war competition at Oakey Australia Day celebrations in Arthur Shooter Park, Thursday, January 26, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

9 - Oakey: Arthur Shooter Park. Barbecue breakfast in the park on sale from 7.30am followed by an award ceremony from 8.30am, includes acknowledgment of traditional custodians, flag raising, national anthem, councillor address, award presentations. Free morning tea and billy boiling competition at 9.30am. Team and individual events from 10am including the Oakey dunny race, open and junior iron man races, raft race, thong throwing, tug of war, billy kart races and sack races with prize presentations from noon. Bring a chair, picnic blanket, hat and sunscreen.

10 - Pittsworth: Pittsworth Centenary Park. Free children’s face painting 7.30-8.30am; 9am Pittsworth Town Hall, Park Street, Pittsworth until 11am includes acknowledgment of traditional custodians, flag bearers enter Town Hall, national anthem, councillor address, address by Australia Day Ambassador Elijah Buol OAM, chair of the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Queensland, presentation of Pittsworth Australia Day Awards. Damper, Cook’s soft drinks, tea, coffee on sale after the official ceremony. Prizes to be won. BYO chair or picnic blanket.

Raft race winners Moses Koruahuna (front) and Peter Afu power home at Oakey Australia Day celebrations in Arthur Shooter Park, Thursday, January 26, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Pubs and Clubs

11 - Bone Idol Brewery: Toowoomba’s newest watering hole, located in the heart of the CBD, will be hosting a Moffat Beach Brewing Co tap take over on Australia Day. The cold beers will be backed up by live music, hourly specials, a new Bone Idol beer and plenty of good times beating your mates at shuffleboard and darts.

12 - Wilsonton Hotel: What is Australia Day without yabby racing? If that’s your game then swing by the Wilsonton Hotel. The family-friendly venue will host a barbecue, yabby races and meat tray raffles, Aussie food specials, facepainting and karaoke. The festivities start at 12pm.

13 - Tatts Hotel Toowoomba: It will be an epic Australia Day at the Tatts. Green Beacon will do a tap takeover with giveaways from 11am back up with live music from Australia’s Favourite Sons Tribute Band (Cold Chisel & ACDC) from 3.30-6.30pm. There will be cash prizes for dry weet-bix eating and thong throwing competitions. Guest DJ Colin Coyt will keep the party going upstairs until late.

14 - The Vault on Ruthven: Toowoomba’s premier adult entertainment venue will host its traditional Australia Day Stripper Olympic. The contest will see teams of two entertainers and two patrons battle it out in low-stake, high-thrill games like jelly wrestling, bouncing-ball races, egg and boob races.

The signature event will be ‘stripper curling’ where customers push oiled-up entertainers along a slip-and-slide. The games start at 7pm, January 26.

A wheelie bin race during Oakey Australia Day celebrations in Arthur Shooter Park, Thursday, January 26, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

15 - Bodega Bar: Grab your mates and kick off the long weekend with a ripper time at Frothin’ Friday at Bodega Bar at Walton Stores. From mid-afternoon, the venue will turn the vibe up to 11 with live music by Ben Dawson and the Liar Birds. There will be cold bevvies, unreal tunes, good times and more than a few surprise acts. The music starts at 4pm, January 26.

16 - Fitzy’s Toowoomba: Strewth mate! Fitzy’s Aussie Day celebrations are set to be big. The Margaret Street venue will be serving Aussie tucker from 12pm, and with back to back tunes until late from Jed Boase, Fenny and the Mets and DJ Zachy. There will be free temporary tattoos, a glitter bar, green and gold cocktails and ice-cold beer. Kick back, chill out and enjoy a bonza summer afternoon with your mates. Doors open from 12pm.

17 - The Spotted Cow: Swing by the Cow on Ruthven Street and sample some of the special food and drink offers, including $15 burgers and a $20 parmy and pot deal. The live music kicks off at 8.30pm.

18 - The Rock Pub: The Rock has your weekend celebrations sorted. Friday kicks off with live music from Sleepy Benjamin at 6pm. This will be followed by the Triple J hottest 100 countdown on Saturday, backed up by live music from James Rye and dinner specials, including a barbecue platter. Sunday will feature more live music from the Paper Lane Duo at 2pm.

19 - Blue Mountain Hotel: Bring the kids and enjoy the cold beer and beautiful panoramic views at the Blue Mountain Hotel while partaking in some classic lawn games, including sack races, thong tossing, face painting and a jumping castle. The festivities run from 11am-5pm.

20 - Bull and Barley Inn: Dare to ride a mechanical bull, have a flutter on the yabbie races and give your all in the thong throwing competition. The Bull and Barley inn at Cambooya has a huge calendar of events planned across January 26 and 27, culminating in the country pub’s iconic pig races from 1pm on Saturday. Funds raised over the weekend will go to the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation.

21 - 4 Brothers Brewing: The Margaret Street brewer will have a $22 lunch special that includes a burger, chips and a schooner of beer or glass of wine or softdrink.

The venue will also drop the public holiday surcharge - making it a cheaper day out for everyone.