Wonderland dress-ups, free movies and endless Easter fun – what’s on across the Gold Coast this weekend
The extra-long Easter weekend is here – and there’s an absolutely jam-packed four days ahead. Whether you’re hunting for chocolate eggs, live gigs, sunset sips or family-friendly fun, there’s a basketful of events happening that’ll make your Easter anything but boring. Here’s what’s on across the Gold Coast from Thursday April 17 to Monday April 21.
Family-friendly Easter events on the Gold Coast
Head to HOTA for the Gold Coast’s Biggest Easter Egg Hunt. This Saturday, join the Easter bunny on a fun-filled treasure hunt where kids can collect up to 50 Easter eggs each – and stick around for the Easter Bingo where five lucky adventurers will have the chance to win a giant golden egg crafted by HOTA’s culinary team. The egg-hunting sessions kick off every hour from the HOTA cafe from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm. Plus, if you’re keen to get creative, book in for the Mad Hatter Easter Bonnet Workshop & Parade on Saturday – there are two sessions (10:30 am and 12:30 pm) where you can jazz up a hat and show it off in the parade. Fun!
Fill your Easter long weekend with bottomless seafood feasts, live shows and egg hunts at Southport Sharks. Indulge in a seafood buffet at Frenzy’s on Easter Thursday and start your Good Friday off with a delicious Easter buffet breakfast featuring bites like fried chicken and waffles, acai soft-serve with toppings, cronuts and cinnamon-dusted French toast. Got the kids in tow? They’ll eat free at Frenzy’s buffet breakfast on Easter Saturday, and on Easter Sunday Frenzy’s will be serving up wth ultimate seafood buffet from 5:30 pm. The kids will have a ball at the Mad Hatters Easter Disco, and there will be an Easter egg hunt, face painting, and balloon twisting to keep the little ones entertained all night long.
Hop along to Sanctuary Cove’s Easter Eggstravaganza this Sunday. The Marine Village will transform into an Easter wonderland with entertainment including pony rides, a petting zoo, craft activities and face painting – even the Easter bunny (the real one) will be there. Plus, there will be an Easter hunt with a difference – instead of eggs, you’ll search for hidden codewords for a chance to win prizes.
Easter in the Laneway is dishing up three days of family-friendly fun in Surfers Paradise. On Good Friday, the Cavill Lane precinct will host a free live magic show by master magician Matt Hollywood, then on Saturday there will be live music in the laneway, Easter bunny visits and roving bunnies entertaining the crowds. On Sunday, the bunny will visit again, and kids can enjoy free face painting while the parents soak up live jazz music across the afternoon.
Score freebies galore and meet the Easter bunny at Sweet As Easter at Paradise Centre. From April 14–17, spend $100 or more in a single transaction at Paradise Centre and visit the centre’s Sweet As Easter display between 12:00–4:00 pm for a golden egg filled with a $50 gift voucher to spend at a surprise retailer. Every egg is a winner! Across the weekend, kids can meet the Easter bunny, who will visit daily from 12:00–4:00 pm (except Good Friday) with sweet surprises. There will be free face painting on Level 1 at Paradise Centre from 12:00–4:00 pm each day, too. Hop to it!
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Take a stroll along the Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets, which are being transformed into a two-day Easter egg-stravaganza. On Good Friday and Easter Saturday from 4:00–9:00 pm, more than 100 market stalls will line the Surfers Paradise Esplanade for your shopping pleasure. Plus, there will be live music and Easter bunny will be hopping along the sand for a meet and greet.
Catch a free Easter movie with the kids at the HOTA. On Saturday, Hop will be screening at 9:30 am, and Alice in Wonderland (as in, the OG 1951 version) will follow at 12:00 pm in HOTA’s movie theatre.
Concerts, markets and fun events on the Gold Coast this weekend
Get your long weekend started with alt-rock legends The Rubens. The five-piece is taking its regional tour to the Kingscliff Beach Hotel this Thursday from 5:00 pm. Nab your last-minute tickets here.
Get ready to rock as Britpop heavyweights Cool Britannia brings 90s Britpop to Miami Marketta on Saturday. Featuring The Symphony Orchestra Quartet, this live and loud spectacle will serve up a solid dose of nostalgia with anthems by Oasis, Blur, The Stone Roses, The Verve, Happy Mondays and more on the playlist. Ready to rock? Get tickets here.
Broadbeach Mall is transforming into a LEGO-lovers paradise with the third annual Broadbeach Bricks event. LEGO Masters Australia runners-up Andrew and Damien from Clicking Bricks will lead one-hour workshops twice daily until Easter Sunday, where kids can unleash their imaginations and build cosmic creations.
Sip through Easter Sunday at the Long Weekender x Hard Fizz at Kirra Beach House. The dreamy beachfront bar will be serving up Hard Fizz sips and long-weekend vibes from 2:00 pm, with DJs KLP, Mister Bennetts, Fletcher Kirkman and David Subritzky hitting the decks from 2:00 pm.
Indulge in an Easter Saturday street-food feast at the Dreamworld Night Market. The weekly market will be closed on Good Friday, but will open from 5:00–9:00 pm on Easter Saturday with a whole heap of international food stalls slinging mouth-watering morsels. Local muso Jack Casey will be sending his tunes all night long, and the NRL game will be screened live, too.
City of Gold Coast’s free Movies Under the Stars is heading to Paradise Point this Saturday. Take the picnic rug, pack the snacks and head to The Esplanade for a free open-air screening of the Barbie movie – the film starts rolling from 6:00 pm.
Just want to feast and sip this weekend? There are plenty of places open this Easter long weekend! We’ve put together a handy list of what’s open on Good Friday and Easter Monday, for your eating and drinking pleasure. You’re welcome.
Live shows and exhibitions on the Gold Coast this weekend
Strap yourself in for a wild night at La Clique. Sexy, hilarious, daring and edgy, this mesmerizing performance is now hitting the stage at HOTA with performances from Wednesday to Sunday until April 19. With thrilling acrobatics, jaw-dropping stunts, bold burlesque and riotous comedy, the Olivier Award-winning show – which had rave reviews from audiences from New York to Paris – is an absolute must-see! Be quick to grab your tickets from the HOTA website.
Marvel at illuminated night walk Astra Lumina at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. The cosmic after-dark journey will take you on a curated trail through Currumbin’s 27 hectares of pristine bushland by night, with immersive projections, incredible lighting and otherworldly soundscapes. It’s a must! Grab your tickets here.
Check out the brand-new Mater Prize Home in Miami. Mater Prize Home has revealed its breathtaking new Gold Coast masterpiece, Magnolia – a luxurious five-bedroom home in Miami that could be yours as part of a $4.5-million prize package. The doors are open, giving you the chance to explore this luxurious double-storey haven and start imagining your dream life in paradise. Be sure to pay it a visit this weekend!
Celebrate local creativity at the Gold Coast Triennial. The Gold Coast Triennial at HOTA Gallery showcases 43 local artists through diverse works, including installations, video art, sculpture and 2D pieces. The dynamic exhibition has transformed seven interconnected spaces, highlighting the region’s artistic diversity. Spanning generations and personal histories, it celebrates emerging talent and seasoned professionals alike. With free entry, the Triennial is a must-see cultural event on the Gold Coast.