WHAT'S ON - Australia's Gold Coast - October 2015

Launch of new Gold Coast Music Venue 

– 15 October

The Gold Coast music scene will be reinvigorated with the introduction of a new, dedicated music space – Studio 56. The new venue is set to launch with a performance from Aquila Young on Thursday, 15 October. Miami Marketta, the Gold Coast's first official creative precinct, and Who Agencies have partnered to deliver this new creative space for the Gold Coast Arts community. Centrally located in Miami within Marketta's lane-way style industrial space, Studio 56 will be active every Thursday night with great music, food trucks, artists in residence and the mission to exude the nostalgia of the Gold Coast's musical heyday feel of Bombay Rock and the Playroom with an amazing mix of local, national and international acts.

Free the Hops Craft Beer Festival – 15-25 October

Free The Hops is the Gold Coast's inaugural Craft Beer Festival, celebrating the art of beer with eleven days of jam-packed events from 15 – 25 October. The festival kicks off with the launch of Stone & Wood's highly anticipated 5th annual limited release of the 2016 Mash Collective at Bine Bar and Dining from 6pm on Thursday, 15 October. With only four kegs being delivered to the Gold Coast, you don't want to miss out. Then, watch the Gold Coast's Burleigh Brewing Co. go head to head with Manly's 4 Pines Brewing in the Battle of the Beaches. Vote for your favourite beach brew, savour the tasty wings and ribs, and enjoy a refreshing afternoon brew with live music at Surfers Sandbar on Saturday, 17 October.

Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinemas 15 Oct – 8 Nov

Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema is coming to the Gold Coast from 15 October – 8 November. With music by day and movies by night, this quintessential outdoor event will light up Kurrawa Park with the latest and greatest releases. Cinemagoers can enjoy gourmet food cooked fresh on site, frosty beverages from the licensed bar and relax to sounds from the best of the Australian music scene and sets from emerging local musicians. Make sure you don't miss the 'Sundae Sessions' on Sunday to get your free serve of Ben & Jerry's ice cream (yum!).

Tamborine Mountain Scarecrow Festival – 16-18 October

Celebrate the great lifestyle of Mount Tamborine at the annual Tamborine Mountain Scarecrow Festival from 16-18 October. The weekend will be filled with live entertainment, family fun, arts, crafts and lots more.

Gold Coast Open House – 17 October

On Saturday 17 October 2015, the City of Gold Coast will host the inaugural Gold Coast Open House, unlocking the doors of quirky, interesting and significant buildings and inviting you to take a behind-the-scenes tour of private places not typically available for public access. Open House will provide a snapshot of the future of urban design on the Gold Coast as well as a journey into the past. Twenty-five sites, including the old Southport Drill Hall constructed in 1890, the Hot Tomato on-air studios in High Street, and the iconic '80s Paradise Waters mansion of Gold Coast pioneer Keith Williams, will offer guided and self-guided tours and other special events throughout the day.

Buskers by the Creek - 17-18 October

Over 200 performers will showcase their talent across thirteen stages throughout Currumbin's Winders Park from October 17 - 18 2015. Buskers by the Creek is a unique event full of entertainment, food, magic, marvel and arts. Confirmed entertainers to date include multi-instrumentalist Tristan O'Meara, Guinness Book of Records Sword Swallower 'Space Cowboy', Bluesfest Busking 2015 Champions 'Grizzlee Train' and many more artists, magicians, dancers and bands. Extra to the buskers are an eclectic group of artists set to paint and create masterpieces plus well-known local restaurants and food vans dishing up international festival food with flair. For the full program, click here.

The Russian National Ballet Theatre returns to The Arts Centre Gold Coast – 20 -21 October

The Russian National Ballet Theatre returns for a tour of full-length classical performances of Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty at The Arts Centre Gold Coast on 20 and 21 October. Directed by Evgeny Amosov, the huge cast, fairytale settings and glorious Tschaikovsky score will create a very special performance.

V8 Supercars Castrol Gold Coast 600 – 23-25 October

The Gold Coast's biggest weekend of entertainment is back as motorsport's biggest international names join forces with our local V8 racing stars to race the streets of Surfers Paradise during Castrol Gold Coast 600. Get set to race by day and rock all night with Australia's greatest rock band, Cold Chisel performing live on Saturday night. The Gold Coast 600 has become one of the iconic Gold Coast events featuring a fantastic mix of spectacular V8 Supercar racing and some of music's biggest names. Several other events fuel the excitement in the lead up, during and after the Castrol Gold Coast 600. Check our What's On calendar for more details.