'Tis The Season To Get Into The Festiv-al Spirit

The summer holiday exodus might be in full swing around the country, but there's a jam-packed calendar for those staying put in the River City. Here's our pick of the Brisbane bunch.

The 8th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (21 Nov 2015 – 10 April 2016)

The biggest global exhibition of Art from Australia, Asia and the Pacific returns to Brisbane with works by more than 80 artists across a range of disciplines. Major new commissions include a sprawling structural installation of reclaimed timber by India's Asim Waqif and a mesmerising suspended sculpture by South Korea's Haegue Yang. Also of note is Kalpa Vriksha: Contemporary Indigenous and Vernacular Art of India - the first major display of its kind in Australia

This family-friendly exhibition is held in various locations around the city and also features APT8 Kids and APT8 Cinema.

Commonwealth Bank Test Series: Australia V New Zealand (10 Dec 2015 - 7 Jan 2016)

The good-natured sporting stoush with our Kiwi cousins continues with the Commonwealth Bank Test Series cricket games at The Gabba in Brisbane. The Kiwis are already firing shots across the ditch, claiming to be practicing with the pink ball that will be used for the first time in this three-part series.

There is much at stake, with the New Zealanders vying to win the Trans-Tasman series for the first time since 1990. But guaranteed, when it comes to the hallowed turf of the Gabba, Australia won't be letting them bowl a maiden over quite so easily. http://www.cricket.com.au/tours/Australia%20v%20New%20Zealand%202015/iwuM2AzqskWBz6SksstsmQ

Medieval Power: Symbols and Splendour (11 Dec 2015 - 10 April 2016)

It may outdate the Queensland Museum in Brisbane by quite a few centuries, but this exhibition will appeal to all the inner Knights and Dames. The Museum will be the only venue in the world to host this new exhibition curated by the British Museum. Covering the period AD400 to 1500, Medieval Power will transport visitors back to a time when many of the countries and cultures of modern Europe were formed.

The exhibition includes precious gold, jewellery, seals, sculptures, stained glass and many other symbols of courtly life alongside tools of war, objects of religious significance, and humble items from everyday life dating back to AD400. http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/medieval#.VfDRRLR62JU

Woodford Folk Festival (27 Dec 2015 - 1 Jan 2016)

What can we say, expect a state of euphoria at Woodfordia! Now in its 29th year, the Woodford Folk Festival attracts acclaimed national and international acts who draw in crowds of more than 130,000 over the course of the event.

For six blissful days and nights you can tap into your inner hippie or listen to mainstream music, at one of the most delightful destinations in the Sunshine State. The packed program includes concerts, dances, street theatre, writers' panels, film festival, comedy sessions, acoustic jams, social dialogue and debate, folk medicine, a children's festival, an environmental program, art and craft workshops, circus performances, late-night cabarets, parades and special events including a spectacular fire event.

Set on 200ha of land behind the tiny township of Woodford on the Sunshine Coast, the village of 'Woodfordia' is home to 35 performance venues with festival streets lined with restaurants, cafes, stalls, bars, street theatre and parades. The eco-friendly site is also home to tree-filled campgrounds, butterfly walks, ponds and wildlife. www.woodfordfolkfestival.com