Burleigh Heads Events

WHAT’S ON 

What’s on in Burleigh Heads?

 There’s always something going on in Burleigh: a bustling marketplace, live music performance at the popular BBQ Bazaar Burleigh or a big annual event on the beachfront with a crowd in the thousands.

Burleigh Heads offers as much excitement as it does relaxation and natural beauty, making it a unique and vibrant Gold Coast destination that stands out from the rest. And when it is a little quieter than usual (which is never a bad thing!), Burleigh’s prime central location means there’s always an unmissable event to discover just a short drive away.

What speaks to you? Is it mingling with the locals at the markets, live music, surfing lessons, wildlife discovery, dining with a view or one of the huge annual Gold Coast events that brings the beachfront to life? Perhaps it’s all the above, and Burleigh Heads just so happens to offer each and every one.

gold coast fun

ANNUAL EVENTS

There’s no shortage of annual events in Burleigh Heads, and these all offer the perfect excuse to discover what Burleigh is all about.

Just some of these include the Gold Coast Marathon, Gold Coast Open Bowls, 12 Towers Ocean Paddle, The Australian Surf Life Saving Masters and Open Championships (also known as The Aussies), Aussie Ocean Swim and Movies Under the Stars.

BLEACH Festival, held each autumn, is arguably Burleigh’s biggest annual event – a celebration of culture, heritage and performing arts, hosting almost two weeks of live music, dance, theatre, circus performances and more on Burleigh Heads Beach, both free and ticketed.

But there’s more. Burleigh Head National Park, right next to Burleigh Beach, offers some of the best ocean views on the Gold Coast, and this makes Burleigh an unbeatable destination for whale watching season.

From July to October each year, the humpback whales migrate the famous “humpback highway”, which passes the Gold Coast. It’s truly a sight to behold and if you don’t want to spend out on a whale watching tour, Burleigh Heads is the perfect location to catch a free glimpse of the spectacular humpbacks.

Burleigh Events

🔖 Burleigh Single Fin Festival 2025 – 10-12 Jan 2025 – Burleigh
🔖 Gold Coast Open – 14-16 Feb 2025 – Burleigh
🔖 Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final – April 12-13, 2025
🔖 For The Love 2025 – 5 April 2025 – Burleigh Head National Park
🔖 Whale watching season – Jun – Oct
🔖 BLEACH Festival – 31 Jul-10 Aug 2025 – Burleigh
🔖 Surfing State of Origin – 15 Nov 2025 – Burleigh
🔖 North Burleigh Carols by the Sea (dates TBC)

Burleigh Regulars

🔖 Burleigh Heads Art & Craft Markets – Every last Sunday of the month
🔖 Live music at Mo’s Desert Clubhouse
🔖 Barefoot bowls: Burleigh Bowls Club. Available Tues–Sat from 5 pm & Sun from 12pm.
🔖 Summer Lover Sundays at Burleigh Pavilion
🔖 Burleigh Farmers Market – Open every Saturday from 7 am – 12 noon

Gold Coast Events

🔖 La Clique – Surfers Paradise (HOTA) – 19 March to 19 Apr 2025
🔖 Gold Coast Volleyslam Beach Volleyball Festival – Coolangatta Beach – 21-30 March 2025
🔖 The Aussies, Australian Surf Life Saving Championships 2025 – Tugun SLSC and North Kirra SLSC – 29 March to 6 April 2025
🔖 Pho3nix Gold Coast Tri – Broadwater Parklands – 6 Apr 2025
🔖 Cooly Classic Ocean Swim Festival – 12-13 Apr 2025 – Coolangatta
🔖 Gold Coast Film Festival – 16-27 Apr – HOTA Surfers Paradise
🔖 Von Bibra Gold Coast Running Festival – 27 Apr 2025 – CBus Stadium Robina
🔖 Gold Coast Pro – 3-13 May – Snapper Rocks
🔖 Blues on Broadbeach – 15-18 May 2025 – Broadbeach
🔖 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show – 22-25 May 2025 – Sanctuary Cove
🔖 SeaFire 2025 – 31 May 2025 – Surfers Paradise Beach
🔖 Cooly Rocks On – 4 June 2025 – Coolangatta
🔖 Surface, The Miami Street Art Festival – 29 Jun -13 Jul 2025 – Miami
🔖 Gold Coast Marathon – 5 July 2025 – Broadwater parklands
🔖 Wild Earth Border Bolt Running Festival – 2 Aug 2025 – Currumbin
🔖 Swell Sculpture Festival – 12 Sep 2025 – Currumbin
🔖 Fisiocrem GC50 Run Festival – 11-12 Oct 2025 – Coolangatta
🔖 Groundwater Country Music Festival – 17 Oct 2025 – Broadbeach
🔖 Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 – 24-26 Oct – Surfers Paradise
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