Brisbane's Top Five Freebies June 29 - July 1

Fingers crossed this weather clears by Friday. It’s been an abysmal few days, and there are enough fantastic free events on this weekend that to be spoiled by the freezing rain would be a pity indeed. We’ve picked our five favourites for you to peruse – just be sure to have your umbrellas at the ready.

The coast is arguably where it’s at this weekend, with the ASICS Sport & Leisure Expo kicking off on Thursday and running until Saturday. Friday night’s the best time to make it though, with the GCCEC open until 9pm for an event that brings together the latest and greatest in the sporting and leisure industry. Booths will cover everything across apparel, equipment, nutritional advice, events and activities.

And you might as well stay the night, because Saturday sees the Esplanade and Foreshore at Surfers Paradise taken over by the Australian Street Entertainment Championships. The event brings together some of the world’s best street artists – jugglers, acrobats, magicians and musicians – as they vie for the crowd’s attention. ASEC is promising a whole host of unsung talent, creative innovation and fearlessly energetic performances. It was a hit at last year’s Surfers Paradise Festival, so try not to miss it.

On Saturday afternoon, head back to the Brisbane Powerhouse for A Home Among the Gum Trees: Illustrating Australian Life. Located in the Visy Foyer, this collection of over 20 prints represents the landscape of Australia, whether it be city, country, outback or coastal. It's a family affair – kids are welcome – so be sure to make your way to the Powerhouse before 9pm.

Sunday morning, head into the city for one of the most exciting exhibitions of the year. Roy Lichtenstein may have been slightly overshadowed by the intimidating legend of Andy Warhol, but the New Yorker’s exhilarating works still stand as icons of American Pop Art of the 1960s and ‘70s. The artist's characteristic comic strip, Ben-Day dot imagery has entered the collective subconscious as an instantly recognisable aesthetic. After the Anton Bruehl exhibition earlier in the year, the QUT Art Museum at Gardens Point Campus is well and truly on a roll. Roy Lichtenstein: Pop Remix is essential stuff.

Finally, on Sunday afternoon head back to the Brisbane Powerhouse for Live Spark. Every week from 3:30pm the Turbine Platform hosts some of the best alternative indie and pop talent in the city. On the bill this week is the charming Pear and the Awkward Orchestra, as well as Nashville’s Tim Carroll, whose charismatic stage presence has garnered plenty of praise for the folkster in his native United States. This should be a great way to see out the weekend.

So, as you can see, there are plenty of reasons to pray the rain pisses off by Friday. Never mind though, if the fun conditions aren’t to your satisfaction, we’ll just have to catch you next week for more of Brisbane’s best free events. Until then…

WORDS: Matt Shea