What’s On & Open this January 26

Ask TFG

25 Jan

However you observe your day off, there are plenty of restaurants, bars and cafes that are staying open. After a big few years, it's worth showing your local some support.

Published 25 January 2024

The national public holiday – officially known as Australia Day – will be marked on Friday, 26 January 2024. We struggle every year to work out how to get this one right. We know how much local businesses need a boost but we also know that for many people, this is not a day of celebration. We haven’t got this one perfect, we know.

However you observe your day off, there are plenty of restaurants, bars and cafes that are staying open. After a big few years, it's worth showing your local some support. Here are some of events and places on and open this Jan 26:

australia day parties & EVENTS

Bone Idol is hosting their Beach Party, Fitzy’s is hosting live entertainment at their Aussie Aussie Aussie Party; as are The Tatts, complete with Weetbix eatings competitions. Rink 46 is throwing a family fun-day with brews & barbie on the Greens, with live music, waterslides and a bucking-bull; and the City Golf Club, is hosting an array of kids entertainment including a petting zoo and pony rides, thong throwing competition and fireworks (9pm).

Highfields Pioneer Village is holding a family friendly open day including whip wracking, sheep-sheering, indigenous dance workshop and baby animals, and Jondaryn Woolshed is reopening for a massive 2 day Back-to-the-Woolshed event January 26-27. Downsteam is hosting a sausage sizzle and spit roast, municipal band and entertainment, with vintage carriage and train tours all day.

For those willing to venture slightly further afield, a trip to the Bull and Barley Inn comes complete with Thong Throwing, Yabbie & Pig Races (not against each other), and Oakey’s annual Australia Day is a bonanza of Billy Carts, Raft Regattas & Dunny Races, Truck Pulls and Tug-O-War competitions; with the ubiqitous Damper, Billy and BBQ, of course.

Official Toowoomba events kick-off at Picnic Point at 8:30am and include a Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country, Mayoral message, Flag raising & National Anthem, free sausage sizzle, damper, flag tattoos and Dreamtime games; continuing with Community entertainment and free ice creams.

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