At a glance
- Fri 13 and Sat 14 November
- The FUSE Esports Festival, Southern Cross University Gold Coast campus, Bilinga; 9am to 8pm both days; free for schools on Friday, $5 on Saturday
- Fri 13 to Sun 15 November
- Business in the Spotlight, Southport Community Centre; Friday from 9am to Sunday 4pm; tickets $25 for one person for one day
- Friday 20 November
- Gaven State School Twilight Christmas Concert and Markets, Oxenford; 5pm to 8pm; free
- Saturday 21 November
- A Handmade Christmas Festival, Robina State High School, 12pm to 6pm, free; and Broadwater Pavilion Markets, Southport, 8am to 2pm, free
- Sunday 29 November
- Flicks and Fireworks, Surfers Paradise beach; movie at 7pm, fireworks at 8pm; free; the film is not yet announced
- Who it’s for
- Locals and families looking for something to do on the Gold Coast between 13 and 29 November 2026
- What to do now
- Choose your date, buy tickets early for the two paid events, and look up the film for 29 November closer to the night
- Last checked
- Tuesday 3 November 2026, against the City of Gold Coast What’s On listings
- Not yet confirmed
- The film for 29 November, the Business in the Spotlight daily program, and whether the public can attend the FUSE festival on Friday
Six Gold Coast events fall between Friday 13 and Sunday 29 November 2026, and four of them are free: a school Christmas concert, a handmade Christmas fair, a monthly seaside market and a beach movie night with fireworks. The other two charge: a school esports festival at $5 on Saturday, and a business expo from $25 a day. This guide uses the City of Gold Coast’s What’s On listing for each event, read on 3 November 2026. For the week before, see our guide to community events from 6 to 15 November.
What are the six events, and what do they cost?
| Date | Event | Place | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 13 and Sat 14 Nov | The FUSE Esports Festival | Southern Cross University, Bilinga | Friday free for schools; Saturday $5 |
| Fri 13 to Sun 15 Nov | Business in the Spotlight | Southport Community Centre | From $25 |
| Fri 20 Nov | Gaven State School Twilight Christmas Concert and Markets | Gaven State School Oval, Oxenford | Free |
| Sat 21 Nov | A Handmade Christmas Festival | Robina State High School | Free |
| Sat 21 Nov | Broadwater Pavilion Markets | Fisherman’s Lawn, Southport | Free |
| Sun 29 Nov | Flicks and Fireworks | Near the Surfers Paradise sign | Free |
What is on at The FUSE Esports Festival on 13 and 14 November?
The City describes it as Australia’s largest live school esports gathering, with live esports competitions, the National School Esports Finals, free-play gaming, VR, giveaways and raffles for PlayStation 5 consoles, Xbox Series S consoles and Meta Quest VR headsets. It runs from 9am to 8pm on both days at Southern Cross University’s Gold Coast campus at Gold Coast Airport, Terminal Drive, Bilinga.
The listed price is “Friday: Free for schools | Saturday: $5”. The page does not say whether the public can attend on Friday or what the Saturday ticket covers, so check the ticket page the City links to before you go. Parking: the listing says ample parking is available in the university car park. The organiser is The FUSE Cup, and the listed email is hello@thefusecup.com.au.
What is on at Business in the Spotlight from 13 to 15 November?
This is a ticketed business expo at Southport Community Centre, 6 Lawson Street, running from 9am on Friday 13 November to 4pm on Sunday 15 November. The listing promises fashion catwalks and showcases, international guest speakers, live music, interactive workshops, a showcase of local businesses, food and refreshments, and Christmas gift shopping.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Single-day ticket, one person, one day | $25 |
| Single-day special, two people | $50 |
| Three-day special, two people | $129 |
Buying an eligible ticket online enters you in a prize draw for a 7-day Bali retreat valued at $2,497 (the listing says it includes accommodation, meals and retreat experiences but not flights). The page lists other prizes too. Free on-site parking is available at the centre via Garden Street off Lawson Street, with accessible spaces for visitors with disability permits, and the listing says bus and light rail routes are available. The page does not give a daily program, so there are no session times to plan around yet.
What is on at the Gaven State School Twilight Christmas Concert on 20 November?
The school’s P&C Association hosts a free community night from 5pm to 8pm on the Gaven State School Oval, on the corner of Pinevale Drive and Mona Court, Oxenford. The City’s listing mentions student performances, food trucks, market stalls, raffle prizes and a possible glimpse of Santa. It is supported by Councillor Naomi Fowler, Division 2.
Entry details from the page: the main entry is via Pinevale Drive, opposite Mona Court, and a secondary entry is through the front gate of the school at 212 Universal Street. Parking is available along Pinevale Drive and Universal Street, and the page asks visitors to be considerate of residential neighbours. Onsite disability parking is via the Pinevale Drive gate, where volunteers will give instructions. The listed contact is the Gaven State School P&C Association at gavensspandc@outlook.com.
What is on at A Handmade Christmas Festival in Robina on 21 November?
The festival runs from 12pm to 6pm in the S.A.C Hall at Robina State High School, 1 Investigator Drive, Robina, and entry is free. The listing mentions stalls selling handmade gifts and wares, food stalls and sweet treats, a chance to learn to line dance, a sit-and-sing-along of carols, face painting and kids’ craft activities. The organiser listed is Knit Topia.
The page says free parking is at Gates A and B of the school, plus street parking, and that Robina Station is a 7 minute walk from the hall.
What is on at the Broadwater Pavilion Markets on 21 November?
These are monthly markets on Fisherman’s Lawn in Broadwater Parklands, Marine Parade, Southport, from 8am to 2pm. The listing says they are entering their fourth year and describes boutique fashion, handcrafted jewellery and home treasures, live music from local musicians, free kids’ craft areas, lawn games and food trucks. Pets are welcome, according to the listing, which also points to the parkland’s Rockpools water playground and jumping pillow for a longer day out.
The City’s page lists nine dates this year, and 21 November is the last one on it. Entry is free, and the listed contact is BWP Markets at info@bwpmarkets.com.au.
What is Flicks and Fireworks at Surfers Paradise on 29 November?
The City calls it a brand-new program on the last Sunday of each month, with a movie on the beach and fireworks over the ocean. It is listed near the Surfers Paradise sign, 2 Esplanade, and the movie starts at 7pm with fireworks at 8pm. The film pauses for a short intermission for the fireworks, then carries on. The Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets are joining in, and the page suggests bringing a picnic blanket or a low-backed chair and takeaway from a local restaurant.
The film for 29 November is “to be announced”, so we cannot name it. The page lists the next night as Sunday 27 December, also with the film to be announced. For weather calls and updates, the listing points to the Spectrum Outdoor Entertainment events page and its Facebook page. The event is brought to you by Councillor Darren Taylor and the City of Gold Coast, and entry is free.
How do I get to these events?
For the City’s free events, the listings give the same general advice: use public transport, walking or cycling, because parking may be limited, and parking rules still apply during events. The EasyPark app covers metered bays. Where a page gives something more specific, it is in the sections above: car parks at the university and Southport Community Centre, Gate A and B parking and the walk from Robina Station, and street parking around Gaven State School. If you go by tram, our G:link fares guide explains how to pay.
What should I check before I go?
Three things were still open when we read the pages. The 29 November film has not been announced, Business in the Spotlight has no daily program, and the FUSE listing does not say who can attend on Friday. Our Mayor’s Christmas Carols guide covers the big HOTA night on 28 November, the weekend before Flicks and Fireworks.
Sources
- What’s On Gold Coast — The FUSE Esports Festival (read 3 November 2026)
- What’s On Gold Coast — Business in the Spotlight (read 3 November 2026)
- What’s On Gold Coast — Gaven State School Twilight Christmas Concert and Markets (read 3 November 2026)
- What’s On Gold Coast — A Handmade Christmas Festival (read 3 November 2026)
- What’s On Gold Coast — Broadwater Pavilion Markets (read 3 November 2026)
- What’s On Gold Coast — Flicks and Fireworks (read 3 November 2026)
Featured image: Surfers Paradise Beach, shown for orientation and not at the event (photo: Kgbo / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the City of Gold Coast or the organisers of these events. Event details change; check each event’s page before you go.