If you’ve never been to SPARK Ipswich Arts Festival what are you waiting for?  It’s 5 days of art, culture, theatre and performance just waiting to be discovered…  Read on to find out how to spend a weekend at SPARK Ipswich Arts Festival (8-12 July)!Start your weekend on Friday night…When you’ve finished work Friday, jump in the car and head out to Ipswich.First of all you’re staying at a cute apartment with Urban Getaway.  It is set inside a restored heritage home, perfect for couples and has an infrared sauna! If you’ve got the whole family, book one of their entire houses to stay out.

Over 5 days in July the City of Ipswich will be taken over by music, comedy, arts, exhibitions, projection, culture, collaboration and hands-on fun.  SPARK Ipswich Art Festival celebrates the people, places, arts and culture of Ipswich from July 8-12.  While there are some ticketed events, there are also a lot of low or no-cost things you can do – so bring the family and get ready to have some fun!Silent disco toursSilent Disco Walking Tours are a hilarious dancing, walking adventure for all ages. Wearing supplied headsets we groove our way through local streets, engaging passers by with our spontaneous flash-mob style dancing and antics. Upbeat music from your favourite decades are played by our vibrant disco hosts, quickly washing away your inhibitions and leaving you smiling from ear to ear.Date and time: 8-12 July with sessions at 5.30pm, 6pm, 6.30pm and 7pm.

With literary holidays announced as one of 2026’s hottest travel trends, it’s no surprise readers are seeking experiences beyond the pages. From browsing bookshops to attending library events, author talks, DIY book crawls and plenty of wide-open spaces for a relaxing picnic, Ipswich has everything you need to turn your love of books into a fun, feel-good getaway!In this guide, I’ll show you where to find the best bookish spots across the city, some great workshops and upcoming author hours at Ipswich’s seven libraries, and where to refuel with a great coffee or bite to eat and introduce you to the concept of a book crawl!I’ll also share the best parks and reserves perfect for a literary picnic, plus accommodation options so you can stay a little longer and truly soak up everything Ipswich has to offer.

The wait is over for three highly anticipated openings in the Nicholas Street Precinct.  On Friday 8 November, 2024 Hotel Commonwealth, HOYTS and General Public opened.Hotel Commonwealth, one of Ipswich's most iconic pubs has finished a beautiful heritage restoration. It's history began in the late 19th century when it was a central hub for locals and travelers. Over the decades it became a gathering place for community events and celebrations and now following years of careful preservation it had reopened with a blend of traditional charm and modern amenities.The menu includes small plates with house-made pork and fennel sausage rolls to large plates designed for sharing and everything in between.  There are also bar snacks you can enjoy with a drink, which will change weekly and seasonal dishes.

We all know the summer days in Ipswich can get hot, but as the sun goes down it's the perfect time to head out and enjoy a drink with friends and family in the cool night air.See a show at BansheesBanshees Bar and Art Space hosts live gigs on the weekends.  In fact they've single handedly brought over 500 bands to Ipswich since they started operations five years ago.They're also great at whipping up cocktails and a great meeting place to kick off your night.

'Hipswich Central' lands an Airbnb cottage A cute cottage in the heart of Ipswich is reinvented thanks to one creative couple’s “terrifiying and exciting” new project. It's not the first time Brisbane’s Sara Taghaode and Andrew Crane have stepped into unchartered territory for the sake of a new challenge.