Brisbane’s much-loved Riverside Market is set to mark a major milestone this Spring, celebrating an incredible 40 years in business with a day-long party on Sunday, October 19.
From 8 am to 3 pm, the Riverside at the Gardens Market will transform the City Botanic Gardens into a vibrant hub of food, music, dance and family fun - a fitting tribute to one of the city’s longest-running and most cherished traditions.
A Brisbane Icon Turns 40
The story of Riverside Market began in 1986, when cultural visionary Peter Hackworth launched the event at the newly built Riverside Plaza.
Over the decades, the market grew into a weekly highlight for locals and visitors alike, eventually relocating in 2015 to its current leafy home in the Botanic Gardens.
Today, the market is co-curated by Peter and her daughter Michaele Minx, who continue to nurture its unique atmosphere:
"Our marketeers become our family,” Peter reflects. "We see that feeling being passed on to the public. We get so many comments about how fabulous the markets are to experience.”
A Party in the Park
To celebrate the big 4-0, stallholders and market staff will don fancy dress while the gardens come alive with entertainment. Expect Brazilian dancing from Festival Tropicale, playful puppet shows by Puppetrix, face painting, balloon twisting and free helium balloons from Balloons Galore. Music will flow all day, bringing a carnival-like atmosphere to the riverside lawns.
Every purchase made at the market on the day also puts visitors in the draw to win a special goodie basket, adding even more incentive to shop, eat, and explore.
A Feast of Flavours
Foodies are in for a treat, with cuisine from around the world ready to be savoured. Visitors can wander from stalls serving Thai curries and Vietnamese noodles to French crêpes, German sausages, Korean specialties, South American tacos, hearty hamburgers and handmade dumplings. Pair it all with fresh juices, exotic fruit crushes, slushies and artisan coffee, then find a shady spot in the gardens for a picnic.
Adding a celebratory touch, Beech Mountain Distillery from the Scenic Rim will showcase its new Gondwana Spirits range, made exclusively with native botanicals. Master Distiller Jules Hoyle says: "What better way to celebrate the 40th birthday of our amazing Riverside at the Gardens family than to bring the very special Botanica de Terra Australis spirit range to the party and raise a toast or two for such a milestone.”
A Showcase of Creatives
Beyond the food, the market is a haven for creativity and craftsmanship. Stalls brim with everything from hand-painted silk scarves and cashmere wraps to quirky hats, groovy shirts, original artworks, jewellery and homewares.
For those stocking up at home, there are fresh fruit and vegetables, honey, spices, chutneys, teas and leafy greens, all popular with city residents seeking local, high-quality produce.
Peter is as passionate as ever about curating the market’s offering. "I love working with creatives and I admire the passion that goes into their work,” she says. "When we gain a wonderful new stall, it really improves the market’s overall vibe.”
A Community Tradition
Alongside Riverside at the Gardens every Sunday, Peter also oversees the Kelvin Grove Village Markets on Saturdays and has hinted at the possibility of launching a new Saturday market in leafy Bulimba.
For now, though, the focus is firmly on celebrating a market that has woven itself into Brisbane’s cultural fabric for four decades. Surrounded by the lush greenery of the Botanic Gardens, the Riverside Market remains a place where people come not just to shop, but to connect, relax and celebrate the city’s creative spirit.
Riverside at the Gardens Market
City Botanic Gardens, Corner of Alice and Albert Streets, Brisbane.
Sunday 19 October 2025, 8 am-3 pm.
