Colors of Brisbane - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Local residents are distinguished by a peculiar character. They constantly follow the existing rules of etiquette and are very welcoming and friendly. Thus, the locals will certainly let women go first at the entrance. Owners of shops and restaurants often personally welcome their guests and offer them help. Despite the fact that such behavior is surely quite logical, many travelers may find it quite unusual.

The local people are also distinguished by tender and very careful attitude to their city. Without a doubt, they consider it the best place on earth, and no traveler is able to persuade them in the opposite. Feel free to talk on absolutely any subject with the locals. Heated debates about politics, sports and religious customs are quite common here opposite to many countries, where such themes as religion and culture are considered a taboo. The only thing that is recommended to be avoided during a talk is their personal life. All themes about earnings or social status of a person are also considered a sign of bad manners.

During communication a smile simply never leaves the lips of the Australians. They are always ready to joke at any occasion. Such a positive attitude to life is quite contagious. However, some aspects of behavior of the local residents may seem quite strange to visitors. For example, during a conversation they can call people, even almost strangers, only by their first name. If such treatment seems too rough for a traveler and he tries to explain it to the other party, most probably an Australian will express a profound perplexity. You shouldn’t consider such behavior as a disparaging attitude and familiarity. This is also a part of the local culture, which promotes equality in all spheres of life. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The Australians are very hospitable and always invite new friends to have a dinner. Guests must not forget to bring small gifts for gracious hosts, but here should be also considered a few nuances. If you are accustomed to taking a box of chocolates and a bouquet of flowers for a visit to someone’s home, you will have to change this tradition and bring the owners a few jars of good beer. This drink is an all-time favorite among the local people, so simply no meal is possible without it. However, beer is considered a male drink, so you can also bring a bottle of wine for a lady.

Various outdoor activities are the most favorite pastime of the local people. Rather than watching movies and eating in fashionable restaurants they prefer picnics and barbecues. In Brisbane you will find a large number of various places for outdoor recreation, so travelers always have an opportunity to support local traditions and have enjoyable rest in one of the city’s parks.

Besides recreation in nature, a huge number of interesting festivals is annually held in Brisby (as it is affectionately called by the locals). The most famous, perhaps, can be called Brisbane Festival taking place throughout the month of September. The event is dedicated to art and considered one of the leading festivals of this kind. The program includes music concerts, theater productions, dance and circus performances. Another interesting event is the Woodford Folk Festival that takes place in late December during Christmas celebrations. This is the time of music, theatrical and comedy performances, street dances, mass festivities, performances, fairs, cabaret, debates, children's shows and, of course, fireworks. And all this is scattered all over the city.

Earth Frequency Festival that falls in the middle of February is another interesting event dedicated to music and art. It is an open-air festival, which means that great fun is guaranteed. Here, namely in Ivory's Rock Conventions and Events, you can enjoy electronic and live music, all kinds of performances, exhibitions of fine arts, fairs, lectures, and workshops. The name of another multi-faceted festival is Bigsound Festival that is held in early September in Fortitude Valley. In addition to music shows, a conference, a children's program, after-parties, master classes, and exhibitions of fine arts are prepared for spectators.

Visiting Brisbane in late February or early March, you can witness such an event as Future Music Festival dedicated to indie rock, electronic and dance music. Headliners of the festival are eminent stars who have made a name on the world stage. The same period (basically it falls on the middle or the end of February) is marked by another musical event known as Soundwave. Styles that you can hear range from heavy metal to pop-punk. Needless to say, headliners are always those who have already conquered the world stage.

In early March, tourists are waiting for such a gastronomic event as Hot Dub Wine Machine. The festival is held in O'Reilly's Winery. In addition to tasting the best wines, those lucky ones who've decided to attend the event can enjoy a rich musical program and, of course, sampling traditional wine snacks - cheese, baguettes, meat, ham, salads. Positioned as a friendly family festival, it creates comfortable conditions for all comers. Another gastronomic event takes place in early June and is called Caxton Street Seafood and Wine Festival. It is held in Petrie Terrace, and, in addition to its gastronomic program, includes a musical one. And, of course, the good news is that the festival is frequented by world celebrities.

Fans of picturesque and colorful shows will appreciate Brisbane International Boat Show. Usually, it falls at the end of August, and given that this is the largest event of this kind in the entire Southern Hemisphere, all marine fans are strongly recommended to attend the show. In September, comedians gather in Fortitude Valley to visit Bris Funny Fest - a comedy event, during which you can enjoy stand-ups, sketch shows, and improvised performances. The festival is held in different locations in Brisbane, but most of them take place in Heya Bar.

Another interesting event worth a visit is Stradbroke Chamber Music Festival. As you can guess from the name of the festival, it is dedicated to classical music. Its time is the end of July. It takes place in Point Lookout Life Saving Club right on the beach. And this means that besides practicing water sports you can also enjoy the beautiful music here. If you've arrived in Brisbane in the middle of August, you can visit such an event as Anywhere Theater Festival, the venues of which are different locations in the city. The entertainment program includes theatricals, magic shows, circus and dance performances, poetry evenings wherever possible - in bars, cafes, swimming pools - but not in the theater; the program is not limited to this.