If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to get out of the house and be more adventurous, be sure to add Ipswich to your list of destinations this month.
There is plenty of horsepower on the track at Willowbank Raceway and the Ipswich Turf Club. You can take a class… choose from drawing, makeup, knife-making, and even fluid teddy bears. Or choose a family favourite like the drive-in, trivia or a market. Oh, and don’t miss Thomas the Tank Engine!
Be sure to add these great events to your diary now.
Let off some steam with Thomas the Tank Engine
Hop on board for an unforgettable family adventure at the Day Out With Thomas: The Bubble Tour, featuring a whole host of endless fun including live performances, craft activities, games, a character hunt, and special meet and greet sessions at the Queensland Museum Rail Workshops from 26 December. A special sensory day will also be held on January 15 to support families and visitors requiring a calming environment and lower sound levels. Be quick though, because Thomas and his friends will be departing the station on January 26.
Huge weekend of high-octane action
Buckle up for two days of intense racing when the fastest Top Fuel Dragsters and Nitro Funny Cars join forces at Willowbank Raceway for New Year Nitro! Get ready to feel the ground shake, hear the engines roar, and witness the mind-blowing power of 11,000 horsepower beasts as they tear up the track during two unmissable days on January 10-11.
Nude models to bare all
If you have ever wanted to try your hand at life drawing, you’re in luck! Life drawing workshops will be held at Banshees Bar and Artspace in the Ipswich CBD on the first Sunday of the month from 4-6pm. Both male and female models will bare all (alternating each month), allowing you to sketch the human body in all its glory. To book, click here.
Dive in and learn some lifesaving skills
If your kids love being in the water, enrol them in the popular Little Lifesavers Program. Held now at the Orion Lagoon, this fun and educational program teaches them important aspects of water safety while also increasing their skills and confidence in the water.
Strap yourself in and feel the power
Experience the thrill of a lifetime by driving a V8 race car around Queensland Raceway! Drivers can choose between a Ford Mustang GT or Chevrolet Camaro – two powerful cars that really deliver the grunt! Your next opportunity to tick this off your bucket list will be on January 12. Bookings are essential.
Create your own huggable teddy
Unleash your creativity and create your own teddy bear at the Fluid Bear Art Workshop in Redbank Plains. During this immersive art experience, the team from Unbearable Brisbane will guide you through the steps one by one, ensuring you leave with a one-of-a-kind teddy. Workshops will be held on various dates and times throughout the month. Click here to book.
Treat the kids to a movie or two at Limelight
With an array of new and old movies currently screening, there are sure to be plenty of movies the whole family can enjoy at Limelight Cinemas. Grab the popcorn and your top choc ice cream before heading in to watch Paddington in Peru, Gladiator, Spider Man, or Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies.
Eezy Peezy makeup sessions
Whether you’re a mum and daughter duo or a group of friends wanting to know more about makeup, discover the ultimate blend of beauty and relaxation at Eezy Peezy Makeup Classes’ Makeup and Sip sessions. Held at the Emily Kate Studio near Ipswich’s Nicholas Precinct, the workshops are perfect for those who are eager to master their makeup techniques in a fun and welcoming environment. Workshops are held monthly, with the first event on January 18.
Handcraft your own custom knife
If you have a razor-sharp eye for detail, sign up for a two-day knife making course hosted by the team from Savage Custom Knives – Queensland’s largest blacksmithing and knife making school! At their fully geared out commercial workshop in West Ipswich, you will learn how to make your own custom stainless-steel knife from start to finish including a resin handle, as well as practice freehand grinding. Multiple dates are held each month.
Put your thinking cap on
Who doesn’t enjoy a good game of trivia? Whether your niche is music, movies, sport, history, geography or science, gather the gang for a mid-week round of head-scratching trivia at Monte Lane every Wednesday night from 6.30-8pm. It’s free to play and there are some great prizes up for grabs.
Let your kids test their Disney knowledge
It’s not just adults who love trivia – kids do too! If your kids know what fictional city Aladdin takes place in, or who Mufasa’s trusted advisor in The Lion King was, register them for the upcoming Disney and Pixar trivia event at the Orion Hotel on January 19. Not only will there be 40 fun questions for them to answer, but there will also be great food, drinks and games.
Giddy up! Pick a winner at the Ipswich Turf Club
Join the Ipswich community for a few days of fun, fashion, food and fast-paced horse racing at the Ipswich Turf Club on January 4, 15 and 26. Grab your fascinator and take a punt on your favourite horses or enjoy a few bevvies trackside, with all the racing action kicking off at 12pm.
Enjoy a movie the old-fashioned way
Heading to the Drive-In has long been a favourite pastime for many people, so if you’re wanting to enjoy a night of nostalgia with your friends and family, make a date at Ipswich’s very own Drive-In at Tivoli. Just pay at the ticket box on the way in, choose a prime parking spot, tune your car radio, then sit back and enjoy some movie magic. Some of the movies screening this month include Moana 2, Monsters Inc, Beauty and the Beast, Wicked, and Kung Fu Panda.
Pick some up bargains at the markets
Didn’t get the Chrissy pressie you wanted? Or are you keen to get started on this year’s list? Make a plan to visit one of Ipswich’s many monthly market events to find lots of unique wares like clothing, accessories, vintage records, garden ornaments and more! Be sure to check out the following markets: Springfield Markets; Ripley Markets; Riverlink Market Zone; Handmade Expo Markets; Quibble Market.
For more ideas to help you plan your next trip to Ipswich, check out our What’s On page.
