Parks Alive! Roma Street Parkland leads the charge with a fantastic weekend of free activities and cultural events for all ages, along with City Botanic Gardens and Brisbane Botanical Gardens at Mt Coot-tha. Roma St Parkland, August 23-24. Free.

Brisbane Fringe Festival Brisbane's alternative arts festival fills the laneways, bookshops, cafes, bars, theatres and parks of the inner city with edgy circus, cabaret, music, art, comedy and theatre acts. Various venues around Brisbane with prices from free up.

Valley Fiesta  The Valley's weekend long party takes over the malls, street, lanes and venues with car park roller discos, backyard BBQs, banquets, large scale karaoke, short films, circus and hot indie music. Brunswick St and Chinatown Mall precinct, August 23-24. Free.

Short & Sweet Festival Indulge in dozens of different works of theatre and cabaret as part of this competitive festival. More than 40 different performances are on show, each one only ten minutes long. Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm. Tickets $15-$28 per session.

Liberating Art Exhibition Paddington's LA51 Art Gallery gets set for a month of nudity with life drawing classes, wine and cheese opening night along with 'meet the artists' talks and an art auction. LA51 Art Gallery 51 Latrobe Tce Paddington August 23 9am-8pm. Free.

Edited by Jodi Panayotov from Must Do Brisbane.

Friday August 22

5.00pm. The Seed Project. Head to the Melbourne Street Green for free live music featuring some of Brisbane's best up-and-coming musicians including Bree de Rome, David Baker and the Brodie Graham Band. Free. More information online.

6.00pm. Knockoff. Kick-start your weekend with free comedy on the Turbine Platform. Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm. Tonight features MC Danny McGinlay with Daniel Connell, Matt Ford and Alex Ward.Free. More information online.

7.30pm. Hedonism's Second Album. Featuring a live band on stage, this new Australian comedy from David Burton and Claire Christian tells the story of a Brisbane band trying to prove themselves while enjoying their newfound rock star status. The Loft, Kelvin Grove. Tickets $22-28 available online.

7.30pm. Patyegarang. Bangarra dance theatre company commemorates the story of a young Eora woman, Patyegarang, who shared her culture and language with one of the first white settlers in the place we now call Sydney. Patyegarang befriended the colony's timekeeper, Lieutenant William Dawes, gifting him her language in an extraordinary display of trust and friendship. Playhouse, QPAC. Finishes Saturday. Tickets $65/$55 available online.

7.30pm. Finding the Silence. After the success of last year's Knee Deep, Casus Circus is back to test their physical vulnerabilities, emotions and fears, and try to find the absence of sound. Encounters, both alone and together, form the path of this restless exploration of rigorously refined physicality. Judith Wright Centre, Fortitude Valley. Finishes Saturday. Tickets $39/$36 available online.

8.00pm. Diego El Cigala. The three-time Latin Grammy Award winner has captivated audiences around the world with his gravelly voice and passionate interpretation of flamenco. Concert Hall, QPAC. Tickets $49 available online.

9.00pm. The Smooth End of the Pineapple. In the grand tradition of The Goons and other radio comedy shows, Matt Bell and Scot McPhie present an hour of sketch comedy and live sound effects. Also playing Saturday night as part of the Brisbane Fringe Festival. The Depo, 16 Horan Street, West End. Tickets $20 available online.

Saturday August 23

6.00am. Jan Power's Powerhouse Markets. One of the many Jan Power's Farmers Markets that take place every second and fourth Saturday of each month is returning this Saturday at the Powerhouse. Spend your morning browsing through fresh produce and eating delicious croissants, omelettes, dumplings and more. The Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm. Free. More information online.

10.00am. Hot Modernism. This fascinating new exhibition takes visitors on an in-depth journey of discovery of mid-century Queensland architecture, iconic buildings and the stories behind it all. Level 2, State Library of Queensland, South Bank. Free. More information online.

10.00am. Pattern Bandits. Brisbane artist Jemima Wyman has transformed GOMA's Children's Art Centre to explore the relationships between pattern, people and architecture. Children can enter the brightly coloured and highly patterned world of the artist and explore different patterns, from kaleidoscopes, tessellations, camouflage and harlequin, with specially designed hands-on and multimedia and activities. Gallery of Modern Art, South Bank. Free admission. More information online.

10.00am. David Malouf and Friends. Five contemporary artists have paid tribute to the beloved Brisbane author by creating new works for this special exhibition, inspired by the themes and layers of his works. Malouf has then responded to the new works in accompanying texts. A great way to interpret Brisbane through the eyes of creatives. Museum of Brisbane, City Hall. Free. More information online.

1.30pm & 7.30pm. The Last Confession. A mystery thriller of biblical proportions, the Australian stage debut of Agatha Christie's Poirot's David Suchet is set in the corridors of the Vatican at the time of the sudden and controversial death of Pope John Paul I only 33 days after his election. Lyric Theatre, QPAC. Final show on Sunday. Tickets from $76.70 available online.

5.00pm & 8.00pm. Mother Bare. This is Denise Scott's most ambitious show yet, bringing together all of her stories on motherhood – as both a mother and as a daughter. Hilarious, intimate and rivetingly honest, this will be a night with one of Australia's funniest storytellers laying it all bare. Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm. Tickets $45.90/$39.90 available online.

7.00pm. Bloodlust Ball. The Carpathian Magistratus Vampyre Society is pleased to present the 20th annual Bloodlust Ball, with music, surprise acts, photography, art displays, prizes and food and beverages to die for! The theme is vampires from the silver screen, so don't be afraid to dress up. The Tivoli, Costin Street, Bowen Hills. Tickets $50 available online.

7.00pm. Queensland Youth Orchestra. Enjoy an evening of flashy brass, celestial melodies and astounding talent as the Queensland Youth Symphony perform a program of cosmic proportions, including Holst's monumental classic The Planets, and a shimmering concerto with European tuba virtuoso Andreas Hofmeir. Concert Hall, QPAC. Tickets $37 available online.

7.30pm. Into the Woods. Stephen Sondheim's take on Grimm fairytales and what happens after the "happily ever after" is brought to life by final year musical theatre students at the Queensland Conservatorium. Funny, touching and not suitable for young children. Conservatorium Theatre, South Bank. Tickets $37.50/$21.50 available online.

7.30pm. The Tempest. The Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble bring one of the Bard's most powerful works to life in this outdoor performance. Will the exiled Duke of Milan, Prospero, get revenge on the men who exiled him to a remote island full of spirits? And what will become of his beautiful daughter Miranda? The Amphitheatre, Roma Street Parklands.Tickets $30/$20 available online.

7.30pm. Progfest 2014. Bands on the bill including Closure In Moscow, Helm, LeSuits, Magenta Voyeur and Weightless In Orbit. The Zoo, Ann Street, Fortitude Valley. Tickets $25 at the door or available online.

8.00pm. The Addams Family Musical. Wednesday Addams has fallen in love, and it's time for her normal boyfriend and his family to meet hers. Things will change for Gomez, Morticia, Fester and Cousin Itt in this production, which is premiering for the first time in Queensland. Brisbane Arts Theatre, Petrie Terrace. Tickets $39/30 available online.

9.00pm. High Status Idiots. The Sexy Detectives pride themselves on two things: humility and being the best sketch comedy group on Earth. Their Brisbane Fringe Festival production is a smart show about dumb people. New Globe Theatre, 220 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley. Tickets $15/$10 available online.

Sunday August 24

9.00am. All Dogs Sports Spectacular. Join Dogs Queensland for a fun-filled day with your family and canine friends. This open day features a variety of doggie sports that your pooch can try, such as dancing with dogs and duck-herding. There are also competitions for agility, obedience, retrieving and more, market stalls, food, entertainment and a whole heap of dog breeds on show. Great for finding out information about dogs if you're thinking of getting one. 247 King Avenue, Durack. Free. More information online.

9.00am. Boundary Street Markets. Housed in and around the historic old Peter's Ice Cream Factory on the corner of Boundary and Mollison streets, these markets feature a unique collection of pop up shops by local artisans, designers, collectors, upcyclers and producers. West End. Free. More information online.

9.30am. Deep Oceans. Journey to a dark and mysterious world deep below the Earth's surface at this exhibition which showcases odd real-life creatures as well as myths and legends about monsters of the deep. Queensland Museum, South Bank. Tickets $12 available online.

9.30am. Top Secret: Licence to Spy. This interactive exhibit allows you to see in the dark with a night vision camera, dodge laser beams without setting off alarms, break a series of codes and explore the many disguises used by spies. Become James Bond! Sciencentre, Queensland Museum, South Bank. Admission fees apply. More information online.

10.00am. Harvest. This new art, food and film exhibition at GOMA features art delicious-looking enough to make your mouth water. See installations, bold patterns and flavours, a fully-constructed Asian supermarket and more. GOMA, South Bank. Free. More information online.

10.00am. The Many Lives of Moreton Bay. Picturesque Moreton Bay – Aboriginal name Quandamooka – conjures up images of sandy beaches, fishing trips and marine life but the beauty of the Bay is not just skin deep. Few know the rich and diverse history of this natural treasure located on Brisbane's doorstep. Museum of Brisbane, City Hall. Free. More information online.

3.30pm. LiveSpark. Enjoy a double bill of free live music. This Sunday features Danny Widdicombe playing solo and with his trio.Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm. Free. More information online.

7.00pm. The Big House: Smackdown. In the Big House, only the strongest and funniest survive. In this grudge match, comic improviser pit their wits against each other, with three teams competing for the audience's laughs. It's sudden death, spontaneous, cut-throat comedy. Brisbane Arts Theatre, Petrie Terrace. Tickets $12. More information online.

7.00pm. Akmal Is Lost. Join comedian Akmal Saleh as he navigates a world of political incorrectness. Cremorne Theatre, QPAC. Tickets from $39.90 available online.

7.30pm. Tina Arena. Home grown talent Tina Arena is back with a newly released album of original material sung in English titled Reset, and she's celebrating her achievement with a national tour. Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Bank. Tickets from $108.50 available online.