Heritage Hands Festival & Makers Market — Sandgate 2026
Saturday 7 November 2026 | 9:00am–5:30pm
Sandgate Town Hall + Sandgate precinct
FREE
Made by hand. Made to last.
Heritage Hands Festival comes to Sandgate for a day celebrating the artisans, makers and specialist practitioners keeping traditional and specialist skills alive.
Meet the people behind the work, discover the skills and stories that shape what they make, experience demonstrations and workshops, explore the Heritage Hands exhibition, and shop directly from makers at the curated Heritage Makers Market.
Across the day, the program brings together making, learning, sharing and conversation - from established practitioners to the next generation of makers.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
9:00am–3:30pm | Heritage Hands Festival & Makers Market
Explore the Heritage Makers Market, meet artisans and specialist practitioners, see skills and processes in action, and discover work made by hand and made to last.
Throughout the day:
Heritage Makers Market · Heritage Hands exhibition · Artisan demonstrations · Meet the Maker · Youth Makers · Workshops · Activities
There’ll also be penny farthings, Brisbane Urban Sketchers and other activities happening in and around the Town Hall and Sandgate precinct.
Workshops and some activities require separate bookings. More makers, workshops and activities will continue to be announced in the lead-up to the festival.
3:30–4:00pm | Festival Welcome + Acknowledgements
Gather in the Main Hall for the official festival welcome, Acknowledgement of Country and brief speeches recognising the makers, community, supporters and partners bringing Heritage Hands to Sandgate.
The Makers Market and Heritage Hands exhibition remain open.
4:00–5:00pm | What Do We Carry Forward?
Passing knowledge between generations
A free moderated panel discussion exploring specialist skills, knowledge, succession and how we pass them on.
Moderated by Robert Allen, Brisbane Heritage Co., bringing together Artisan Makers and practitioners from across the Heritage Hands program.
The Makers Market and exhibition remain open, with the panel becoming the focus of the festival program.
5:00–5:30pm | Meet the Makers + post-panel gathering
Stay on after the panel to continue the conversation, connect with makers and panellists, explore the exhibition and enjoy some final Makers Market browsing.
WORKSHOPS + ACTIVITIES
A program of hands-on workshops and activities will run alongside the festival, including cyanotype with Dr Renata Buziak, flower arranging with Wallflower, Peter Richards, and more to be announced.
Some workshops are separately ticketed and places are limited.
STAY ON FOR PECHAKUCHA
6:30–8:00pm | PechaKucha: Heritage Hands - Made to Last
20 images. 20 seconds. One story.
A fast-paced evening of visual stories exploring the objects, skills, practices, places and knowledge that endure.
This is a separate ticketed event — $10 presale / $15 at the door, if available.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Sandgate Town Hall
5 Brighton Road, Sandgate
A short walk from Sandgate Station. Public and active transport encouraged.
Entry to the Heritage Hands Festival & Makers Market is FREE.
