If you’re after a genuine country weekend away without straying too far from home, the Laidley Spring Festival is worth pencilling into the calendar. Just an hour’s drive from both Brisbane and Toowoomba, this much-loved regional celebration returns to the Lockyer Valley from September 11-13, transforming the towns of Laidley and Forest Hill into a colourful showcase of community spirit, country hospitality, live entertainment and springtime tradition. Where and whenThe festival runs across Laidley on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 September, before wrapping up with a dedicated family day at nearby Forest Hill on Sunday 13 September. Lockyer Valley Mayor Tanya Milligan says the festival’s growing popularity reflects a broader shift toward slower, more authentic regional travel. History buffs shouldn’t miss Das Neumann Haus, a German Settlement Museum hand-built in 1893, now serving up apple strudel, German sausages and Devonshire teas.