James St Up Late is Back for 2025

You know it, you love it, the ultimate after-hours celebration that is James St Up Late (JSUL) is back back back again for one exclusive night of fashion, shopping, and Dionysian level revelry on Thursday 27 March from 5-8PM.

This year may be marking Up Late’s 13th birthday but unlike the average teen, this precinct wide party wants you out of the metaverse and onto the street-o-verse. Lucky for you JSUL 2025 has more than a few good reasons to ditch the digital in favour of the IRL.

Reason #1: Be here, get the gear

With over 90 businesses coming together to trade late and offer special discounts, gifts with purchase, instore competitions and bespoke bites and sips, James St retailers are proving you can’t beat the street when it comes to going home with a slew of special somethings.

Spoilers are no fun, so here’s just a little teaser of what’s on the block this year:

• Win an Armadillo rug of your choice valued up to $2500
• Receive a complimentary Harper Necklace with purchases over $700 at Natasha Schweitzer
• Unlock a night’s stay at The Calile with their Lucky Room Key competition
• One lucky shopper to go home with a carry bag full of travel essentials from Venroy
• Sweet treats at the RATIONALE + Gelato Messina custom ice-cream cart
• Ticketed dinner with Mary Lou Ryan of bassike and now AirRobe fame with host of Process the Podcast, Arielle Thomas at Gerard’s

Reason #2: Snag a Bag

The one night of the year that a canvas tote is the most popular bag on the street, this year’s James St Party Bags will have you eating, drinking, dressing, smelling and reading good. You’ll have to be quick to secure this bag with only 1,000 up for grabs with purchases from participating retailers.

 Reason #3: Vend-à-Porter

No nets required here, simply push a button at the James St Vending Machine for your chance to win from a prize pool of over $20,000. You read that right, there’s hotel stays, dining packages, shopping vouchers, artworks and apparel all waiting to go to a good home.

Reason #4: Get Cultured

You’ll be coming away with more than just material goods this year thanks to a very special Up Late edition of Art on James. See the dynamic multimedia works created by Brisbane-based photographer, artist and creative director James Caswell for this year’s Up Late campaign on exhibition, and meet the mastermind himself, at Living Edge.

Reason #5: Hydration Stations

Take a breather from the Up Late amusements by way of a limited-edition bevy on the StrangeLove Tipple Tour. Find custom cocktails and mocktails devised especially for the occasion by the master-mixologists at LOS, Lobby Bar, Mosconi, Gemelli and Carmen Tequileria with a helping hand from the emperors of elixirs at StrangeLove.

Reason #6: Make Tangible Memories

What better way to commemorate a night of shopping, sipping and socialising on the street than with photographic proof of the physical kind. Step into the James St Photobooth to take home visual reminder for you to cherish in real life and not on the cloud.

Don’t just take our word for it, see the full event program here and start planning your Up Late date.