It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… and we’re ready to get festive on the Gold Coast! Celebrate the season with Gold Coast community carols, Christmas Markets and fun festive activities that really do make it the most magical time of the year.
Gold Coast Christmas Carols
Get into the Christmas spirit at community carols events across the city to celebrate the festive season. These free, family-friendly events are the epitome of festive fun - as well singing along to all your favourite Christmas tunes, enjoy food trucks, live entertainment, Santa visits and festive fireworks. Gather your nearest and dearest, pack a picnic blanket and spend a beautiful evening celebrating with Gold Coast locals.
Mayor’s Christmas Carols: HOTA Outdoor Stage, 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise - Saturday November 30, 6 - 8.30pm.
(Ticket allocation exhausted for the Outdoor Stage but you can still enjoy the event via big screen in the lakeside Parklands.)
Pacific Pines Christmas Carols: Hotham Dr, Pacific Pines - Sunday December 1, 4 - 8.30pm.
North Burleigh Carols by the Sea: Ed Hardy Park, Burleigh - Thursday December 5, 4 - 8pm.
Cooly Carols: Queen Elizabeth Park, Coolangatta - Sunday December 8, 5.30 - 7.30pm.
Sanctuary Cove’s Christmas Carols: Masthead Way, Sanctuary Cove - December 12, 4.30 - 8pm.
Christmas Carols on the Green: Cuddihy Park, Mudgeeraba - Friday December 13, 6.30 - 8.30pm.
Carols in Coomera: Coomera Sports Park, Coomera - Saturday December 14, 4.30 - 6.30pm.
Carols on the Beach: Surfers Paradise Beach - Sunday December 15, 5 - 8pm.
Currumbin Community Christmas Carols: 59 Galleon Way, Currumbin - Monday December 16, 5.30 - 8pm.
Christmas Activities
It doesn't snow on the Gold Coast, but you can still experience a magical white Christmas! Get into the festive spirit with Christmas-themed mini golf, watching movies under the stars, cruising up the canals admiring light displays or decorating delicious Christmas treats.
Movie World's White Christmas
The magic of Christmas is alive and well at Warner Bros. Movie World - White Christmas takes festive celebrations to the next level! A transformation has taken place and a wondrous winter wonderland awaits from December 7 - 21 (5.30 - 8.30pm) . Experience Main Street filled with magic, snow and excitement and the Joy to the World parade kicks off with floats from around the world. There’ll be photo opportunities with your fave characters, a selection of rides operating in night mode and plenty of festive feasting on offer, so bring the whole family to celebrate.
A Festive Oasis
It’s time for some festive fun at Oasis Shopping Centre in Broadbeach. Madison’s Café & Patisserie are holding their annual gingerbread house decorating workshops (for grown ups only). Decorate a full size gingerbread house, while sipping eggnog as a professional pastry chef shares pointers and creative inspiration to make your Christmas creation truly special. This event happens on Thursday and Friday nights at 6pm between December 5 - 20.
Runaway Bay Christmas Lights Cruise
Runaway Bay is one of the canal-front suburbs of the Northern Gold Coast and this area is famous for festive spirit and incredible Christmas lights displays. Hop on board a cruise with Beachcomber Charters for a one hour tour of the waterways, getting festive with a glass of Prosecco as you admire the pretty lights and Christmas cheer. Guests can BYO additional drinks too. A delightfully different way to experience community Christmas spirit. The tour departs at 6pm and goes for an hour.
Christmas in Paradise
Christmas shopping is a whole lot more fun at Paradise Centre in Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise. With a wide variety of retail stores to shop at, you can also take a breather and join in some beachfront fun. On December 24 from 2 -6pm enjoy tunes from a live DJ, entertainment from rollerskating reindeers and the centre mascot, Beau the Budgie.
Santa's Putt Putt
For a fun holiday activity that’s great for kids and adults, play a game of Christmas-themed mini golf at The Club at Parkwood Village. The first nine holes have been transformed into a Christmas wonderland! Each hole is adorned with festive decorations - fairy lights, festive decor, snow, bubbles, music and more! Head down for the ultimate festive family fun between November 10 - January 2.
Movies Under the Stars
During December enjoy festive-themed Movies Under the Stars. Pack a picnic dinner, bring blanket and pillows and settle in for an alfresco viewing of Christmas movies including A bOy Called Christmas and Santa Claus 3. This free, family-friendly event takes place at multiple locations including Broadbeach, Paradise Point, Carrara, Pimpama and Southport.
Christmas Cruise
See the beautiful Gold Coast waterways aglow with Christmas lights on a festive season cruise. This boat tour takes you past waterfront homes to admire festive decorations and twinkling lights, reflecting in the canal. Book a with Gold Coast Canal Cruises for a truly enchanting Christmas experience - numbers are limited.
Gold Coast Christmas Markets
For a different take on shopping this Christmas, why not make a conscious choice to support small businesses, creatives and artisans in the community by buying some of your gifts at local Christmas Markets? Here’s some of our favourites.
HOTA Christmas Twilight Markets - Bundall
Tick of your Christmas list at a magical market wonderland filled with cheer and festive fun at HOTA Christmas Twilight Markets. Wind your way through market lanes and browse the region's best gourmet street eats, decadent desserts, bespoke boutiques, and one of a kind gift finds, all under twinkling festoon lights. Enjoy live music and roving entertainment, snap a selfie with an elfie and say hi to Santa who’ll be making an appearance too. The festive fun will take place on Saturday December 21 from 4 - 9pm.
Christmas Markets GC - Broadwater Parklands
Gold Coast’s biggest festive markets will transform Broadwater Parklands into a Christmas wonderland from December 20 - 22, Shop hundreds of stalls at Christmas Markets GC in the shady outdoor venue by day, and wander among trees strewn with enchanting lights at night.
Browse artisanal goods and handcrafted gifts from local small businesses and treat your taste buds to seasonal treats and gourmet eats. There’s lots of live entertainment and fun for kids, as well as decorations, gifts galore, Christmas treats and a visit from Santa who’s arriving via helicopter for free photos!
Dreamworld Night Markets - Coomera
Every Friday and Saturday night from Novemeber 29 - Decemebr 21 you can get into the Christmas spirit at Dreamworld Night Markets. Alongside the usual offering of incredible street food and decadent desserts there’ll be live Christmas tunes, markets stalls selling gifts, Christmas movies on the big screen and other festive fun.
Surfers Paradise Christmas Twilight Market - Surfers Paradise
Pack your biggest Christmas shopping bag for the beachfront Surfers Paradise Christmas Twilight Markets with over 100 stalls sharing all things Christmas along the Surfers Paradise Esplanade on Saturday December 14 from 4 - 9 pm. Find unique gifts to appease hard-to-buy-for family and friends, load up on handmade Christmas decorations, feast at the food stalls and enjoy the free entertainment and Christmas vibe at these beachside markets.
Twilight Christmas Country Market - Tamborine
Dive into a night of fun, food and shopping at Bearded Dragon Hotel on Friday November 29 at the Twilight Christmas Country Market. From 5 - 9pm. Soak up the festive atmosphere, and browse stalls from over 100 local vendors for unique gifts, decorations and Christmassy bits and pieces. There’ll be live music, games and entertainment and farm animals - meet the friendly donkeys, alpacas and goats!
Tugun Lights Up - Tugun
Join in a joyous community celebration at this free, family-friendly event. On Saturday December 7, Toloona Street in Tugun will be filled with festive cheer, entertainment, Christmas market stalls and twinkling lights. Kids will be delighted by arts activities and Christmas characters, including Santa himself. The festivities kick off at 4pm.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Experience Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.