10 of the best FREE events on the Gold Coast this December.
10 of the best FREE events on the Gold Coast this December.
The Gold Coast is bringing the festive vibes all December long with a lineup of free events that’ll have you jingling all the way to January, and that’s a sleigh – I mean, slay – if you ask us. From carols by the sea to twinkling lights and NYE celebrations, there’s no shortage of things to do under the scorching Aussie summer sun and bonus, they’re all FREE. Yep, who doesn’t want some free fun at Christmas time, because those presents aren’t paying for themselves am I right?
Whether you’re decking the halls, chasing twinkling lights, or kicking back to carols by the sea, December on the Gold Coast has something for everyone. Mark your calendars and get ready for a holly jolly good time!
Christmas at Frascott
Kick off the festivities for December with this family-friendly celebration at Frascott Park. Expect four hours of holiday cheer, live Christmas carols, a laser show and plenty of kid-friendly activities to keep the little ones entertained. Pack a picnic blanket, grab some festive treats, and get into the holiday spirit.
Where: Frascott Park, Varsity Lakes
When: Sunday 1st December
North Burleigh Carols by the Sea
Swap the snow for sand and join the beachside festivities at North Burleigh. With the sounds of classic carols filling the summer air, it’s a quintessential Gold Coast way to get the holiday cheer going strong. Don’t forget to bring a chair or blanket to settle in for the evening because the fun doesn’t stop until late.
Where: Ed Hardy Park, North Burleigh
When: Thursday 5th December
Tugun Lights Up
Get ready to be dazzled as Tugun Lights Up returns with a magical mix of live entertainment, festive lights, and delicious street eats. This street-and-park event will have your Instagram feed looking very merry and bright – literally. Stay late for the show-stopping light displays, because what’s Christmas if you aren’t having a sticky beak at all the pretty lights?
When: Saturday 7th December
Where: Toolona Street, Tugun
Alicia Street Christmas Fair
It’s all about good vibes and great company at the Alicia Street Christmas Fair. Think live carollers and dancers, market stalls, and festive eats, you might even be able to pick up some goodies from the market stalls to pop in a certain someone’s stocking. The pop up playground and inflatable fun are all you need to get the whole fam into the Christmas groove.
Where: Ron Short Park, Southport
When: Saturday 7th December
Carols by the Lake
Picture this: Santa whipping out some sick stunts on a jet ski while you listen to your favourite Christmas tunes and chow down on fare from the epic food stalls. Sounds like something that passes the vibe check. Overlooking Lake Orr, there’s no better place to get the gang together to hang out and watch the fireworks light up the sky and the water.
When: Saturday 14th December
Where: Varsity Waterfront Stage, Varsity Lakes
The Village Markets Christmas Pop-Up – Round One
Your fave boutique market is back with a festive twist! You’ll be able to browse the bespoke gifts and listen to the laidback live tunes—all while supporting local makers and artisans, while all the big stores you need for those other bits and bobs are right upstairs. It’s Christmas shopping but make it fun.
Where: The Promenade, Robina Town Centre, Robina
When: Thursday, 12th December
Currumbin Christmas Carols
Celebrate Christmas Currumbin-style with a cozy evening of carols in the park. With a picturesque backdrop and of course fun for the whole family, what better way to spend some time awaiting the big guy in red’s arrival. The good news is you won’t have to wait too long, because Santa said he’s popping in to say g’day and make sure you’re going the right way to be on the nice list – which of course we already know you are, right?
Where: Galleon Park, Currumbin Waters
When: Monday, 16th December
The Village Markets Christmas Pop-Up – Round Two
Did someone say encore? Yeah that’s right, a market so nice they brought it back TWICE Back by popular demand, The Village Markets’ second Christmas pop-up will be your last chance to grab last-minute gifts – you know the kind that not every man and his dog have under the tree – so don’t miss out on your bespoke bits and pieces. Pro tip: come hungry because there’s food you won’t want to miss out on.
Where: The Promenade, Robina Town Centre, Robina
When: Thursday, 19th December
NYE by the Lake
Say thank you and goodbye to 2024 as Varsity gears up for another iconic NYE celebration by the water. Perfect for families, the event channels laid back vibes with live music, food trucks, and all-ages-fun so you can ring in the new year without the late-night fuss. Don’t miss the fireworks at 8.30pm, perfect for little ones (or big ones, no judgement) are guaranteed to be snoozing by 9pm.
Where: Varsity Waterfront Stage, Varsity Lakes
When: Tuesday, 31st December
Robina Town Centre NYE at Our Place
2025 called and they said they’ve found the ultimate spot for you to celebrate the year that was and what’s to come, and it’s got to be with an epic street party on The Promenade at Robina Town Centre. With five hours of live entertainment, delicious eats, and plenty of festive cheer – fireworks too! – it’s the perfect spot for a fun (and free) night out.
Where: The Promenade, Robina Town Centre, Robina
When: Tuesday, 31st December 2024
Words by Jacqueline Bojanowski
STORY SPONSORED BY THE EVENTS AGENCY
Get ready to jingle your way from Coomera to Coolangatta and all the way till Christmas with the City of Gold Coast’s lineup of dashing festive events. Then, a host of spectacular New Year’s Eve events to back it up!
Here’s where you can get amongst allll the advent action on the Coast this year. Ho ho hope you can make it.
Mayor’s Christmas Carols
Is there anything more spirit-lifting than singing along to your favourite Christmas classics, being performed live under a blanket of stars- we don’t think so! One fine place to do just that is at the Mayor’s Christmas Carols at HOTA. Get ready for an incredible lineup of artists, kid’s shows, and a special visit from Santa himself! To top it all off, breathtaking fireworks to close out an epic evening of hard-core carolling.
Where: HOTA Outdoor Stage,135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise
When: Saturday 30 November 2024. Gates open at 4pm.
Cooly Carols
Don’t say you’ve never experienced THE Cooly Carols?! One of the jolliest Christmas carol extravaganzas on the Coast?! It has families dashing from all distances to experience its legendary spectacle held at Queen Elizabeth Park. Enjoy an array of fabulous festivities, from live performances of your most-loved Christmas carols, a delicious assortment of sweet and savoury food trucks, and a dazzling fireworks display.
Where: Queen Elizabeth Park, 60 Marine Parade, Coolangatta
When: Sunday 8 December, 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Carols in Coomera
If you’re not a northern Gold Coast resident, don’t let that stop you from heading a little further up to experience the delightful Carols in Coomera. Be serenaded by the quintessential sounds of Christmas- we’re crossing our fingers for a fat dose of Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey. Get the gang together for a fabulous night of Noel!
Where: Coomera Sports Park, 53 Beattie Rd, Coomera
When: Saturday 14 December, 4.30pm – 6.30pm
Carols on the Beach
You can’t get it more Gold Coast than shouting the lyrics to “Last Christmas” (WHAM version) in your sandals on the shores of Surfers Paradise. Sounds like a recipe for a damn good time if you ask us. Carols on the Beach is a free and family-fun-packed event featuring a soon-to-be-announced lineup of special guest performances. Also, Santa has just announced he will be making one last special stop before his busy Christmas night! Will it be Carol’s on the Beach (psst, the answer is yes)?! Then, a firework finale to finish.
Where: Surfers Paradise Beach, Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise
When: Sunday 15 December, 5.00pm – 8.00pm
Christmas in Broadbeach
Broadbeach Mall is gearing up for a unique Christmas transformation! Set your countdown calendar for December 14 for its grand reveal of the soon-to-be HQ of festive fun- all for our merrymaking pleasure. Think gingerbread decorating, Christmas crafts, storytime, and tons more free kids’ entertainment! Sounds like an ideal way to fill up the school holiday calendar with festive cheer!
Where: 75 Surf Parade, Broadbeach
When: Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 December 2024
New Year’s Eve
Say farewell to the holiday season, and ring in the brand new year with ‘a bang’ with everyone’s favourite time honoured NYE tradition… fireworks!
There’ll be a plethora of GC park part-ays where we can convene for ‘oohs’ and ‘aaahs’ a plenty. Catch the various fireworks displays, with family friendly shows slated for Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise at 8pm, or Coolangatta at 9pm – before they all fire again for the big shebang as the clock officially strikes 12 on 2024.
Where: Fireworks: Kurrawa Beachfront, Broadbeach – 8pm & midnight, Kirra, Coolangatta – 9pm & midnight, Surfers Paradise Beach – 8pm & midnight. Community Celebration: Coomera Sports Park, Coomera – 5pm to 8pm.
When: Tuesday 31 December 2024
And that’s a wrap on another cracker season of fun-filled GC festivities for 2024, folks. Which is just as well – after all that we’ll need to channel our inner Dad à la Boxing Day and “rest our eyes” in front of the telly for wee bit.
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
STORY SPONSORED BY CITY OF GOLD COAST
Ahhh The Oasis. It’s an OG GC icon and the gift that keeps on giving.
Let’s set the scene; sunny summer days, the smell of Christmas in the air, a surfing Santa waiting for his viral moment and you winning your share of $10k of prizes.
Yup, it’s the latter that got you wasn’t it: $10k!!! #booya! With this sort of bounty on the line, it’s the strawberry on top of the pavlova to get you dashing through the doors of this local institution to tick off that gift list.
So, how does it work? The three S’s of course; Snap, Share and Shine!
SNAP a pic at the Level 1 Surfing Santa Display (because, seriously, how often do you see the jolly guy shredding the waves instead of sliding down chimneys?).
SHARE the pic on social media, making sure to tag The Oasis with the hashtag #SnapShareShine.
And most importantly, you’ll SHINE like the star on top of the Christmas tree by going into the draw to win a slice of the $10,000 prize pool. Kaching!
What’s in said sparkly prize pool you ask? Well, how does a $2,500 Ocean Pacific Resort accommodation voucher sound for your post-festivities recovery because let’s be real, we all need a vacay to get over the silly season. Or maybe one of the $100 gift vouchers from your fave Oasis retailers is more your style. Either way it’s beginning to look a lot like…winning!
Besides the whole winning thing, The Oasis has everything you need to make your Christmas shopping a breeze. Whether you’re shopping for your trendy bestie, your hard-to-please cousin, or treating yourself (you’ve been good this year, after all), this place has it all wrapped up for you. From fab fashion finds to those all-important stocking stuffers and a plethora of tasty treats to fuel your gift-buying marathon – it’s all under one roof.
Level 1 at The Oasis is the perfect place to shop for the people in your life who have everything. TWFINEART brings fine art to life with contemporary, museum-quality prints, while Sole Integrity is trusted for top-notch footwear. For stylish beach and resort wear, Henley Collections and C Water Classics offer breezy fashion that captures the Gold Coast vibe. Stalwart fave Cotton On has all the latest trends, while Gearbox Boutique and Change Alley stock exclusive brands you won’t find everywhere. It’s like Santa’s workshop, but, you know… with air conditioning.
Mark your calendars because this offer is available for a good time, not a long time (1 November to 20 December to be exact). That gives you plenty of time to plan your festive outfits, rally your squad for a selfie sesh, and start plotting what you’ll do with those prizes. Just remember, the more you snap, the better your chances to win.
Not only will you snag those Christmas essentials, but you’ll also be making memories, upping your social media game, and potentially walking away with some sleighing prizes.
So, grab your sunnies, don your lairiest Christmas shirt (the cornier, the better), and get snapping at The Oasis coz this Christmas, it’s all about shopping, shining, and winning! In that exact order.
Where: 75 Surf Parade, Broadbeach
When: Friday 1 November – Friday 20 December
Words by Bianca Trathen
STORY SPONSORED BY THE OASIS
While many parts of the world are bundled up in winter coats, here in Australia, we’re lucky enough to unwrap the Christmas spirit in our sun-soaked paradise. Celebrating in summer feels as natural as sand between our toes and Sanctuary Cove shares this sentiment where all December long this favourite holiday hotspot is set to transform into a wonderland bursting with magic, merriment and memory-making opportunities.
It’s snow joke – Sanctuary Cove is the place to eat, drink, shop and be merry this silly season! Gigantic Christmas decorations are tree-mendously eye-catching, offering the perfect backdrop for those festive selfies. Whether you’re strolling through the sparkling lights, shopping for those last minute presents, or capturing a memorable moment with your loved ones, these festive activities will definitely light up your social media feed (and your heart).
Santa Photos
Here’s the claus you’ve been waiting for: Santa is making his list and checking it twice at Sanctuary Cove! From 7th to 15th of December, head to Shop 41H on Quay Street for a sleigh-load of fun. Santa’s ready to pose for photos with kids, families and even your furry friends – because pets deserve to be paws-itively festive too! Don’t miss the special sleigh sessions along the boardwalk on Friday 13th December for an extra ho-ho-holiday treat.
When: 12pm – 3pm Saturday 7th, 8th, 12th, 14th and – 15th December, 6:30pm – 8:30pm Friday 13th December (on the Santa Sleigh along the boardwalk). Pet sessions are available on 7th, 8th, 12th, 14th & 15th December from 2pm-3pm.
Dogs of Sanctuary Cove 2025 calendar
Move over firemen, Sanctuary Cove has created a Dogs of Sanctuary Cove 2025 Calendar to be sold at the annual Carols on the Lawn event. Featuring furry friends who reside within Sanctuary Cove, all proceeds from the sale of the calendar will go to the local Animal Welfare League.
Christmas Carols
Carrol the whole family and jingle all the way to Sanctuary Cove for Carols on the Lawn on Thursday 12th December. Held on the Marina Lawns, this free event is packed with holiday spirit. Sing along to Christmas classics under the stars, watch the decked-out Buggy Parade hosted by the Rotary Club of Hope Island, and end the evening with a firework display that’s sure to be lit. Arrive early to snag your spot on the grass – this event is as popular as Santa himself and fills up fast!
When: From 4.30pm Thursday 12th December
A true Aussie Christmas is a yule-nique celebration that’s as much about enjoying the great outdoors as it is about savouring the timeless traditions. So, gather your nearest and dearest to soak up the festive season at Sanctuary Cove.
Where: 4601 Masthead Way, Hope Island
When: 1st – 31st December
Words by Lisette Drew
STORY SPONSORED BY SANCTUARY COVE
