🎄 Christmas with the kids on the Gold Coast 2026

53 Christmas things on around the Gold Coast this season: pageants, carols, Santa photos, Christmas lights, markets and workshops, with dates checked against the organiser. Tap one for directions, cost and where the nearest coffee and toilets are.

🎅 Santa photos · 21 🤫 Sensory Santa · 6 🕯️ Carols · 11 ✨ Christmas lights · 54 💸 Free Christmas events · 25 🎭 Shows and workshops · 9

🗺️ Christmas lights map: every display and 51 lit-up houses and streets on one map, tag a house, plan a drive.

Also in: Adelaide (136) Melbourne (127) Sydney (208) Brisbane (130) Sunshine Coast (14) Toowoomba (11) Cairns (7) Townsville (6) Rockhampton (9) Bundaberg (7) Hervey Bay (4) Perth (63) South West WA (7) Albany (3) Kalgoorlie (6)

Open them in the app and swipe through, or play the free Christmas lights hunt on the drive.

Updated 9 November 2026

On now

🎅 Santa on the Beach photos, Belongil Beach Byron Bay

Byron Bay · Sun 8 Nov 4pm, Sat 21 Nov 7:30am, Sun 22 Nov 4pm, Sat 12 Dec 4pm · Paid photo packages from $101 per family group of up to 5 (Elf package); bigger packages $155 to $365

☕ 570m to coffee

🎅 Santa photos at Pacific Fair

Broadbeach · Daily Sat 7 Nov to Thu 24 Dec, booked sessions, 12:30pm to 5pm on day one, 7am to 4:30pm on Christmas Eve · Photo packages from $28.95, booked online

☕ 100m to coffee

🎅 Santa photos at Westfield Coomera

Coomera · Daily Sun 8 Nov to Thu 24 Dec, booked sessions, 11am to 4pm on day one, 7:35am to 4:30pm on Christmas Eve · Photo packages from $28.95, booked online

☕ 190m to coffee

🎅 Santa photos at Robina Town Centre

Robina · Daily Fri 6 Nov to Thu 24 Dec, booked sessions, 10am to 2pm on day one, 7am to 4:30pm on Christmas Eve · Photo packages from $28.95, booked online

☕ 750m to coffee

🎅 Santa photos at Westfield Helensvale

Helensvale · Daily Sun 8 Nov to Thu 24 Dec, booked sessions, 11:30am to 2pm on day one, 7:35am to 5pm on Christmas Eve · Photo packages from $28.95, booked online

☕ 40m to coffee

Coming up

Thu 12 Nov

🎅 Santa photos at The Pines Elanora

Elanora · Thu 12 Nov to Thu 24 Dec, booked sessions outside Aldi · One 6x8 photo $22, packages from $32 (2026 price list)

☕ 1.6km to coffee

Sat 14 Nov

🎅 Sensitive Santa (sensory friendly) at Robina Town Centre

Robina · Sat and Sun mornings 14 Nov to 13 Dec, 7:30am to 9am Saturdays, 7:30am to 10am Sundays (29 Nov and 6 Dec already full) · Photo packages from $28.95, booked online

☕ 750m to coffee

Sun 15 Nov

🎁 Kids Christmas Craft Fair, Pottsville

Pottsville · Sun 15 Nov, 9am to 11:30am · Entry price not listed; young stallholders book a half table

☕ 190m to coffee

Mon 16 Nov

🎅 Santa on the Sand photos at Palm Beach Surf Club

Palm Beach · Mon 16 to Wed 18 Nov, 4pm to 6pm · $28 plus booking fee for a digital photo package

☕ 130m to coffee

Thu 19 Nov

🎅 Santa on the Sand photos at Tugun Surf Club

Tugun · Thu 19 and Fri 20 Nov, 4pm to 6pm · $28 plus booking fee for a digital photo package

☕ 170m to coffee

Fri 20 Nov

🎁 Gaven State School Twilight Christmas Concert & Markets

Oxenford · Fri 20 Nov, 5pm to 8pm · Free entry

Free☕ 1.4km to coffee

Sat 21 Nov

🎁 A Handmade Christmas Festival, Robina

Robina · Sat 21 Nov, 12pm to 6pm · Free entry

Free☕ 1.0km to coffee

Sun 22 Nov

🎅 Santa on the Beach photos, Cabarita Beach

Cabarita Beach · Sun 22 Nov and Sat 12 Dec, morning sessions from 8am · Paid photo packages from $101 per family group of up to 5 (Elf package); bigger packages $155 to $365

☕ 90m to coffee

Thu 26 Nov

🎅 Santa photos at Tweed City

Tweed Heads South · Daily Thu 26 Nov to Thu 24 Dec, booked sessions, 10am to 2pm on day one, 8am to 4:30pm on Christmas Eve · Photo packages from $28.95, booked online

☕ 40m to coffee

Sat 28 Nov

🎅 Sensitive Santa (sensory friendly) at Westfield Helensvale

Helensvale · Sat 28 Nov, 7am to 9am · Photo packages from $28.95, booked online

☕ 40m to coffee

🎅 Santa photos at Stockland Burleigh Heads

Burleigh Heads · Daily Sat 28 Nov to Thu 24 Dec, booked sessions, 10am to 12pm on day one, 9am to 5pm on Christmas Eve · Photo packages from $28.95, booked online

☕ 70m to coffee

🎄 Santa's Arrival and Buggy Parade, Sanctuary Cove

Hope Island · Sat 28 Nov, from 10am · Free to watch

Free☕ 980m to coffee

🎅 Santa photos at Runaway Bay Centre

Runaway Bay · Daily Sat 28 Nov to Thu 24 Dec, booked sessions, 10:30am to 2pm on day one, 8am to 5pm on Christmas Eve · Photo packages from $28.95, booked online

☕ 1.3km to coffee

🕯️ Mayor's Christmas Carols at HOTA, Surfers Paradise

Surfers Paradise · Sat 28 and Sun 29 Nov: parklands from 4pm, main show 6pm to 8:30pm with fireworks · Free

Free☕ 440m to coffee

🕯️ Runaway Bay Carols by Candlelight

Runaway Bay · Sat 28 Nov, 5pm to 8pm, fireworks at 8pm · Free

Free☕ 730m to coffee

⭐ Movies Under the Stars: The Polar Express, Surfers Paradise

Surfers Paradise · Sat 28 Nov, movie at 7pm · Free

Free☕ 60m to coffee

Tue 1 Dec

✨ Hinterland Baptist Church Christmas lights, Worongary

Worongary · December evenings after dark; hours not published · Free

Thu 3 Dec

🎅 Santa photos at Australia Fair

Southport · Daily Thu 3 Dec to Thu 24 Dec, 10am to 4pm · Photo packages from $15

☕ 110m to coffee

🕯️ North Burleigh Carols by the Sea, Miami

Miami · Thu 3 Dec, 4pm to 8pm, carols from 6pm · Free

Free☕ 10m to coffee

Sat 5 Dec

🎅 Sensitive Santa (sensory friendly) at Pacific Fair

Broadbeach · Sat 5 Dec, 7:30am to 9am · Photo packages from $28.95, booked online

☕ 100m to coffee

🎅 Santa Breakfast Cruise, Sanctuary Cove

Hope Island · Sat 5 Dec, Sat 12 Dec and Mon 21 Dec: board 7:30am, cruise 8am to 9:30am · $120 per person (adults and children over 1), under 12 months free

☕ 980m to coffee

🕯️ Pacific Pines Christmas Carols

Pacific Pines · Sat 5 Dec, 4pm to 8pm · Not stated; kids face painting is free

☕ 180m to coffee

🎪 Tugun Lights Up Christmas street party

Tugun · Sat 5 Dec, 4pm to 8pm · Free

Free☕ 220m to coffee

🎪 Christmas at Frascott, Varsity Lakes

Varsity Lakes · Sat 5 Dec, 5pm to 8pm · Free

Free☕ 320m to coffee

🕯️ Christmas Saturdays on the Village Green, Mudgeeraba

Mudgeeraba · Sat 5 Dec 6:30pm to 8:30pm; Sat 12 and Sat 19 Dec 5:30pm to 7:30pm · Free

Free☕ 100m to coffee

Sun 6 Dec

🎅 Sensitive Santa (sensory friendly) at Tweed City

Tweed Heads South · Sun 6 Dec, 8am to 10am · Photo packages from $28.95, booked online

☕ 40m to coffee

🎅 Sensitive Santa (sensory friendly) at Stockland Burleigh Heads

Burleigh Heads · Sun 6, Sun 20 Dec, 9am to 10am (Sun 20 Dec 8am to 9am) · Photo packages from $28.95, booked online

☕ 70m to coffee

🕯️ NRSO Christmas Festival and community carols, Tweed Heads

Tweed Heads · Sun 6 Dec, 2:30pm to 4:30pm NSW time (1:30pm Qld time) · $0 to $40 (ticket types not specified)

☕ 530m to coffee

🎨 Gingerbread House Kids Workshop, Bundall

Bundall · Sun 6 Dec, 2pm · $95

☕ 250m to coffee

⭐ Surfers Paradise Christmas Flicks & Fireworks on the beach

Surfers Paradise · Sundays 6, 13 and 20 Dec: markets from 4pm, movie 7pm, fireworks 8pm · Free

Free☕ 40m to coffee

🎪 Alicia Street Christmas Fair, Southport

Southport · Sun 6 Dec, 4:30pm to 7:30pm · Free

Free☕ 600m to coffee

Thu 10 Dec

🕯️ Carols on the Lawn & Christmas Market, Sanctuary Cove

Hope Island · Thu 10 Dec: market from 4pm, carols 5pm to 8pm, fireworks 8pm · Free

Free☕ 980m to coffee

Sat 12 Dec

🎅 Sensitive Santa (sensory friendly) at Runaway Bay Centre

Runaway Bay · Sat 12 Dec, 8am to 10am · Photo packages from $28.95, booked online

☕ 1.3km to coffee

🎁 Broadwater Christmas Twilight market, Southport

Southport · Sat 12 Dec, 3pm to 9pm · Free entry; jumping castle and magic craft have a small fee

Free☕ 70m to coffee

✨ Mermaid Waters Christmas Park Party and Flotilla of Lights

Mermaid Waters · Sat 12 Dec, 5pm to 8pm · Free

Free☕ 1.3km to coffee

🕯️ Palm Beach Christmas Carols

Palm Beach · Sat 12 Dec, 5pm to 8pm · Free

Free☕ 80m to coffee

🕯️ Varsity Carols by the Lake, Varsity Lakes

Varsity Lakes · Sat 12 Dec, 5pm to 8pm · Free

Free☕ 130m to coffee

Sun 13 Dec

🎅 Santa on the Beach photos, New Brighton

New Brighton · Sun 13 Dec, morning sessions from 8am · Paid photo packages from $101 per family group of up to 5 (Elf package); bigger packages $155 to $365

☕ 750m to coffee

🎅 Santa on the Beach photos, Brunswick Heads

Brunswick Heads · Sun 13 Dec, afternoon sessions from 3pm · Paid photo packages from $101 per family group of up to 5 (Elf package); bigger packages $155 to $365

☕ 120m to coffee

🕯️ Cooly Carols, Coolangatta

Coolangatta · Sun 13 Dec, 5:30pm to 7:30pm · Free

Free☕ 220m to coffee

Mon 14 Dec

⭐ Christmas in Broadbeach gingerbread village

Broadbeach · Daily Mon 14 to Sun 20 Dec, 10am to 4pm · Free (storytime theatre needs booking)

Free☕ 50m to coffee

Tue 15 Dec

🕯️ Carols by the Coast, Kingscliff

Kingscliff · Tue 15 Dec, 6:30pm to 8:30pm NSW time · Free

Free☕ 40m to coffee

Thu 17 Dec

🎭 The Greatest Christmas Show at HOTA, Surfers Paradise

Surfers Paradise · Thu 17 Dec, 4pm and 7:30pm (1 hr 50 mins with interval) · $37.90 to $79.90

☕ 440m to coffee

Fri 18 Dec

⭐ Coomera Christmas Flicks & Fireworks

Coomera · Fri 18 and Sat 19 Dec: from 5:30pm, movie 7pm, fireworks 8:30pm · Free

Free☕ 620m to coffee

⭐ Movies Under the Stars: Elf, Kurrawa Park Broadbeach

Broadbeach · Fri 18 Dec, open from 6pm, movie 7pm · Free

Free☕ 140m to coffee

Sat 19 Dec

🎪 Christmas at Greenheart, Robina

Robina · Sat 19 Dec, 4pm to 8pm, performances from 5pm · Free

Free☕ 1.4km to coffee

Sun 20 Dec

🕯️ Currumbin Christmas Carols, Currumbin Waters

Currumbin Waters · Sun 20 Dec, 5pm to 7:30pm · Free

Free☕ 1.1km to coffee

Mon 21 Dec

🧩 Motiv8sports Christmas multi-sport day for kids 6 to 12, Robina

Robina · Mon 21 Dec, 8:30am to 3:30pm · $70

☕ 800m to coffee