Kids & Coffee Open the app

What's on for kids on the Gold Coast

Upcoming kids and family events around the Gold Coast: school holiday activities, free events, shows and markets. Updated all the time by local parents (and a helpful AI).

🎄 All 53 Christmas things on around the Gold Coast: pageants, carols, Santa photos and lights · 🎒 School holidays

Sat 12 Sept
🖼️ Minna Gilligan: True Colours in HOTA's Children's Gallery
Surfers Paradise · On now to 28 Feb 2027, gallery hours · Entry price not listed on the HOTA page, check before you go
☕ 400m to coffee
Fri 6 Nov
⭐ Mini Museum Explorers at Tweed Regional Museum, Murwillumbah
Murwillumbah · Fridays 6 and 13 Nov, 10am to 10:30am · Free, no booking needed
Free☕ 600m 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
Sat 7 Nov
🎅 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
Sun 8 Nov
🎅 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 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
 🎅 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
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
Fri 13 Nov
🎪 Murwillumbah After Dark film and night festival
Murwillumbah · Fri 13 Nov 4pm to 11:30pm, Sat 14 Nov 10am to 11:30pm, Sun 15 Nov 10am to 10pm · Mix of free and ticketed events
☕ 70m 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
 🎨 ArtLab Cyanotypes kids workshop at HOTA Gallery
Surfers Paradise · Sat 14 Nov, 10:30am to 11:30am · $20 per child, includes a parent or carer
☕ 400m 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
🎨 Little ArtLab invisible ink art session for 3 to 5s at HOTA
Surfers Paradise · Fri 20 Nov, 10:30am to 11:30am · $15 per child, includes a parent or carer
☕ 400m to coffee
 🎁 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
 🎭 Movies Under the Stars: Minions & Monsters at Palm Beach Parklands
Palm Beach · Sat 21 Nov, kids activities and food trucks from 5pm, movie at 7pm · Free
Free☕ 0m 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
Sun 29 Nov
🎭 Flicks & Fireworks: The Bad Guys 2 on Surfers Paradise beach
Surfers Paradise · Sun 29 Nov, movie at 7pm, fireworks over the ocean at 8pm · Free
Free☕ 80m to coffee
Tue 1 Dec
✨ Hinterland Baptist Church Christmas lights, Worongary
Worongary · December evenings after dark; hours not published · Free
Free
Wed 2 Dec
🎨 Gallery Playdate for 3 to 5s at Tweed Regional Gallery
Murwillumbah South · Wed 2 Dec, 9am to 10am · Free, booking essential
Free☕ 50m to coffee
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
 🎪 Cowboys & Country Day at Historic Rivermill
Mount Nathan · Sat 5 Dec, 8am to 3pm · Free entry, parking $5; turtle feeding $12, mechanical bull $10
Free
 🖼️ Brickman Wonders of the World LEGO exhibition at HOTA
Surfers Paradise · Daily 5 Dec to 2 May 2027, from 10am (last entry tickets 3pm) · Tickets $17 to $23
☕ 400m 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
 ⭐ Artmaking for Everyone free drop-in at Tweed Regional Gallery
Murwillumbah South · 12 Dec to 14 Feb 2027, 10am to 4pm on gallery open days · Free, no booking needed
Free☕ 50m 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
 🎭 Movies Under the Stars at Pimpama Sports Hub
Pimpama · Sat 12 Dec, activities and food trucks from 5pm, movie at 7pm · Free, no tickets needed
Free☕ 580m 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
🎁 Mini Marketeers kids market at HOTA
Surfers Paradise · Sun 20 Dec, 9am to 12pm · Free to visit; free stalls for young sellers, register by 20 Nov
Free☕ 400m to coffee
 🕯️ 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
Sun 27 Dec
🎭 Flicks & Fireworks: Paddington in Peru on Surfers Paradise beach
Surfers Paradise · Sun 27 Dec, movie at 7pm, fireworks at 8pm · Free
Free☕ 80m to coffee
Wed 30 Dec
🧩 Raft Building holiday program for 6 to 9s, Palm Beach
Palm Beach · Wed 30 Dec, 8:30am to 11am (also runs Fri 15 Jan) · $50 per child
☕ 0m to coffee
Thu 31 Dec
🎪 Miami Twilight NYE family party at Thorn Park
Miami · Thu 31 Dec, 4pm to 8pm · Free
Free☕ 420m to coffee
 🎪 New Year's Eve by the Lake family fireworks, Varsity Lakes
Varsity Lakes · Thu 31 Dec, 5:30pm to 8:30pm, fireworks over Lake Orr at 8:30pm · Free
Free☕ 130m to coffee
Sat 2 Jan
🎭 Movies Under the Stars at Pratten Park, Broadbeach
Broadbeach · Sat 2 Jan, gates 6pm, movie 7pm to 8:30pm · Free, no tickets needed
Free☕ 270m to coffee
Sat 9 Jan
🎭 Movies Under the Stars: The SpongeBob Movie at Bim'Bimba Park, Pimpama
Pimpama · Sat 9 Jan, kids activities and face painting from 5pm, movie at 7pm · Free
Free☕ 200m to coffee
Fri 15 Jan
🧩 Raft Building holiday program for 6 to 9s, Palm Beach
Palm Beach · Fri 15 Jan, 8:30am to 11am (also runs Wed 30 Dec) · $50 per child
☕ 0m to coffee
Tue 19 Jan
🎭 Sleeping Beauty ballet by Brisbane City Youth Ballet at HOTA
Surfers Paradise · Tue 19 Jan, 3pm and 6:30pm shows (1 hr 42 incl. interval) · $50 to $65
☕ 400m to coffee
Wed 20 Jan
🎭 Abracadabra family magic show at HOTA
Surfers Paradise · Wed 20 Jan, 11am (1 hour) · $29.90 to $49.90
☕ 400m to coffee
Fri 22 Jan
🎨 Mask Play art workshop for 7 to 12s at Tweed Regional Gallery
Murwillumbah South · Fri 22 Jan, 10:30am to 12:30pm · $25 plus booking fee, materials included
☕ 50m to coffee
Sun 24 Jan
🎭 K-Pop Neon Warriors family show at HOTA
Surfers Paradise · Sun 24 Jan 4pm; Mon 25 Jan 12pm and 4pm (2 hrs incl. interval) · $55 to $59.50
☕ 400m to coffee
Fri 29 Jan
🎭 Movies Under the Stars at Albert Park, Broadbeach Waters
Broadbeach Waters · Fri 29 Jan, gates 6pm, movie 7pm to 8:30pm · Free, no tickets needed
Free☕ 1.1km to coffee