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Christmas in Brisbane City 2024: A Guide for Families this Year

Your guide to the best free events to celebrate Christmas in Brisbane – the most magical time of year. This year, make plans to celebrate ALL of the fabulous FREE festivities our city has to offer!  This is the best list of things to do with kids in Brisbane this Christmas!

The great news is Brisbane’s inner-city will be a magical destination once again this Christmas, hosting free festive celebrations all across the CBD and South Bank. Visiting the city to see the giant Christmas Tree, City Hall lights and other fantastical festive delights are must-do’s on every family’s holiday wish list.

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Each year for 4 weeks Brisbane celebrates Christmas in tinsel-filled style.  There are plenty of free Christmas events so pull out your calendar and pencil in some of these (Christmas) crackers!

Lighting the Brisbane City Christmas Tree | Friday 29 November @ 6:30pm

Lord Mayor's Lighting of the Christmas 2020
Image credit: Visit Brisbane

It’s one of our most favourite traditions. Head to King George Square to watch the lighting of the huge Christmas tree squeezed in with hundreds of other Brisbanites. This year, the Lighting of the Christmas Tree will be held at King George Square from 6.30pm – 7.30pm on Friday 29 November 2024.

The lighting of the 22m-high Christmas tree will be accompanied by special Christmas musical performances to get you in the festive mood. The Brisbane Christmas Tree will be on display from 1 December to early January in King George Square. 

Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols | Saturday 7 December 2024 @ 6pm

christmas in brisbane carols

The Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols return in 2024 to spread joy to the world with a dazzling evening of high kicks and high notes. Hosted by Queensland’s first lady of song, Naomi Price, this world-class evening of entertainment features a breathtaking all-Australian line-up of superstars to be announced in November.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without a few seasonal surprises in store, guaranteeing a tree-mendous night for the whole family.

Tickets are limited, so be sure to reserve your free seats for this popular annual event.

  • Date: Saturday 7 December 2024
  • Time: Gates open 4pm, show starts at 6pm
  • Cost: Entry is $5 (under 18’s get in free!) and bookings are essential to attend.
  • Tickets will be on sale from Tuesday 12 November 2024 via Ticketmaster.
  • Find out more here.

Christmas in the Queen Street Mall | 6 – 24 December 2024

Christmas in the Queen Street Mall

Take a break from your Christmas shopping and enjoy the magic of live festive entertainment throughout Queen Street Mall. Delight in Christmas-themed pop-up performances and captivating roaming acts, offering fun for the whole family! The festive performances and entertainment will be throughout Queen Street Mall. Don’t miss the roving festive fun. From Wednesday 6 December – Sunday 24 December, enjoy Christmas-inspired pop-up performances and roaming entertainment in Queen Street Mall from 11am – 3pm daily and 4.30pm – 8.30pm during late-night trade – so there are plenty of chances to catch the festive fun.

  • When:  6 – 24 December 2024
  • Time: 11am – 3pm daily and 4.30pm – 8.30pm during late night shopping.
  • Find out more here.

City Hall Lights | 6 – 24 December 2024

christmas in brisbane city hall

Experience the magic of Christmas when Brisbane’s iconic City Hall is transformed into a vibrant display of captivating visuals, festive sounds, and a heart-warming story for the whole family to enjoy.

The Lott by Golden Casket is the official partner of City Hall Lights.

The free show occurs every 15 minutes from 7.30pm to midnight daily from 6 – 24 December.

  • Where: Brisbane City Hall
  • Dates: 6 – 24 December 2024
  • Times: Every 15 minutes from 7.30pm to midnight
  • Find out more here.

A Whimsical, Wonderful Christmas Show | 6, 13 & 20 December 2024

A Whimsical, Wonderful Christmas Show

Queen Street Mall unwraps the joy of the holiday season with an enchanting FREE Christmas feature show, ‘A Whimsical, Wonderful Christmas.’ Unwrap the joy of the holiday season with an enchanting Christmas show, brimming with holiday cheer and festive fun for all ages to enjoy. Mark your calendars for Friday, December 6, 13 and 20 when the Main Stage (outside Uptown) will come alive with festive delight. 

  • Where: Queen Street Mall Stage, outside Uptown
  • Dates: 6, 13 & 20 December 2024
  • Times: 5pm – 7.30pm
  • Find out more here.

The Enchanted Garden at Roma Street Parkland | 22 November – 21 December 2024

Enchanted Garden Roma At Parkland

Brisbane’s most anticipated light show, The Enchanted Garden, returns to Roma Street Parkland with a dazzling new experience. Immerse yourself in breathtaking display of lasers, LED tubes, fairy lights, projections, UV lighting, and festive soundscapes.

The Enchanted Garden is a magnificent evening walk, set amid winding pathways bordered by towering trees and lush foliage, lit with the warm glow of mesmerising lights. The lighting trail combines over 8,000 square metres of custom-made lighting, audio, special effects and sculptures to deliver a world-class digital art experience in the heart of Brisbane.

The installation is self-guided and the narrative will take guests around 30 minutes to complete, with entry available every 15 minutes from 6.30pm to last entry at 9.15pm.

Food trucks will also be pulling up nightly on Celebration Lawn and Lakeside Lawn, and The Garden Room cafe will offer two specially curated share-style menus for kids and adults.

  • Where: Roma Street Parkland
  • Dates: Friday 22 November – Saturday 21 December
  • Times: 6.30pm – 9.15pm nightly
  • Cost:
    • $9 (aged 13+ years)
    • $7 (aged 3-12 years)
    • Group ticketing available – $30 for family of four (2 adults & 2 children), $36 for family of five (2 adults & 3 children)
    • Children aged 2 and under: free

You can find out all the details about The Enchanted Garden at Roma Street Parkland here.

Starz Christmas Spectacular | 7 & 8 December, 14 – 24 December 2024

Featuring talented local performers in a spectacular celebration of colour and movement, right in the heart of The City!

  • Dates: 7, 8, 14 – 24 December
  • Times: 5pm & 6pm at Queen Street Mall Stage, 7pm at King George Square
  • Find out more here.

Elf’s Tiny Doors Workshop | Multiple dates

Christmas in Brisbane City 2024: A Guide for Families this Year
Christmas tiny doors

Did you know there are tiny Christmas-themed doors sprinkled throughout the city? You’ve found all the Christmas tiny doors scattered throughout the city, now it’s time to create your very own! Drop by the Queen Street Mall Stage to decorate your own tiny door to take home.

  • Where: Queen Street Mall Stage
  • Dates: 7 & 8 December, 14 & 15 December, 21 & 22 December
  • Times: 10am – 2pm
  • Find out more here.

Sono Lumo – Festive Nights of Sound & Light | 4 – 15 December 2024

The first ever Sono Lumo event, presented by The Star Brisbane, is a show-stopping new, free, and immersive light and sound experience set to modernise Christmas in Brisbane.

Enjoy Carols Rewired every night after sunset, a brilliant audio and lighting performance that will sweep over The Star Brisbane and Queen’s Wharf precinct. With music curated by local DJ sensation Young Franco, this stunning show is an electrifying reimaging of the festive season. A dynamic fusion of loops, synths, beats and bells, and fun twists of Christmas classics. This will occur nightly at 7.30pm, 8.30pm and 9.30pm.

Between the hourly shows, the Sono Lumo precinct transforms with stunning pre-programmed lighting and projections that envelop buildings and stairways in vibrant colours and flowing motion.

  • Where: Queen’s Wharf Brisbane & The Star Brisbane
  • Dates: 4 – 15 December
  • Times: 5pm – 11pm, Carols Rewired at 7.30pm, 8.30pm & 9.30pm nightly
  • Find out more here.

Christmas at South Bank

The Christmas Show at South Bank
The Christmas Show at South Bank

You should definitely add South Bank to your Christmas activities bucket list. There are a huge amount of events on again this year.

  • South Bank Christmas Markets
  • Christmas in the Plaza
  • Santa Photos and Mrs Claus Storytime
  • South Bank Christmas Maze
  • South Bank Christmas Workshops
  • South Bank Nightly Christmas Carols
  • South Bank Open Air Christmas Cinema
  • South Bank Nightly Christmas Parade

Make sure you experience the magic of Christmas at South Bank with your family as Brisbane’s most iconic precinct bursts to life with festive entertainment and activities that will surprise and delight all ages.

We dedicated a whole article to why you should take your kids to South Bank this Christmas here.

RELATED: If you are looking for ideas in other cities check out the Christmas in Australia website!

It’s Christmas time in the city!

Ring a ling! To plan your family outing to the CBD this Christmas, check out the FULL Christmas program in Brisbane when it is released. 

What else is on this Christmas in Brisbane 2024?

We’ve got your comprehensive list of where to see the BEST Christmas lights in Brisbane here.

Wanting to head out to some festive Christmas Markets? We’ll tell you where you can buy the ultimate gifts for your loved ones this Christmas from your local community markets!

If you’re ready to belt out a few carols at one of Brisbane’s many Christmas Carol events read this article.

Photo of author

Janine Mergler

Janine Mergler is a veteran Queensland teacher, graduating from QUT with a BEd majoring in Social Sciences. After many years in the classroom, Janine moved on to academia. She has proudly trained new generations of teachers in her role as a lecturer at Queensland University of Technology Faculty of Education. She has also worked in the Queensland Government as an education specialist, developing education resources and delivering community awareness programs to help families conserve water. Currently she is the owner and editor of Families Magazine, a publication specifically targeted at parents who value a quality education for children.  Janine leads a team of professionals who write about family lifestyle, early childhood, schools and education information and family-friendly events.

6 thoughts on “Christmas in Brisbane City 2024: A Guide for Families this Year”

  1. I can’t find if or when the southbank Christmas fireworks is on? Our family loves going every year but this year i can’t find any information on it. 😥

    Reply
  2. Disappointed that we have to book for the Christmas Twilight markets at King George’s square. I’ve been looking for this markets for the last 6 weeks and finally about 2 weeks ago they showed that the markets were on but they initially did not have to book. Now I looked again today and I found out that they are all booked out. Are all events by booking only or just some. Can someone please explain the difference between, some were you need to book and other activities you don’t. We usually book ourselves a motel room to enjoy these activities as we are country people and live out of town. So we need to know if everything has to be booked before the activities or not so I can book a motel. No use booking a motel if all activities have all ready sold out or booked out.

    Reply

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