Not long now till the man in red suit arrives and you find out if you’ve made the Naughty or Nice List. Here at Lady Brisbane we’ve created a list of a different kind, it’s your go to list of what’s happening this festive season in Brisbane. We hope that by creating this list of what’s on in Brisbane City, South Bank and Roma Street Parkland plus a few other surprises that we’ve helped you to plan when and where to celebrate Christmas in Brisbane 2019 with your loved ones.
What’s Christmas without a visit to the City to see the decorations, watch the Christmas Parade, attend the annual Lighting of the Christmas tree or sing along at the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols. Exciting news this year is that brand new Christmas decorations will be installed in the Queen Street Mall. Other events include –
Lighting of the Christmas Tree – November 29, 6.30pm then lit nightly till Christmas
See Australia’s only solar powered standing tall at 22m in King George Square decorated with thousands of fairy lights and topped with a colourful star, enjoy the festivities as the Lord Mayor turns on the Christmas tree lights
Gold Lotto City Hall Lights – nightly from December 6 to 24, 7.30pm to midnight, every 15 mins
Returning in 2019 with a new Christmas story created by Brisbane Author Samantha Wheeler. See a playful animated Australian Christmas tale come to life onto City Hall in King George Square.
Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols – December 7, program starts at 4.15pm at the City Botanic Gardens Riverstage
Enjoy this free Christmas Carols event performed by a range of singers and entertainers, sing and dance as the stage erupts in an explosion of colour and Christmas celebration.
Christmas Parade – December 13 to 22, 7.00pm
What’s Christmas in Brisbane without the Christmas Parade, see entertainers, singers and dancers and a host of new exciting characters wind their way through the Queen Street Mall to King George Square.
St Stephen’s Cathedral – December 11 to 24, 7.00pm to 10.30pm
See the Lights of Christmas installation at beautiful St Stephen’s Cathedral on Elizabeth Street in a projection which celebrates the true meaning of Christmas and highlights the peace, joy and goodwill of the season adding to the experience will be a selection of carols, a truly magnificent event not to be missed.
South Bank Parklands
South Bank Parklands turns on the Christmas razzle dazzle from December 20 with a sleigh full of festive activities across the Parklands. Not only will the much loved South Bank Arbour be decorated in fairy lights making the perfect Christmas selfie backdrop, but you can also look forward to a Christmas Carol Extravaganza, featuring song, dance, acrobats, ballet performances plus a visit from Santa. There will be 8 shows across 4 nights at 6.45pm and 8pm and entry is $5, tickets available here.
If fireworks are more your style South Bank is the destination to celebrate the colour and excitement of Christmas with their annual Fireworks Spectacular, presented nightly from 8.00pm along the Clem Jones Promenade.
Visit Santa’s Stop Over at Flowstate where you can see Santa sitting in his brightly lit chair and have a photo taken with him nightly from 5.00pm to 9.00pm there will also be Christmas craft and storytelling to enjoy on the Flowstate Lawn area from 4.00pm to 7.00pm
If you need to do some last minute Christmas shopping stop by the Collective Markets on Little Stanley Street and Stanley Street Plaza from December 13 to 19 from 10.00am till 9.00pm and then from December 20 to 23 until 10.00pm.
The Enchanted Garden at Roma Street Parklands
Brisbane’s Roma Street Parklands will once again be transformed into a colourful Enchanted Garden. Wander the winding pathways and see the trees and gardens lit with colourful festive lights, keep an eye out for the especially beautiful series of gardens which have been transformed into a shimmering wonderland, the fairy lit figs trees and twinkling rainforest.
Food trucks will be onsite each night and located on the Celebration Lawn and Lakeside Precinct so you can grab a bite to eat or dine in at the newly opened The Garden Room Cafe.
When – 29 November to 13 December
Hours – 6.00pm until 9.30pm with last entry at 9.15pm
Cost – Free
Christmas Putt Putt at Victoria Park
Victoria Park, Brisbane’s most beautiful putt putt course has been transformed into a Christmas Wonderland. Day or night you can take the little ones or friends, colleagues and relatives and enjoying playing putt putt on the course which has been decorated with fairy lights and shiny baubles and surrounded by Christmas Elves, grazing reindeers, toy soldiers, gingerbread men and Santa himself.
When – 14 November until 24 December
Hours – Christmas Putt Putt is open from 6am to 6pm for daytime playing and then from 6pm to 10pm the Christmas lights are turned on for an extra festive putt putt touch.
Cost – see website
Brisbane Arcade
Visit Brisbane’s oldest and grandest Brisbane Arcade this festive season for a truly magical delight from November 9 to December 24. Take a wander through the Arcade and be mesmerised by the hundreds of twinkling lights, don’t forget to take a festive selfie in front of the Christmas gift box installation.
Love Actually in Concert – Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
The much loved romantic Christmas comedy, Love Actually has been bought to life through the music of the a live orchestra. Hear the full hit soundtrack while the film is projected onto a screen. You can see this event for the first time in Brisbane at the Brisbane Exhibition & Convention Centre on December 12, tickets available through the link above.
Northside Flower Markets Christmas Workshops
Learn to make beautiful festive flower arrangements with Northside Flower Markets for your home, to give as gifts or for the Christmas table. All flowers and materials are provided and you take home your own creation, classes range from NFM long and low table arrangement, Christmas Dried Wreath Workshop, at Sat 30 Nov at 9:30am, Native Bush Bouquet Christmas Workshop, at Sat 7 Dec at 9:30am, Christmas Table Wreath Workshop, at Sat 14 Dec at 9:30am and Christmas Hat Box Arrangement Workshop, at Wed 18 Dec at 9:30am. see website for details and to reserve your place.
The Nutcraker – Queensland Ballet
From December 13 to 21 enjoy the beauty of classical ballet in the Queensland Ballet’s performance of the ionic Christmas classic The Nutcracker. This family favourite will enchant audiences when the gift of a Nutcracker comes to life and wisks the star of the performance, and audiences, away to an enchanting Land of Sweets. For the seventh straight season, Ben Stevenson’s dreamlike choreography and Tchaikovsky’s enduring score will charm all ages. See website link for details and tickets.
Christmas Markets
Why not shop local this Christmas and give a gift from a Brisbane artisan. With the range of Christmas markets happening before December 24, you’ll find a Christmas market close-by, here are a few to get you started BrisStyle Handmade Markets, Christmas Design Market, Christmas on Cribb Twilight Markets, Boho Luxe Market and Coorparoo Christmas Markets.
Take time out during the busy days before Christmas to spend time enjoying and celebrating the magic of Christmas in Brisbane. Let me know where you go and don’t forget to tag me on your social media photos.
You might also be interested in …
Discover Christmas in Ipswich – read more here
Give the gift of Brisbane this Christmas with a Lady Brisbane 2020 Calendar – buy here