People looking at tent selling Christmas-themed items

Festive fun in the country - what's on in December

If you've never experienced the festive season in a rural town or country community, then you're in for a real treat. The pace is a bit slower and the smiles are warmer, that's the beauty of it, where most locals know Santa by his first name! A country Christmas weekend away will remind you what this season is really about - taking the time to share special moments with loved ones.

Try something different this December with a country drive to Queensland Country to enjoy Carols by Candlelight and any number of festive parades, light shows, street parties and fireworks, beginning just over an hour from Brisbane. The more the merrier at this time of year and with a warm country welcome waiting, we invite you to spend a weekend with us under glittering stars with the vast night skies above.

A not-so-silent night for the family? Carols under a starry sky beckons

Pack a hamper and gather the troops for a sublime country experience at one of these Christmas Carol events – just remember to bring something warm, as temperatures can drop once the sun sets over the hills.

Sunday 24 November 2024

Cecil Plains Carols by Candlelight

  • When: From 5.30pm 
  • Where: The Stables - Cecil Plains Homestead

Saturday 30 November 2024

Lockyer Valley Mayoral Christmas Carols 

  • When: From 5.30pm 
  • Where: Gatton Shire Hall

Sunday 1 December 2024

Goondiwindi Carols by Candlelight

  • When: From 6pm
  • Where: Goondiwindi Botanic Gardens

Carols at Oakey Historical Museum

  • When: From 4pm
  • Where Oakey Historical Museum

Tuesday 3 December 2024

Marist College Emerald Carols by Candlelight

  • When: From 6pm
  • Where: Marist College Emerald
Aerial view of a park filled with Christmas lights and various activities.
Toowoomba Christmas Wonderland, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region

Friday 6 December 2024

Stanthorpe Christmas Carols

  • When: From 6pm
  • Where: Weeroona Park, Stanthorpe

Saturday 7 December 2024
 

Allora Bush Christmas and Carols

  • When: From 2pm
  • Where: Herbert Street, Allora

Sunday 8 December 2024

Hot Hawaiian Lakeside Christmas Carols

  • When: From 3pm
  • Where: Lake Broadwater Recreation Reserve

Westbrook Community Carols

  • When: From 4pm
  • Where: Westbrook Community Hall

Toowoomba Mayoral Carols by Candlelight 

  • When: From 6pm
  • Where: Queens Park Botanic Gardens, Toowoomba

Warwick Christmas Carols

  • When: From 6pm
  • Where: Leslie Park, Warwick

Emerald Community Christmas Carols

  • When: From 6pm
  • Where: St Patrick's School Oval, Emerald

Sunday 22 December 2024

Bunyas Christmas Carols

  • When: From 5pm
  • Where: Dandabah Day Use Area, Bunya Mountains
People walking through bright Christmas light displays in a park at night.
Toowoomba Christmas Wonderland, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region

Lights! Cameras! Festivities! Don’t miss these carnival-style Christmas events

Come and experience how we celebrate Christmas in the Country, with balmy summer nights making for perfect twilight festivities, where the stars are shining as brightly as the warm country hospitality.

Saturday 16 November - Sunday 22 December 

Santa Visits the Farm

  • When: From 10am every weekend
  • Where: Granite Belt Christmas Farm

Saturday 23 November 2024

Coominya Christmas Carnival

  • When: From 5pm 
  • Where: Pailway Park, Coominya

Countdown to Christmas

  • When: From 3pm
  • St John's Anglican Church, Dalby

Friday 29 - Saturday 30 November and Friday 6 - Saturday 7 December 2024

Christmas in the Grove

  • When: From 5.30pm
  • Where: Bunnyconnellen, Crows Nest

Friday 29 November

Laidley Christmas Carnival 

  • When: From 6pm
  • Where: Laidley CBD

Saturday 30 November 

Glamorgan Vale Christmas Carnival

  • When: From 5pm
  • Where: Glamorgan Vale Community Hall

Sunday 1 December 2024

Kilcoy Community Christmas Tree Lighting

  • When: From 5:30pm
  • Where: Kilcoy Yowie Park

Thursday 5 December 2024

Dalby Christmas Street Party

  • When: From 5pm
  • Where: Cunningham Street, Dalby

Saturday 7 - Tuesday 24 December 2024

Toowoomba Christmas Wonderland 

  • When: From 7pm nightly
  • Where: Queens Park Botanic Gardens, Toowoomba

Saturday 7 December 2024

Miles Christmas Celebration

  • When: From 4pm 
  • Where: Centenary Oval, Miles

Christmas in the Park

  • When: From 4pm 
  • Where: Yarraman Errol Munt Sports Ground

Chinchilla Christmas Celebration

  • When: From 4pm 
  • Where: Chinchilla Botanic Parkland

Cecil Plains Christmas Carnival

  • When: from 4pm 
  • Where: Cecil Plains Recreation Grounds

Jingle & Mingle Community BBQ

  • When: From 3pm
  • Where: Grantham

Kilcoy Christmas Carnival

  • When: From 5pm
  • Where: Seib Street, Kilcoy

Friday 13 December 2024

Christmas in Crows Nest

  • When: From 5pm
  • Where: Crows Nest Showgrounds

Forest Hill Christmas Festivities

  • When: From 5.30pm
  • Where: Victora Street, Forest Hill
Man kneeling down and looking up at pine tree.
Granite Belt Christmas Tree Farm, Stanthorpe, Southern Downs & Granite Belt

Saturday 14 December 2024

Christmas By The Creek

  • When: From 3pm
  • Where: Ma Ma Creek Community Hall & Grounds

Toogoolawah Christmas Tree Carnival

  • When: From 4pm
  • Where: Cressbrook Street, Toogoolawah

Cambooya Community Christmas Party

  • When: From 4pm
  • Where: Cambooya Recreation Grounds

Tara Community Christmas Celebration

  • When: From 5.30pm
  • Where: Jack Chappell Oval, Tara

Murphy's Creek Christmas Social

  • When: From 5.30pm
  • Where: Murphy's Creek Grounds

Sunday 15 December 2024

Xmas at the Hall

  • When: From 11am
  • Where: Lockyer Waters Community Hall

Friday 20 December 2024

Lockyer Valley Christmas Carnival

  • When: From 5.30pm
  • Where: North Street, Gatton

Tuesday 24 December 2024

Goondiwindi Christmas Eve Celebrations

  • When: From 6pm
  • Where: Riddles Oval, Goondiwindi

 

Looking for Christmas gifts with a difference this year? Check out our festive shopping guide with the run-down on Christmas markets and the best local shopping in our region.

With the challenges of weather please always call ahead before you travel, to confirm the details of the event. A good place to get local information is the Visitor Information Centre at most regional towns. For a full list click here.