Get ready to jingle your way from Coomera to Coolangatta and all the way till Christmas with the City of Gold Coast’s lineup of dashing festive events. Then, a host of spectacular New Year’s Eve events to back it up!

Here’s where you can get amongst allll the advent action on the Coast this year. Ho ho hope you can make it.

Mayor’s Christmas Carols
Is there anything more spirit-lifting than singing along to your favourite Christmas classics, being performed live under a blanket of stars- we don’t think so! One fine place to do just that is at the Mayor’s Christmas Carols at HOTA. Get ready for an incredible lineup of artists, kid’s shows, and a special visit from Santa himself! To top it all off, breathtaking fireworks to close out an epic evening of hard-core carolling. 
Where: HOTA Outdoor Stage,135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise
When: Saturday 30 November 2024. Gates open at 4pm.

Cooly Carols
Don’t say you’ve never experienced THE Cooly Carols?! One of the jolliest Christmas carol extravaganzas on the Coast?! It has families dashing from all distances to experience its legendary spectacle held at Queen Elizabeth Park. Enjoy an array of fabulous festivities, from live performances of your most-loved Christmas carols, a delicious assortment of sweet and savoury food trucks, and a dazzling fireworks display.
Where: Queen Elizabeth Park, 60 Marine Parade, Coolangatta
When: Sunday 8 December, 5.30pm – 7.30pm

Carols in Coomera
If you’re not a northern Gold Coast resident, don’t let that stop you from heading a little further up to experience the delightful Carols in Coomera. Be serenaded by the quintessential sounds of Christmas- we’re crossing our fingers for a fat dose of Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey. Get the gang together for a fabulous night of Noel!
Where: Coomera Sports Park, 53 Beattie Rd, Coomera
When: Saturday 14 December, 4.30pm – 6.30pm

Carols on the Beach
You can’t get it more Gold Coast than shouting the lyrics to “Last Christmas” (WHAM version) in your sandals on the shores of Surfers Paradise. Sounds like a recipe for a damn good time if you ask us. Carols on the Beach is a free and family-fun-packed event featuring a soon-to-be-announced lineup of special guest performances. Also, Santa has just announced he will be making one last special stop before his busy Christmas night! Will it be Carol’s on the Beach (psst, the answer is yes)?! Then, a firework finale to finish.
Where: Surfers Paradise Beach, Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise
When: Sunday 15 December, 5.00pm – 8.00pm

Christmas in Broadbeach
Broadbeach Mall is gearing up for a unique Christmas transformation! Set your countdown calendar for December 14 for its grand reveal of the soon-to-be HQ of festive fun- all for our merrymaking pleasure. Think gingerbread decorating, Christmas crafts, storytime, and tons more free kids’ entertainment! Sounds like an ideal way to fill up the school holiday calendar with festive cheer!
Where: 75 Surf Parade, Broadbeach
When: Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 December 2024

New Year’s Eve
Say farewell to the holiday season, and ring in the brand new year with ‘a bang’ with everyone’s favourite time honoured NYE tradition… fireworks!

There’ll be a plethora of GC park part-ays where we can convene for ‘oohs’ and ‘aaahs’ a plenty. Catch the various fireworks displays, with family friendly shows slated for Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise at 8pm, or Coolangatta at 9pm – before they all fire again for the big shebang as the clock officially strikes 12 on 2024.
Where: Fireworks: Kurrawa Beachfront, Broadbeach – 8pm & midnight, Kirra, Coolangatta – 9pm & midnight, Surfers Paradise Beach – 8pm & midnight. Community Celebration: Coomera Sports Park, Coomera – 5pm to 8pm.
When: Tuesday 31 December 2024

And that’s a wrap on another cracker season of fun-filled GC festivities for 2024, folks. Which is just as well – after all that we’ll need to channel our inner Dad à la Boxing Day and “rest our eyes” in front of the telly for wee bit.

Words by Chelsea Ipsen

STORY SPONSORED BY CITY OF GOLD COAST

It’s that time again Gold Coasters (unsure how but what can you do). Christmas is here, or it may as well be, since there are decorations everywhere and you may now pop down to see the big guy for a snap.

That’s right, it’s time to book in your Santa portraits pals and here’s the lineup of where you can do exactly that around the Coast. Hip, hip hooray, the years of socially distanced snaps are but a distant memory. We’re back to sharing a big chair, the way we all remember it.

Pacific Fair
Visit Santa’s Golden Palace filled with golden treasures for all to enjoy from Saturday 2nd November until Christmas Eve. Pacific Fair hosts Santa photos for everyone including pet photos for pictures with your fur babies, and Sensitive Santa, an experience with dimmed lights and no crowds. Plus, have your Santa Photo taken at Santa’s Palace from 2 November – 8 December to automatically go in the draw to WIN a family trip to Lapland in Christmas 2025! Book here.
Where: Santa’s Golden Palace, Ground Floor outside Myer, Broadbeach

Santaland at Myer
Embark on a magical Christmas journey at Santaland! Jump on the Santaland Express, create festive art with Santa’s helpers, send wish-lists to the North Pole, and cherish the moment with Santa for an enchanting family photo. Plus, don’t forget your furry friends! Santa Paws welcomes your four-legged family members for a festive snapshot with Santa. Santaland photos are available from the 23rd November until Christmas Eve. Book here.
Where: Santaland, Myer near the Toy section, Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, Broadbeach

Robina Town Centre
Meet Santa in his magical Enchanted Forest from Saturday 2nd November until Christmas Eve. There’s also an option for a Sensitive Santa experience in a low-stress, sensory-friendly environment that can be enjoyed by all, without the crowds, queues and noise (on selected days from November 9 to December 15), and special Baby’s First Christmas photo packages. Auslan Santa will return to Robina Town Centre, making the magic of Christmas more inclusive and accessible to customers with hearing impaired children. Sessions will be longer than usual to allow Christmas wishes to be shared via sign language with Santa and sessions will be available on Saturday 23 November from 9am to 11am.

Santa of course won’t be forgetting his favourite furry friends, with Pet Photography returning to feature inside Robina Town Centre after trading hours this year. From 8 November until 15 December, Santa will be rewarding all well-behaved friends with a special gift.

Santa Photos are available online for bookings now and early birds who make bookings until November 30 will receive a FREE 6×8 photo and go in the running to WIN a $1,000 shopping spree—talk about Christmas coming early! Book here.
Where: Outside Myer and Kookai, Robina Town Centre, Robina

Sanctuary Cove
Mark the annual Christmas tradition with a photo with Santa at Sanctuary Cove. Meet Father Christmas with your little ones (and fur babies too) inside Santa’s igloo and capture the moment to remember for years to come. The Santa photo booth will be open from 10am-3pm on 7th, 8th, 12th, 14th & 15th December, and 6.30pm – 8.30pm on Friday 13th December. Pet sessions are available on 7th, 8th, 12th, 14th & 15th December from 2pm-3pm. No bookings required, but find more information on Santa photos and Sanctuary Cove’s other Christmas activities here.
Where: Masthead Way, Sanctuary Cove

HOTA, Home of the Arts
HOTA is going all out this festive season with a 12 day Sprinkling of Christmas. With activities to delight all ages, photos with Santa, movies and theatre shows, HOTA is your destination for family fun. Santa photo packages start at $20 and are available daily from Tuesday 10th – Sunday 21st December from 9am-1pm. Book here.
Where: 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise

Stockland Burleigh Heads
Get your portraits taken at Stocklands Burleigh Heads from Saturday 2nd December until Christmas Eve. There’ll be times for Paws & Claus, Sensory Santa and even traditional Santa photos. Santa photos available from Saturday 30th November until Christmas Eve. You can book online here.
Where: Santa’s Beach Shack, outside Aldi, West Burleigh Rd, Burleigh Heads

Gold Coast Santa Beach Photos
Gold Coast Santa Photo Sessions are 5-10 minutes per shoot with Santa, your family and your pets! Depending on your session you will receive 4-10 high resolution digital images per session. Please read the full terms and conditions before booking. Available on various dates from November 9th on the beach at Main Beach, Miami and Currumbin. These photo shoots are super popular. You also have the option to Grinchify your photo package (not for the faint hearted)!  You can book your Santa Beach photo here.

Westfield Coomera
Tis’ the season to be making magical memories. Create a Christmas memory and book your photo with Santa at Westfield Coomera from Sunday 10th November until Christmas Eve. This year, Westfield is offering a range of photography sessions to suit everyone, including Sensitive Santa, My First Christmas, Pet photography and Auslan Santa. You can book online here.
Where: 103 Foxwell Rd, Coomera

Christmas on the Gold Coast is right around the corner, and if you’re anything like us, the thought of tackling a big festive feast after a morning of opening presents and popping bubbly sounds downright exhausting.

Luckily, there are plenty of local spots ready to handle the heavy lifting for you. Hang up the apron, ditch the dishes, and let the pros serve up a day of delicious indulgence with no cleanup required. Here’s your guide (north to south) to the best Christmas Day feasts on the Gold Coast. Word to the three wise men – these tickets are flying faster than Santa’s sleigh, so grab yours before they’re gone!

Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove
Offering two decadent dining experiences, spend your Christmas Day situated among Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove’s stellar surrounds and get amongst some fanciful fare to mark the occasion in the most delicious of ways.

If the thought of festive fine dining sparks a whole lot of joy for you – we present to you, option numero ono: the long, and lavish – Degustation Lunch. Secure your spot at this little advent affair for an all-inclusive experience hosted at The Fireplace, and prepare to sip and savour your way through your Christmas Day for $489pp.

If you’d rather take the night off following a jam-packed day of festivities (aka keep the arvo open for a very necessary nap) the Seafood Buffet Dinner option will be enticing on every level. With two convenient seatings available at 5 pm and 8 pm, get cosy at Cove Cafe and sidle up to a mouthwatering spread of traditional Christmas fare fused with modern Australian flavours. Tickets from $229 per person, children aged 5 to 12 are priced at $99 per child (ages 0-4 free with a paying adult).
Where: Sanctuary Cove, Manor Cir, Hope Island

Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort
This year, Main Beach’s stellar Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, is poised to throw not one but two tantalising Christmas Day events – take your pick of the family-style feast in Horizon’s Room or the seafood buffet luncheon in Terraces Restaurant… either way, yule be left feeling rather jolly indeed.

From 12pm – 3pm, prepare to tuck into all the traditional festive provisions and trimmings – savour hot and cold seafood, succulent roast meats, seasonal roast vegetables, wholesome summer salads and decadent desserts.

Tickets for the Family-style feast event start at $129 for kids (ages 0-4 free) through to $259 for adults. Seafood buffet luncheon tickets are $319 per adult including a glass of champagne on arrival.
Where: Seaworld Drive, Main Beach

RACV Royal Pines Resort
Another festive contender for your consideration – round up your kin and revel in the Chrissy Day array at RACV Royal Pines, for an indulgent spread hosted within the impeccable surrounds of the Royal Benowa Ballroom.

Kicking off from from 12:00 pm, this year’s proceedings include a 3-hour beverage package along with all the traditional festive fare – delight in fresh Australian seafood, carved meats, and a selection of hot dishes, salads and desserts. Tickets start from $$49 for children aged 2-4 (ages 0-2 free) up to $298 per adult. Click here for all the details.
Where: Ross St, Benowa

QT Gold Coast
Families looking to converge for some magical (and mouthwatering) Christmas mems, look no further than the luxe QT luncheons – both the Ballroom and Bazaar (dinner also available) will be abuzz with beverage packages, a sumptuous spread of roasted meats, fresh seafood and decadent desserts. Christmas cheer also comes courtesy of a festive cocktail on arrival, and for kids under 12, a gift from Mr Claus himself.

Alternatively, avid foodies can treat themselves to an exquisite gastronomic experience at the adults-only Christmas Lunch at Yamagen. Get in the spirit with a meticulously crafted 7-course menu, a masterclass in Japanese dining with a showcase of seafood dishes with a Christmas twist. Tickets from $299 pp + BF, including an arrival cocktail and curated beverage pairings.

(Pssst – Santa called, he said you should go ahead and upgrade to the Premium Whisky/Wine/Sake Pairing, it is Christmas after all). Get all the details here.
Where: 7 Staghorn Ave, Surfers Paradise

Hyde Paradiso
This Dec 25, have a cracker of a (carefree) Christmas Day with all of the cheer and none of the tears, and lock in a spectacular seaside buffet lunch at Hyde Paradiso.

Find all the deets here to secure your spot – and score yourself a sneaky Chrissy morning sleep in while you’re at it – aka cut out the crack-of-dawn pilgrimage to the prawn trawlers altogether.. now that’s a Merry Christmas!
Where: Peppers Soul, Level 2/8 Esplanade, Surfers Paradise

voco Gold Coast
We need not spend days toiling away in the kitchen, offload the preparations (read: stress) and let the voco pros handle your Chrissy day proceedings. Indulge in a banquet of iconic Christmas Day fare, such as fresh seafood, summer salads, succulent roast carvery, a variety of hot and cold dishes – complete with a mouthwatering dessert bar for your feasting pleasure. Plus, face painting and a sneaky cameo from the big man in red, for some extra special Christmas magic for the kiddos.

This little Chrissy extravaganza will set you back $289 per person, with children from $89 (ages 0-4 free).. and simultaneously deliver max satisfaction and zero stress in the process. Find out more here.
Where: 31 Hamilton Avenue, Surfers Paradise

The Langham Gold Coast
Are you and/or the fam fans of the finer things? Then look no further than The Langham for your December 25 festivities, friends. As a destination with a rep for all things luxury, our unofficial dealers of decadence are especially equipped to deliver a swanky Christmas Day.

The Christmas Lunch Buffet in Akoya includes a 2 hour beverage package, ocean views and a seafood buffet for $449 per adult and $210 per teenager. Or if you’d prefer to spend the day at the beach and feast in the evening the Dinner Buffet is $319 per adult and $80 per child (ages 0-4 free).

Alternatively, the swoon worthy Diamond Ballroom Family Christmas Lunch buffet includes fresh local seafood, a crudo and oyster bar, live barbeque with premium meats such as wagyu steaks (feat. sausage sizzle for the littles) salads, desserts and more. This stellar shindig kicks off from 12pm, with tickets ranging from $155 per child (ages 0-4 free) to $495 per adult inc. premium beverage package.
Where: 38 Old Burleigh Rd, Surfers Paradise

Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach
Assemble your nearest and dearest for a delicious ripper of a Christmas celebration at the Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach this year. They will host a most extraordinary Christmas Day lunch, ensuring every dish and decoration is taken care of.  We’re talking a mouth-watering buffet selection of exquisite seafood and carvery, an array of starters, salads, and a wealth of traditional Christmas desserts and Australian cheeses. These tickets are limited so jump on now and book and then all you have to do come Christmas is sit back, relax and let lunch be served. Go here for all the delicious details.
Where: 81 Surf Parade, Broadbeach

The Star Gold Coast
Who better equipped to handle our merry munches than the veritable recreation wonderland that awaits at The Star? They literally spend 365 days a year honing their impeccable hosting skills… and an atmosphere primed for fun and frivolity is kind of their whole schtick.

Check out the epic array of shindigs on offer here for the ‘star’ on the top of a tree-mendous Chrissy Day. Pssst, there are even gourmet hampers available for stress-free hosting.. (feel free to steal all the glory, our lips are sealed).
Where:1 Casino Dr, Broadbeach

Words by Belinda Symons