The Festive Garden
Sunshine Coast Council’s free Christmas lights experience has more entertainment and more lights. The gardens will come alive with lighting displays, roving entertainment, Santa and his elves, a reading of “The Night Before Christmas”, The Grinch Live Christmas Show as well as a performance by the Sunshine Statesmen Barbershop Chorus, plus food trucks and more. Entry is via a free park-n-ride shuttle, which runs continuously between the University of the Sunshine Coast Transit Centre and the garden.
Where: Maroochy Bushland Botanic Gardens, Tanawha.
When: Friday, December 16 to Tuesday, December 20, from 5pm to 9pm.
Entry: Register via Sunshine Coast Events.
Lights on the Lake Festival
The Lights on the Lake Festival is Currimundi’s biggest outdoor community event. Adorn your canoe, kayak or paddle board with Christmas lights and you could win a prize for the best decorated watercraft. There’ll be heaps of supervised kids’ activities, live entertainment, a drumming circle and market stalls. A highlight will be the parade of boats paddling around at nightfall. The evening ends with a laser-light show from the main stage.
Where: Crummunda Park, Coongarra Esplanade, Wurtulla.
When: Sunday, December 4, 4pm to 8pm.
Tickets: Free event. Register via Currimundi Catchment.
Secret Garden
Maroochy Bushland Botanic Gardens plays host to local and touring artists playing folk tunes, gritty blues, reggae vibes or sweet pop sounds. This month’s event features Josh Lovegrove and Anjali Oscine.
Where: Maroochy Bushland Botanic Gardens, Tanawha.
When: Sunday, December 4, 2.30pm to 5.30pm.
Entry: $15 for adults, $5 for under-15s, via Troubador Wagons.
A salute to Roy Orbison
Wesley Orbison – Roy Orbison’s eldest son – is proud to fully endorse and present this amazing live concert experience remembering his father. Relive the sound and all the magical hits of music legend Roy Orbison in an international production starring John Stephan. This celebration pays the ultimate homage to ‘The Big O’, showcasing all his classic hits, together with a special tribute to The Everly Brothers.
Where: The Events Centre Caloundra, 20 Minchinton Street, Caloundra.
When: Saturday, December 10, 8pm.
Entry: $69.90, via The Events Centre.
A Night at the Proms
The Sunshine Coast Symphony Orchestra will launch into the festive season in unforgettable style with A Night at the Proms. In London’s Royal Albert Hall Proms tradition, the orchestra will celebrate with an all-British program.
Where: Venue 114, 114 Sportsmans Parade, Bokarina.
When: Saturday, December 3, 7pm to 9.30pm.
Entry: $40, via Venue 114.
Cobee and Friends launch
Vitality Village will host the Cobee Bee and Friends book launch and reading. Register to collect your free signed copy of the book and meet illustrator Miranda Jayne. Some of Miranda’s adaptive equipment and information about Ehlors-Danlos Syndrome will be on display.
Where: Vitality Village, 5 Discovery Court, Birtinya.
When: Saturday, December 3, 9am to midday.
Entry: Free event. Register via Cobee Bee.
Meet Gary Jubelin
Sunshine Coast Libraries will host an evening with Gary Jubelin, former homicide detective, award-winning author and host of the top-rating podcast “I Catch Killers”. Jubelin will talk about his latest book, Badness, with ABC Sunshine Coast journalist Owen Jacques.
When: Thursday, December 8, 6pm to 8pm.
Where: Venue 114, 114 Sportsmans Parade, Bokarina.
Entry: $25, via Venue 114.
GromSearch
The Rip Curl GromSearch runs in more than 10 countries, with in excess of 3000 competitors worldwide. Some incredible surfers have come through the series including current WSL World Tour athletes Gabriel Medina, Stephanie Gilmore, Italo Ferreira and Filipe Toledo.
Where: Coolum Beach, David Low Way, Coolum.
When: Monday, December 12 to Thursday, December 15, 7am to 4pm.
Entry: Free for spectators. Competitors register via Rip Curl.
Band together for resilience
Bands Wasted Potential and Pavo will come together to raise awareness and funds to assist young people in achieving resilience against stress. Proceeds will allow young people with mental health issues to access transcendental meditation and have ongoing support.
Where: Venue 114, 114 Sportsmans Parade, Bokarina.
When: Saturday, December 10, 7pm to 9pm.
Entry: $21.46 or $48.29 (family: 2 x adults, 2 x children), via Humanitix.
Sustainable jewellery exhibition
Radical Localism is an atmospheric exhibition which surveys Elizabeth Shaw’s jewellery practice, spanning several decades. The exhibition encompasses much of the history of sustainable jewellery practice in the state and explores the role of home, place, family and nurture in fostering talent at home and beyond. Legacy continues this journey of fostering beyond with a small collection of works by several of Shaw’s past students who trained under her at the Fine Art Course, Jewellery and Small Objects, at Griffith University.
Where: Caloundra Art Gallery, 22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra.
When: December 9 to January 29.
Entry: Free.
ABBA & the Bee Gees tribute
ABBA Re-Bjorn and The Ultimate Bee Gees have joined forces for a one-off disco night, in a showcase spectacular! Collating five decades of super hits from ABBA and the Bee Gees in a two-and-a-half-hour high-octane show, it has been hailed as the “ultimate” night of entertainment. Hear all the hits that will be forever etched in our memories such as “Dancing Queen”, “Stayin’ Alive”, “Knowing Me Knowing You”, “Massachusetts” and many more. The show is 18+
Where: The Shed at Banana Bender Pub, 73 Frizzo Road, Palmview.
When: Friday, December 9, 7pm.
Entry: $49 via Moshtix.
Aura Christmas Carols
Families are invited to celebrate the festive season with an action-packed evening of entertainment. Featuring dance performances, face painting, local food trucks, a Christmas themed photo station, inflatable snow globe, free popcorn and a visit from the big man in red, there’s something for everyone at the Aura Christmas Carols.
Where: Stockland Aura’s Nirimba Sports Park, Tucker Street, Bells Creek.
When: Friday, December 2, 5pm to 8pm.
Entry: Free. Reserve a spot via Eventbrite.
Community Christmas Celebration
Noosa Village is set to celebrate its fresh new look with a free Community Christmas Celebration. Shoppers will have the chance to mingle and jingle with favourite Christmas characters, including Santa, Mrs Claus, Rudolph and the elves. There’ll be free face painting and prizes on offer with the ‘spin to win’ wheel. Meet 92.7 Mix FM’s Lyndon and the Mix Street Team and there will be giveaways and games. Retailers will join in the fun with great promotions and specials. Local disability support organisation Sunshine Butterflies will sell specially-made calendars, tea towels, greeting cards and cookbooks to raise funds for their 15-acre community ‘Our Backyard’ facility, which makes a difference to those living with disabilities and their families.
Where: Noosa Village, corner of Gibson Road and Mary Street, Noosaville.
When: Friday, December 9, 9am to 1pm.
Entry: Free.
Guide to festive cooking, craft and reading
Let the festivities begin with the ultimate guide to cooking, decorating, craft and reading this festive season thanks to Sunshine Coast Libraries. There are many books and resources that will be sure to get you in the mood for Christmas, whether you’re looking to perfect table decorations, prepare mouth-watering feasts or dive into a festive novel.
Where: See Sunshine Coast Libraries for various locations
When: See Sunshine Coast Libraries for opening hours.
Entry: Free.
Gig guide
Friday, December 2
- Catching Salmon, Solbar, 7pm.
- Janice Duo, Caloundra RSL, 9pm.
- AQQA, Maroochy RSL, 5.30pm.
- Shades Duo, Cooroy RSL, 6pm.
- Dear Doonan, Little Temple Records, 6pm.
- Season and Spirit, Maleny Community Centre, 7pm.
Saturday, December 3
- Black N Red, Maroochy RSL, 5.30pm.
- A Michael Buble Christmas with Jake Meywes, Maroochy RSL, 6.30pm.
- KARLOU, Solbar, 7pm.
- Alter Egos, Caloundra RSL, 8pm.
- DJ Dream Weaver, Caloundra RSL, 11pm.
- Sunshine Coast Symphony Orchestra, Venue 114, 7pm.
- Void of Vision, Kings Beach Tavern, 7.30pm.
- Tigerlily, Rolling Rock Noosa, 4pm.
Sunday, December 4
- Evergreen Terrace, Solbar, 6pm.
- Floorburners, Maroochy RSL, 6pm.
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