At a glance
- When
- Sunday 6 December 2026; gates open 4:30pm, pre-show 5:30pm, main event 7pm, fireworks about 9pm for about 8 minutes
- Where
- Avondale School, 119 Avondale Road, Cooranbong NSW 2265 (Lake Macquarie)
- Cost
- Free entry
- Headline act
- Tarryn Stokes, winner of The Voice 2023
- Parking
- Limited parking close to the venue via Watagan Park; follow the signs. Traffic controllers will be in the area
- Rules
- Family-friendly event: no pets, alcohol, or smoking or vaping
- Who it’s for
- Families in Cooranbong, Morisset, Dora Creek and across Lake Macquarie who want a free carols night that ends in fireworks
- What to do now
- Put 6 December in the diary, plan to arrive between 4:30pm and 7pm, and read the parking and pets notes below before you leave home
- Last checked
- Thursday 29 October 2026, against Avondale School’s Community Christmas Carols 2026 page
- Not yet confirmed
- The rest of the line-up and the food vendors have not been listed on the school’s page
Avondale School’s Community Christmas Carols is free and runs on Sunday 6 December 2026 at the school’s grounds in Cooranbong: gates open at 4:30pm, a pre-show starts at 5:30pm, the main event starts at 7pm, and a fireworks display is planned for about 9pm. The school has named Tarryn Stokes, the winner of The Voice 2023, as this year’s headline act.
This guide is built from the school’s own 2026 event page, read on 29 October 2026, with a second listing from Newy With Kids for the date and cost. Where the school’s page says something is “limited”, that word is used here too.
What time does Avondale Community Christmas Carols start?
| Time | What the school says |
|---|---|
| 4:30pm | Gates open at Avondale School |
| 5:30pm | Pre-show |
| 7:00pm | Main event |
| About 9:00pm | Fireworks display, lasting about 8 minutes |
The heading on the school’s page lists the event as Sunday 6 December, 4:30pm to 9:00pm. Newy With Kids lists the same day as 4:30pm to 9:15pm. The school’s own page is the better guide, and its note that the fireworks are “approximately” 9pm and last about 8 minutes means the night finishes a little after 9pm. All times are Cooranbong local time, which is on daylight saving (AEDT, UTC+11) in December.
Is it free, and do I need a ticket?
Entry is free. The school’s page says “entry to this family-friendly event is free” and does not mention a ticket or a registration step. The page does not say whether food, rides and stalls inside the grounds are free; its general description of the event says there are food vendors, carnival rides and stalls, so check with the school whether they are paid.
Who is performing in 2026?
The school has announced one name so far: Tarryn Stokes, the winner of The Voice 2023. The school describes her as known for powerful, soulful performances, with a musical background in church and worship, and says she has performed professionally across Australia since her win. The school’s page does not give her set time.
Past headliners named by the school are Justine Clarke, Harrison Craig, Colin Buchanan, The Beanies, Bella Taylor-Smith, Emma Memma and Chris Sebastian. The school says the evening opens with a pre-show of local community performers, followed by a program of carol sing-alongs with live music and performances by Avondale School’s own ensembles. That describes the event in general, not a confirmed 2026 running order.
Where do I park?
The school’s page says there is limited parking close to the venue via Watagan Park, and tells visitors to follow the signs. It does not give a price, a number of spaces or a map. It also says traffic controllers will be operating in the area, and warns that there may still be some minor interruptions on the roads.
The school says parking is limited and that the crowd has been over 5,000 in past years (see the history section below). It does not say how far the walk is from the available spaces.
The school’s disclaimer adds that access to and from the event uses public roads, and that parking is at the attendee’s own risk. It encourages visitors not to leave valuables in vehicles.
| Question | What the school says |
|---|---|
| Where do I park? | Limited parking close to the venue via Watagan Park; follow the signs |
| Is there a parking fee? | Not stated on the page |
| Who manages traffic? | Traffic controllers will operate in the area |
| Is there a shuttle or public transport notice? | Not stated on the page |
Can I bring my dog, or a drink?
No. The school’s page says this is a family-friendly event and that pets, alcohol, and smoking or vaping are not permitted. If you were planning a picnic with a drink, leave the alcohol at home.
What time are the fireworks, and what about pets nearby?
The display is scheduled for about 9:00pm and will last about 8 minutes, according to the school. It says it has positioned the fireworks as far from homes as possible. It also acknowledges that the display can be disruptive for nearby residents, and asks anyone with pets to keep them safely indoors during it. If you live near Avondale School, the pet request applies to you; if you are visiting, the rule that pets are not permitted at the event applies.
How big is the event?
The school says its carols have been held every year since 2014, in early December, and that the crowd is consistently over 5,000 people each year. Alongside the stage program, the school describes a hub of food vendors serving crowd favourites and seasonal treats, carnival rides and stalls, and a special appearance by Santa. The school describes the fireworks as the closing highlight.
These descriptions come from the school’s general “About” text, not from a list for 2026, so the 2026 vendors and rides are not confirmed.
Is this the same as Lake Mac Carols?
No. They are two separate events a week apart. Avondale School’s carols are on Sunday 6 December in Cooranbong. Lake Macquarie City Council’s Lake Mac Carols is on Sunday 13 December at Speers Point Park. Newy With Kids lists both among the free carols in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie area in December 2026.
| Event | Date | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avondale Community Christmas Carols | Sunday 6 December | Avondale School, Cooranbong | Free |
| Lake Mac Carols | Sunday 13 December | Speers Point Park, Speers Point | Free |
What is still not published?
As of 29 October the school’s page does not list the full line-up beyond Tarryn Stokes, set times for any act, the food vendors, whether rides are paid, a parking price, or a public transport notice. The school’s page says the event is being brought back to the grounds of Avondale School, whose address in the page footer is 119 Avondale Road, Cooranbong NSW 2265.
What should families plan for on the night?
The school’s own notice gives four things to plan around. The gates open at 4:30pm but the main event does not start until 7pm, so there are two and a half hours between opening and the main program; the pre-show at 5:30pm fills part of that. Parking is limited and traffic controllers will be on the roads, so allow time for the drive. Pets, alcohol and smoking or vaping are not allowed. And the fireworks near 9pm are loud enough that the school asks neighbours to keep pets indoors. The school does not say how long it will take to leave the area afterwards.
Sources
- Avondale School — Community Christmas Carols 2026 (times, headline act, parking, rules, fireworks; read 29 October 2026)
- Newy With Kids — 2026 Christmas carols guide (date, cost and listing of other local carols)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Avondale School or any carols organiser. Times and arrangements can change; check the school’s event page before you go.
Featured image: Justine Clarke performing at the Avondale School Community Christmas Carols, Cooranbong, 2 December 2018 (photo: IFergo05 / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)