Community events

EVENT · ENDS 6 DECGold Coast

Gold Coast (QLD) Christmas Fairs on 5 and 6 December 2026: Tugun Lights Up, Christmas at Frascott and the Alicia Street Christmas Fair

Southport and Surfers Paradise seen from the Broadwater in 2020, shown for orientation and not at the events

Three free Christmas fairs are listed for the first weekend of December 2026 on the Gold Coast: Tugun Lights Up and Christmas at Frascott on Saturday 5 December, and the Alicia Street Christmas Fair in Southport on Sunday 6 December. Each is credited to a City of Gold Coast councillor, and The Events Agency is the listed contact for all three. This guide uses the City’s What’s On pages, read on 5 November 2026, and the organisers’ websites for Tugun and Frascott. Check the event’s own page before you go, because programs can change.

EVENT · ENDS 31 DECGold Coast

Gold Coast (QLD) Christmas Events 5 to 31 December 2026: Beach Movies and Fireworks, Twilight Markets, a Santa Breakfast Cruise, a Gala Dinner and a Free Early New Year’s Eve

HOTA, Home of the Arts, shown for orientation

Seven Gold Coast events between Saturday 5 and Thursday 31 December 2026 are listed by the City of Gold Coast, and four of them are free: three beach movie nights at Surfers Paradise, a twilight Christmas market at Broadwater Parklands, a market at HOTA and an early New Year’s Eve party at Miami. The other three need a ticket, from $95 for a kids’ gingerbread workshop to $215 for a gala dinner. This guide uses each event’s City What’s On listing, read on 4 November 2026. For the free suburb carols in the same weeks, see our guide to December carols and Christmas events.

EVENT · ENDS 29 NOVGold Coast

Gold Coast (QLD) Community Events 13 to 29 November 2026: FUSE Esports Festival, Business in the Spotlight, a School Christmas Concert, Handmade Christmas Festival, Broadwater Pavilion Markets and Flicks and Fireworks

Surfers Paradise Beach, shown for orientation and not at the event

Six Gold Coast events fall between Friday 13 and Sunday 29 November 2026, and four of them are free: a school Christmas concert, a handmade Christmas fair, a monthly seaside market and a beach movie night with fireworks. The other two charge: a school esports festival at $5 on Saturday, and a business expo from $25 a day. This guide uses the City of Gold Coast’s What’s On listing for each event, read on 3 November 2026. For the week before, see our guide to community events from 6 to 15 November.

EVENT · ENDS 20 DECGold Coast

Gold Coast (QLD) Christmas Events 10 to 20 December 2026: Free Carols, Fireworks and Santa at Sanctuary Cove, Mermaid Waters, Palm Beach, Varsity Lakes, Robina, Coomera and Currumbin

Christmas lights in Chelmer, Brisbane, in 2020, shown for orientation and not on the Gold Coast

Eight free Christmas events run on the Gold Coast between Thursday 10 and Sunday 20 December 2026, from a fireworks finale at Sanctuary Cove on the first night to a laser light show at Currumbin on the last. This guide uses the City of Gold Coast’s What’s On listings, read on 3 November 2026, plus the organisers’ websites for Mermaid Waters, Palm Beach and Greenheart. Events can change, so check each website before you go.

EVENT · ENDS 15 NOVGold Coast

Gold Coast Community Events From 6 to 15 November 2026 (QLD): Seven Free or Low-Cost Things to Do, From a Free Show at Southport to the $5 Gem Show

The foreshore at Southport Broadwater Parklands, shown for orientation

Seven community events between Friday 6 and Sunday 15 November 2026 are on the City of Gold Coast’s What’s On listings. Five are free. Adults pay $5 at the Mudgeeraba Gem Show on 14 November, and the Mateship Run on 8 November starts at $15. This guide uses the What’s On Gold Coast listing for each event, read on 2 November 2026; the City or the organiser may change details, so check the listing before you go.

EVENT · ENDS 6 DECGold Coast

Free Community Christmas Events on the Gold Coast (QLD), 28 November to 6 December 2026: Six Carols, Santa Visits and Markets, Runaway Bay Fireworks at 8pm

Christmas decorations at Gold Coast Airport in 2022, shown for orientation and not at the events

Six free community Christmas events run across the Gold Coast between Saturday 28 November and Sunday 6 December 2026, and Runaway Bay is the only one of the six whose listing promises a fireworks display, at 8pm. This guide uses the City of Gold Coast’s What’s On Gold Coast listing for each event, read on 31 October 2026, and the City or the organiser may change the details.

EVENT · ENDS 8 NOVCarrara

Drop and Go Community Recycling Event at Carrara (QLD), Sunday 8 November 2026: Free E-Waste, Linen, Fire Extinguisher and Vape Drop-Off From 9am to 3pm, Gold Coast Residents Only

Carrara Stadium, photographed in 2018, shown for orientation

The City of Gold Coast is running a free drive-through recycling day for e-waste, household linen, fire extinguishers and vapes at Carrara on Sunday 8 November 2026, from 9am to 3pm. It is for Gold Coast residents only, and no booking is needed.