At a glance
- When
- Saturday 5 December to Thursday 24 December 2026, 7pm to 10pm each night; Christmas Eve closes at 9pm
- Where
- Botanic Gardens in Queens Park, Lindsay Street, Toowoomba
- Entry
- Gold coin donation or Tap & Go payment at the Lindsay Street, Campbell Street or Godstall Street entrance
- Who it’s for
- Families and anyone planning an evening at the Christmas lights in the Botanic Gardens
- What to do now
- Pick a night from the performer roster below and leave animals, alcohol, glass, bikes and balls at home
- Last checked
- Thursday 29 October 2026, against the Christmas Wonderland home page and What’s On page
- Not yet confirmed
- Parking arrangements, any wet-weather rule, and stage times for acts listed without one; the organisers do not say
Toowoomba’s Christmas Wonderland runs from Saturday 5 December to Thursday 24 December 2026, from 7pm to 10pm each night, in the Botanic Gardens in Queens Park, with entry by gold coin donation or Tap & Go at three gates. Christmas Eve is the one short night: it runs from 7pm to 9pm.
This guide uses the event’s own home page and What’s On page, both read on Thursday 29 October 2026. The organisers have not published any parking advice, so that part is listed as unconfirmed rather than guessed.
What are the dates and opening hours?
The event page gives the dates as 5th to 24th December 2026 and the hours as 7pm to 10pm. It says the event operates from 7pm to 10pm each night from Saturday 5 December up to and including Christmas Eve, when it runs from 7pm to 9pm.
| Detail | What the organisers say |
|---|---|
| First night | Saturday 5 December 2026 |
| Last night | Thursday 24 December 2026 (Christmas Eve) |
| Hours | 7pm to 10pm each night |
| Christmas Eve hours | 7pm to 9pm |
| Location | Botanic Gardens, Lindsay Street, Toowoomba |
The conditions of entry say the “event” as a whole covers the period from mid-November to early January. That wording takes in the set-up and the pull-down around the nights the public can walk through, so the gates are not open for the whole of that time. The public nights are the 20 from 5 to 24 December.
How much does it cost to get in?
Entry is by gold coin donation or by Tap & Go payment at each of the three entry points: the Lindsay Street, Campbell Street or Godstall Street entrances. The page uses the spelling “Godstall Street”, so use the signs on the night if you are looking for that gate. The organisers do not publish a fixed ticket price.
The money goes to charity. The page says all donations are distributed evenly among the beneficiaries, and the major ones are the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation, the Toowoomba Hospice and Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland. The event is hosted by the Lions Club of Toowoomba West Inc and the page says it has brought Christmas joy to Toowoomba since 2003. The organisers say almost 65,000 visitors came in December 2025 and that they are looking forward to welcoming the community back in 2026.
What is there to do once I am inside?
The organisers describe a traditional Christmas lights display alongside local and roving performers, raffles, popcorn, a barbecue, Glow Products and Christmas entertainment for the whole family. The What’s On page adds that children get free ice creams and popcorn, and that there are sausage sizzles from the barbecue, Christmas raffles, Lions Club Christmas cakes and puddings for sale, and tea and coffee.
Performances happen in three kinds of spot. Bands, choirs and singers play on the stage, mostly in 45-minute blocks (7:30–8:15pm and 8:30–9:15pm). Dance schools use Dance Area One in the Lower Park or Dance Area Two in the Upper Park. Two costumed groups, the 501st Legion Redback Garrison and the Toowoomba Cosplay Group, are listed as being “in costume” on set nights without a time.
What is on each night?
The organisers list every act by date. This is the 2026 roster from the What’s On page as read on Thursday 29 October 2026, rearranged by night. Some acts are listed with a start time and others with only a dance area, and those are marked “no time listed”.
| Night | Listed on the official What’s On page |
|---|---|
| Sat 5 Dec | St Mary’s College Concert Band and Vernados Choir (stage 7:30–8:15pm); St Saviour’s College Choir (stage 8:30–9:15pm); Dancing Stars Toowoomba (Dance Area Two, Upper Park, 7:30pm); Aspire Dance Academy (Dance Area 1, Lower Park, no time listed); 501st Legion Redback Garrison in costume |
| Sun 6 Dec | Toowoomba Regional Youth Orchestra (stage 7:30–8:15pm); its Jazz Band (stage 8:30–9:15pm); Move and Groove Dance School (Dance Area One, Lower Park, 7:30pm); Funked Up Fitness and Dance (Dance Area 1, no time listed); Toowoomba Cosplay Group in costume |
| Mon 7 Dec | Toowoomba Concert Band (stage 7:30–8:15pm); Dance Central (Dance Area 2, Upper Park, 7:30pm); iDance Studios (Dance Area 1, Lower Park, 7:30pm) |
| Tue 8 Dec | Toowoomba Choral Society Youth Choir (stage 7:30–8:15pm); Dance Central (Dance Area 2, 7:30pm); iDance Studios (Dance Area 1, 7:30pm) |
| Wed 9 Dec | Drayton Brass (stage 7:30–8:15pm and 8:30–9:15pm); McGrath Studio of Highland Dancing (Dance Area 2, 7:30pm); Dance Central (Dance Area 1, Lower Park, 7:30pm); Toowoomba Cosplay Group in costume |
| Thu 10 Dec | Harlaxton RSL Brass Band (stage 7:30–8:15pm and 8:30–9:15pm); Toowoomba Choral Society Contemporary Choral (stage 7:30–8:15pm, the same slot the page gives the Harlaxton RSL Brass Band); Dance Central (Dance Area 2, 7:30pm); Everdance Studio (Dance Area 1, 7:30pm) |
| Fri 11 Dec | Step In Time Dance Academy (Dance Area One, Lower Park, 7:30pm); Bluerhythmix (Dance Area 2, Upper Park, 7:30pm) |
| Sat 12 Dec | Elizabeth Rae (stage 7:30–8:15pm); Come as You Are (stage 8:30–9:15pm); Ignite Dance Company (Dance Area 2, 7:30pm); Kiyua Performing Arts (Dance Area One, no time listed); 501st Legion Redback Garrison in costume |
| Sun 13 Dec | Belinda Tigell Music (stage 7:30–8:15pm); Move and Groove Dance School (Dance Area One, 7:30pm); Ignite Dance Company (Dance Area 2, 7:30pm); Toowoomba Cosplay Group in costume |
| Mon 14 Dec | Toowoomba Concert Band (stage 7:30–8:15pm); Golden Guitar winner Brendon Walmsley Family (stage 8:30–9:15pm); Ignite Dance Company (Dance Area 2, 7:30pm) |
| Tue 15 Dec | Jim Miller Big Band (stage 7:30–8:15pm and 8:30–9:15pm); Pinnacle Performing Arts (Dance Area ONE, Lower Park, 7:30pm); Ignite Dance Company (Dance Area 2, 7:30pm) |
| Wed 16 Dec | Sing Australia (stage 7:30–8:15pm); Come as You Are (stage 8:30–9:15pm); Pinnacle Performing Arts (Dance Area ONE, 7:30pm); JE Dancehouse (Dance Area 2, 7:30pm); Toowoomba Cosplay Group in costume |
| Thu 17 Dec | Brendon Walmsley Family (stage 8:30–9:15pm); High Altitude Harmony (stage 8:30–9:15pm, the same slot the page gives the Brendon Walmsley Family); JE Dancehouse (Dance Area 2, 7:30pm); Funked Up Fitness and Dance (Dance Area 1, no time listed) |
| Fri 18 Dec | Jim Miller Big Band (stage 7:30–8:15pm and 8:30–9:15pm); JE Dancehouse (Dance Area 2, 7:30pm); Funked Up Fitness and Dance (Dance Area 1, no time listed) |
| Sat 19 Dec | “Matthew Peter as Elvis” (7:30–8:15pm and 8:30–9:15pm); JE Dancehouse (Dance Area 2, 7:30pm); Funked Up Fitness and Dance (Dance Area 1, no time listed); 501st Legion Redback Garrison in costume |
| Sun 20 Dec | U3A Ukuleles for Fun (stage 7:30–8:15pm); Toowoomba Beatles Tribute Choir (stage 8:30–9:15pm); JE Dancehouse (Dance Area 2, 7:30pm); Funked Up Fitness and Dance (Dance Area 1, no time listed) |
| Mon 21 Dec | Con Brio (stage 7:30–8:15pm); Brendon Walmsley Family (stage 8:30–9:15pm); Kiyua Performing Arts (Dance Area One, no time listed) |
| Tue 22 Dec | Thunderhorns (stage 7:30–8:15pm); Come as You Are (stage 8:30–9:15pm) |
| Wed 23 Dec | Con Brio (stage 7:30–8:15pm) |
| Thu 24 Dec | Belinda Tigell Music (stage 7:30–8:15pm); the event closes at 9pm tonight |
Which nights have the longest stage programme?
Going only by the published roster, five nights list one act across both stage slots (7:30–8:15pm and 8:30–9:15pm): Wednesday 9 December (Drayton Brass), Thursday 10 December (the Harlaxton RSL Brass Band), Tuesday 15 December and Friday 18 December (the Jim Miller Big Band) and Saturday 19 December (“Matthew Peter as Elvis”). Eight other nights list two different stage acts, one early and one late: Saturday 5, Sunday 6, Saturday 12, Monday 14, Wednesday 16, Sunday 20, Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 December. On Thursday 10 and Thursday 17 December the page gives two acts the same stage slot, so check the signs on the night.
The organisers have not said anything about crowd levels on particular nights. They only report the 2025 total of almost 65,000 visitors over the month.
What can’t I bring?
The conditions of entry say the organisers advise the following, for the comfort, safety and enjoyment of everyone:
- No animals, except guide or licensed service assistance dogs
- No alcohol or drugs of any type
- No smoking inside the event
- No glassware or sharp objects
- No frisbees, balls, inflatables or other devices that may jeopardise the safety of others or impede volunteer staff
- No skateboards, bicycles, roller blades or other recreational equipment that may interfere with pedestrian traffic
The conditions also say people may be ejected for causing a disturbance or refusing to comply with requests from staff, that you enter at your own risk and must look after your own belongings, that accidents and emergencies go to a volunteer straight away, and that you must follow signs and directions from the organisers or security staff.
Where do I park?
The organisers do not give parking advice for 2026. The only parking wording on the pages is in the conditions of entry: vehicles are parked at your own risk, and the event is not responsible for loss of, or damage to, any vehicle, accessory or contents in or on it. The pages carry no public transport advice and no drop-off point. If any of that is published later it will be on the event’s own site.
The three entry points are on Lindsay Street, Campbell Street and the street the organisers spell Godstall Street.
What happens if it rains?
The pages do not say. They do not describe any wet-weather rule or cancellation notice, so check the event’s website on the day.
Can I volunteer or donate?
Yes. The home page has Donate and Volunteer buttons, and the site has a contact form for questions. A donation made through the site is shared evenly among the beneficiaries. The Lions Club of Toowoomba West thanks its volunteer labour supporters for helping with set-up.
What is not confirmed yet?
- Parking, drop-off and public transport arrangements
- What happens in wet weather
- Start times for acts listed with only an area and no time
- Any change to a performer listing between now and 5 December
We will check the pages again before the first night, on Saturday 5 December, and update this guide if anything has changed.
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Toowoomba’s Christmas Wonderland or the Lions Club of Toowoomba West Inc.
Sources
- Toowoomba’s Christmas Wonderland, 2026 (home page and conditions of entry)
- What’s On at this year’s Christmas Wonderland
Photo credits: Queens Park Gardens sign (photo: Kgbo / CC BY-SA 4.0, text added).