Free things to do to celebrate Christmas in Brisbane

Christmas in Brisbane means there are plenty of free and low-cost activities for the whole family to enjoy. Sprinkle some festive cheer on these ideas throughout December. 

A night with friends

Catch up with friends before the silly season kicks into gear to enjoy Terraces by Twilight in Paddington. Begin with an early dinner at one of the well-known restaurants in the area.

After that, enjoy some late-night shopping on Given and Latrobe Terraces. Find gift inspiration for the whole family, a little present for yourself and handmade delights from market stalls along the way. When you’ve ticked off all your to-buy items, wrap the night up with a scoop from Amoroso Gelateria.

A day in the city with the kids

Did you know that whimsical new residents making their way to Brisbane CBD for the festive season? They’re popping up in time to give parents an easy treasure hunt with the kids. The well-loved Christmas-themed tiny doors are back for 2025 in places like Queen Street Mall, King George Square and MacArthur Central. Make a morning or afternoon of trying to find all new creations by artist Mace Robertson from 1-24 December. 

Christmas after dark

After the sun sets, Brisbane’s famous Brisbane City Hall becomes a colourful storybook telling the tale of Ned and Ted. Starting on December 5, there will be shows every 15 minutes from 7:30 PM to midnight. This year’s story shows how important community spirit is.

New to Christmas in Brisbane in 2025, A Christmas Dreamscape brings to life the Queen Street Mall Stage on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The dance performance tells the story of a young girl who drifts off into a magical dreamscape on Christmas Eve. Performances run from 5–24 December. 

For more Christmas sparkle, head to Queens Wharf.  The Sono Lumo audiovisual show will take you to a magical festival of sound and light. From 10-21 December you can enjoy this vibrant combination of music, lighting, roving performers, food trucks and more.

Jingle all the way to the suburbs

Brisbane CBD isn’t the only area to shine bright this festive season. You'll find many holiday events in Brisbane's suburbs.

One event is Sandgate's Jingle all the Bay on the 29 November. On 6 December, there is Banyo’s Bands in Parks or a Christmas movie in the park in Manly. On 12 December, there is the ever-popular Brookfield Bush Christmas.

A crafty Christmas

Give this year’s Christmas a DIY touch with crafty creations. You can learn to make macrame Christmas decorations at Cooper Plains Library. You can also create a wreath with fresh plants collected from Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha.

Play in the spirit of Christmas

For the youngest Christmas elves, there’s messy play to explore. For kids aged 6 months to 6 years, head to:

• Santa’s Workshop sensory play at Carindale Recreation Reserve
• Santa's coming to town sensory play in Alderley
• 12 Days of Christmas Bush Kindy at Karawatha Discovery Centre. 

Want more ideas?

For more Christmas inspiration, head to our Christmas in Brisbane page.

For school holiday fun, check out School holiday events.

_{Editor's note: The featured content in Brisbane Explore is created to inspire residents and visitors to plan a day out exploring Brisbane. Brisbane City Council disclaims any relationship with, or endorsement of, businesses featured in this article.}