Christmas in Brisbane: Where to Find Fun & Festive Activities
Once the year winds down and the holidays approach, it’s time to start getting festive! Find the best Christmas activities around Brisbane with our guide.
Get ready to convince the Grinch in your life to go out, because Christmas in Brisbane is shaping up to be its most festive year. Plan an outing for the whole family, or catch up with your bestie over a festive flight of cocktails and get those ho-ho-happy feelings in full swing.
Scroll through our guide to fun Christmas activities in Brisbane and fill your calendar with festive fun around town.
Christmas in Brisbane - Family-Friendly Activities
Tiny Doors
The Tiny Doors are back around Brisbane for another year, created by local artist Mace Robertson. These cute, whimsical doors make for the perfect festive treasure hunt, as you follow the map to discover all their secret locations around Brisbane.
We’ve compiled a list for you here, or you can explore the map.
- Roma Street Parkland
- Post Office Square
- King George Square
- Burnett Lane
- Queen Street Mall
- Uptown
- QueensPlaza
- Wintergarden
- Queen’s Wharf
- Riverside
- City Botanic Gardens
- South Bank
Multiple locations, Brisbane City
Gnome-Tacular Christmas Installation
Portside Wharf has welcomed some new friends to the precinct, with the arrival of the Gnome-Tacular Christmas installation! These big friendly giants, created by artists Amigo and Amigo are bringing a little seasonal flair to this popular waterfront village.
Pop by for a photo or to say hello to the six to ten-metre gnomes the next time you visit Portside for dinner or a movie.
Until 4th January
39 Hercules Street, Hamilton
David Jones at Queens Plaza
Immerse yourself in peace, love and joy at David Jones Queens Plaza this Christmas, as they’re pulling out all the (jingle) bells and whistles this December to make sure your Christmas is both magical and memorable.
There’s a Christmas Shop pop-up on level three that makes gift shopping easier than ever, and you’ll find bespoke gift-wrapping counters to make sure your gifts are the best-looking ones under the tree. This year, proceeds from the gift-wrapping will go towards the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Get snap-happy with Santa while you’re here, with plenty of package options to create the perfect family portrait. You can book Santa Pawtraits for pets, and Sensitive Santa for those who need a more mindful experience with the jolly man in the red suit.
On occasion, you might even pass a roving toy soldier troup, Christmas Belles or carollers, who will make your shopping experience that little bit sweeter.
David Jones Queens Plaza, 226 Queen Street, Brisbane City
Uptown
Uptown is inviting a little Christmas magic to Queen Street Mall this year with fun and free activities for all ages. Ben The Brick Builder will capture hearts and minds with festive window scenes crafted from LEGO bricks, depicting three scenes; “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”, “Winter Wonderland” and “Festive Postcard”.
In the Festive Playzone, you can build your dream Christmas scene brick by brick with LEGO and DUPLO supplies, as well as contribute to an oversized LEGO by-numbers artwork.
If you’re searching for photo opportunities, take a selfie with the 2.1 metre Christmas Tree, for a brick-tacular spin on your next Christmas card photo.
For school holiday activity inspiration, visit for a Festive Workshop with Ben the Brick Builder, where kids can learn creative tricks and construction techniques in a hands-on workshop where you get to take home your very own personalised, festive LEGO brick bauble.
Uptown, Queen Street Mall, Brisbane City
City Hall Lights
Always one for an opulent display, this year is no different when it comes to the Brisbane City Hall Christmas light show. Festive Christmas scenes are projected onto the Hall with accompanying music to make for an enthralling event for littlies and adults alike!
The show runs every fifteen minutes from 7.30pm to midnight until Christmas Eve and is a magical way to immerse yourself in a Christmas story and light show.
Every 15 minutes, 6th December to 24th December, 7:30pm to midnight
City Hall, 64 Adelaide Street, Brisbane City
Enchanted Garden
The sell-out experience is back in 2024 for another round of pure magic! The Enchanted Garden once again descends on Roma Street Parklands to bring that magical feeling to Christmas lovers of all ages.
Wander through the gardens at your own pace and immerse yourself in installations, light projections and magical scenes. Bookings are essential after so many years of popularity, so be sure to book with your friends and family for a stroll through Brisbane’s prettiest city garden and explore it in a brand-new light.
$7 per person
Until 22nd December 2024
Roma Street Parklands, 1 Parkland Boulevard, Brisbane City
Christmas in Brisbane - Food & Drink Events
Gingle Bar
Looking for some Christmas cheer? Head down to Riverbar & Kitchen to visit Gin-gle Bar, where you can enjoy tinsel, tunes and tipples of the festive variety this month in Brisbane.
Cool down with a Merry Meringue soft serve, served in a martini glass and infused with Bombay Sapphire. As for something to sip on, try a Gingerbread Fizz, Gin-gle Juice Jug or an Elfed-Up Sour from this limited-edition menu.
Christmas cocktails and riverside views? Nothing feels more like summer in Brisbane.
Riparian Plaza, Promenade Level, 71 Eagle Street, Brisbane City
Festive High Tea at Living Room Bar
Get into the Christmas spirit early with a Festive High Tea at The W Hotel’s Living Room Bar. The highlight of this experience has to be the build-your-own gingerbread house that arrives on top of your high tea platter.
Enjoy savoury morsels like lamb, rosemary and redcurrant gravy pie before moving on to sweets such as a festive fig mousse with cinnamon sable.
Sitchu Tip: Elevate your dining experience by adding on a glass of Veuve Clicquot champagne, or enjoy a ‘Spiced Holiday Highball’ specialty cocktail crafted by The Living Room Bar’s expert team.
From $79 per person
Thursday to Sunday, from 24 November to 31 December
W Brisbane, Level 1, 81 North Quay, Brisbane City
Now that you’ve got a Nice List of all the best Christmas activities in Brisbane, why not stay in the spirit? We’ve got a guide to some of the best Christmas lights around town that will spark a little joy this season. Still have some shopping to do? Scroll through our local gifting guide to shop small.
