Lara Suddards

Guest Blogger for Little Scholars
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Little Scholars is thrilled to welcome our guest blogger Lara Suddards. Lara is a mum of two small children and writer of her popular blog Mrs Lardeedah.com, which shares thoughtful ideas, advice and recommendations to grateful parents of fun things to do for the whole family.
14 fabulously festive ways to celebrate Christmas on the Gold Coast, Logan and Redlands

The festive season is here and the opportunities to get in the spirit are endless! Why not check your shopping list off at a Christmas market, jingle along at a carols concert or putt your way through a Christmas wonderland. To make sure you do not miss out on the festive cheer, here is your go-to guide with only the best of the best Christmas happenings picked out for you. Be sure to add these dates to your calendar!

 Get ready for an exciting and interactive Santa show! Join Santa, Mrs Claus and Rudolf for a Christmas extravaganza that includes a mix of traditional carols and current pop songs.

Pacific Pines Central Park, 4-8:30pm

Image via City of Gold Coast

Santa Claus and two festive female performers in peppermint-striped costumes sing on stage under bright lights, bringing Christmas cheer to the Gold Coast event.

This free family festivity will feature live music, market stalls, inflatable fun, local restaurant specials, games and activities, plus a visit from Santa Claus.

Ron Short Park, 4-8pm

Image via Alicia Street Christmas Fair Facebook page

Two brightly costumed performers with exaggerated expressions stand next to a miniature light-up Christmas tree inside a dramatic, bubbly light display

Bring your family for the largest carols event on the northern Gold Coast, an unforgettable night with fireworks, food vans, and festive sing-alongs.

Brien Harris Oval, from 4pm

Image via Northern Gold Coast Carols Facebook page

Santa, the Grinch, and festive elves perform on a brightly lit stage in front of a massive crowd at a large Christmas carols event on the beach

One of the all-time favourite Christmas carols will be performed in a 2-hour celebration of song and dance on the beach, with a visit from Santa, and a fireworks finale!

Surfers Paradise Beach, 5-8pm

Image via City of Gold Coast

A vibrant, close-up shot of a food truck vendor serving customers at the Mudgeeraba Twilight Christmas Market, highlighting the delicious food options and festive atmosphere at the night market.

Wind your way through the Market lanes to the sweet serenades of stunning live music, spot roving performers, snap a selfie with an elf… or meet Santa himself!

Home of the Arts, 4-9pm

Image via Queensland.com

A large, outdoor stage set up on the beach for "Carols on the Beach," with giant candy cane decorations and high-rise buildings in the background, showcasing a classic Christmas Gold Coast event.

The elves have been busy transforming the 9-hole mini golf course into a spectacular Christmas wonderland! 

76-122 Napper Road, Parkwood

Image via The Club at Parkwood

Southern Gold Coast

A man takes a selfie with Santa Claus on a stage in front of a cheering crowd at a night time community event celebrating Christmas Gold Coast.

Free live music on stage, roving performers, children’s entertainment, fantastic food trucks, and Christmas market stalls. Plus see Santa making a special appearance alongside a fireworks display.

Ed Hardy Park, 4-8pm

Image via North Burleigh Carols by the Sea Facebook page

A woman dressed in a Santa-themed costume with bright red hair smiles while applying face paint to a young child at a family-friendly Christmas Gold Coast event.

Dine under the stars at one of the fantastic local eateries, check out the local business offerings, and visit the Christmas market stalls. Plenty of free children’s entertainment on offer throughout the program with Santa making a special appearance!

Toolona Street, Tugan, 4-8:30pm

Image via Tugan Lights Up Facebook page

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Sing along to your all-time favourite carols, enjoy a delicious assortment of food trucks, watch Santa fly in and watch a sparkling fireworks finale! 

Queen Elizabeth Park, 5:30-7:30pm

Image via Shutterstock

Spectacular fireworks reflecting over the water at night, with a large crowd gathered on the waterfront to watch the Christmas Gold Coast light show.

A truly unique festive celebration, this event will feature live stage entertainment, Christmas carols, Santa, Fireworks over the beautiful Lake Orr and much more!

Waterfront Stage, Varsity Lakes, 4-8pm

Image via Carols on the Lake Facebook page

 

Promotional graphic for the Mudgeeraba Twilight Christmas Market, presented by BWP Markets, featuring festive red and gold text with ornaments and snow effects.

A fabulous, family Christmas event with market stalls, food trucks, Santa, Christmas carols, live music, facepainting and free children’s craft area.

Mudgeeraba Showgrounds, 3-8pm

Image via BWP Markets’ Facebook page

Logan & Redlands

Santa, the Grinch, and festive elves perform on a brightly lit stage in front of a massive crowd at a large Christmas carols event on the Gold Coast.

The City of Logan Christmas Carols is the city’s biggest annual Christmas event. This free, family-friendly event features hours of on-stage entertainment, festive activities, food trucks, and markets, all jam-packed into one magical day.

Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct, 3-8:30pm

Image via Must Do Brisbane

Santa and Mrs. Claus pose for a photo with a large festive wreath hanging overhead inside a large, bustling indoor market venue on the Gold Coast.

Experience a pop-up Christmas market brimming with a variety of local vendors, a special visit from Santa’s elves, and Mr & Mrs Claus will drop by for photos under a larger-than-life wreath, suspended above the Market Hall.

Distillery Road Market, 11am-9pm

Image via Facebook event

Two brightly costumed performers with exaggerated expressions stand next to a miniature light-up Christmas tree inside a dramatic, bubbly light display, part of the Christmas Gold Coast entertainment.

A free 7-minute light and sound show running at 6:30pm, 6:45pm, 7pm & 7:15pm. Get ready to catch all the “bubble snow” at the end!

Image via Redland Performing Arts Centre

If you’re looking for early education and care for your young family, look no further than Little Scholars!  

We offer your child the very best facilities, resources and early educational, play-based programs available, which are underpinned by the early years learning framework. We also believe in fun, wide-ranging experiences so that children can begin to develop interests and passions of their own, from Bush Kinder adventures to our broad extracurricular program which includes swimming for our kindergarten children, we believe in keeping wonder and magic in childhood.

Find Lara’s recommendations at her website Mrs. Lardeedah.com, and follow her socials Facebook and Instagram

As another year draws to a close, and we look forward to spending time relaxing and with people we love, we decided to ask our staff what some of their favourite traditions around the holidays are. Who knows, it might inspire some new holiday traditions for you!

Christmas Day

“Every Christmas, we love to go camping at Tipplers on the boat and do Christmas Day swimming, eating, being merry and playing beach cricket as a family” – Renee, Campus Manager of Little Scholars Nerang.

“Each Christmas, we love to go down to my parents’ house in Tweed and spend time at as a family at Kingscliff beach after Christmas lunch.” – Carly, Campus Manager of Little Scholars Redland Bay South.

“Our family enjoys a special Christmas Eve dinner, then have an evening of watching The Polar Express every year!” Taylor, Campus Manager of Little Scholars Yatala.

Leading up to Christmas

“All the houses on our street (cul-de-sac) decorate the front of their houses and front gardens with Christmas lights. Every night in December all the children and families go out the front to play, talk (and drink) and look at the lights.  We have lots of other people also visit our street. The kids love it!” Melanie Excell, Operations Manager of Little Scholars.

“Each December my circle & I organise a date for “Friendmas” prior to Christmas Day. Both Christmas and Friendmas is spent out in the sunshine either by the pool or at the beach. We love to end the year being surrounded by the people we adore and love!” – Sam Schmidt, Assistant Campus Manager of Little Scholars Burleigh.

Cookies

“My Christmas traditions are always around food, my mum is Dutch/Indonesian, so our typical Christmas treats aren’t rum balls or White Christmas. Our favourites to bake/cook are spekkoek (cake), speculaas (biscuits) and soto ayam (soup) are our faves!” Samantha, Campus Manager of Little Scholars Ormeau.

“One of my favourite traditions stemming back from when I was little in Canada, was making gingerbread cookies and decorating them with my Nana, little sister, my dad and my aunt. Now, we head over to my husband’s family home and spend an afternoon making cookies and decorating with his nieces and nephews. This year will be the first year our toddler can help!” Christina, Social Media and Marketing, Little Scholars.

“My sister makes a Christmas event calendar for friends and family to participate in over December. For example last night she did Christmas trivia. Also, we usually go and get a Christmas photo together, my siblings and me.” –  Alice, Campus Manager of Little Scholars Burleigh.

“Our perfect Christmas Holiday activity is to grab a blanket and head down to the Broadwater and watch the sun set. We love taking the fur babies, grabbing some freshly cooked fish and chips and hanging out with friends for the afternoon. Definitely fills our cups.” Andrew, Executive Director, Little Scholars.

“We always watch “Carols in the Domain” together with candles and sing along to the Christmas carols – whenever this is on. We would always go to our local carols by candlelight as well. We also always put aside one night everyone is free to go and spend a few hours looking at Christmas lights in the area.” – Jaimie-Lee, Enrolments Officer, Little Scholars.

Little Scholars wishes you a happy, healthy holiday filled with love and memories to last for years to come.

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Let us hold your hand and help looking for a child care centre. Leave your details with us and we’ll be in contact to arrange a time for a ‘Campus Tour’ and we will answer any questions you might have!

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