Christmas Events for Kids on the Central Coast (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

6 min read

For 2026, we confirmed 7 Christmas events for kids on the Central Coast. The season opens on 1 October with Santa Haus Tuggerah and runs until 24 December with Christmas on the Coast. Of these, 3 are free. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in Australia.

The short version

  • Kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Erina, Toukley, Pearl Beach and Tuggerah: 7
  • First: Santa Haus Tuggerah, Tuggerah, 1 October
  • Free events: Santa's Arrival at Erina Fair, Christmas on the Central Coast and Christmas on the Coast

Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by suburb, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (booking, ages, what is included).

At a glance: Christmas events for kids on the Central Coast

Kids’ Christmas events
7 confirmed for 2026
Suburbs
Erina, Toukley, Pearl Beach and Tuggerah
Season
1 October to 24 December
Free events
3
Last checked

Christmas events for kids in Erina

Listed soonest first: 3 confirmed events in Erina.

Christmas paradeFree

Santa's Arrival at Erina Fair

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Santa Claus comes to town at Erina Fair on Saturday 7 November. The parade starts at 10am near Boost Juice, then Santa and his merry friends sing and dance their way through the two fashion malls, past Customer Service, and finish at the Santa photography set in Centre Court.

The parade is free and takes about an hour. The centre warns that the parade will be noisy, and although noise control measures are in place, it may not suit every child, so families with sensory sensitivities may prefer to watch from the edge or visit another time. The Santa photography set is open for bookings, and there are sensory-friendly Sensitive Santa sessions before the stores open. Get the milk and cookies ready, as the centre says.

Parent tip: The parade can be noisy, which may not suit every child. Sensitive Santa photo sessions are held before the stores open.

Host
Erina Fair Shopping Centre (opens in a new tab)
Where
Erina Fair Shopping Centre, Terrigal Drive, Erina 2250 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Erina Fair Shopping Centre (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 6 more Central Coast events researched for you.

  • New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find on the Central Coast.
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Coming up on this page

  • 7 Santa
  • 2 Lights
  • 1 Parades
  • 1 Shows
  • 3 Free

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Meet Santa

Christmas Ice Disco at Erina Ice Arena

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Erina Fair's Christmas Skate Disco takes place at Erina Ice Arena on Saturday 14 November, from 3.30pm to 6pm, with doors opening at 3pm. Tickets cost $10, which the centre values at over $30, and proceeds support the We Care Connect Christmas Appeal.

The session is suitable for ages 5 and over, and children under eight must be accompanied by an adult on the ice. No skate aids, such as seals, are used at this event. The ticket includes disco skating, skate hire, a Christmas surprise and a special appearance by Santa. Bookings are opening soon, so keep an eye on the Erina Fair website for the ticket link. A cool indoor activity on a warm Central Coast afternoon.

Parent tip: Children under 8 need an adult on the ice with them. Check the Erina Fair page for the ticket link, as bookings were opening soon.

Host
Erina Fair Shopping Centre (opens in a new tab)
Where
Erina Ice Arena, Erina Fair, Terrigal Drive, Erina 2250 (opens in maps)
Booking
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Erina Fair Shopping Centre (opens in a new tab)

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Rally looks for new Christmas events on the Central Coast every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

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Santa photos

Santa Photography and Auslan Santa at Erina Fair

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Erina Fair offers bookable Santa photography in Centre Court, near Sportsgirl, Lowes and The Coffee Club. Choose from Family and Friends sessions, a Sensitive Santa option, Pet photography, or an Auslan Santa session for children who use Auslan as their main form of communication.

Sensitive Santa sessions take place before the stores open, when the centre is quieter, to create a calm, sensory-friendly experience for children with sensory challenges. The Auslan Santa session is on Saturday 21 November from 2pm to 4pm. Online bookings are essential for both the Sensitive Santa and Auslan Santa sessions, and the centre notes it may not be able to accommodate every family. The best parking is the Blue Car Park near Big W, or the Purple Car Park undercroft, entering from Terrigal Drive.

Parent tip: Book online, as bookings are essential for Sensitive Santa and Auslan Santa. Use the Blue Car Park near Big W for the easiest access.

Host
Erina Fair Shopping Centre (opens in a new tab)
Where
Erina Fair Shopping Centre, Centre Court, Terrigal Drive, Erina 2250 (opens in maps)
Booking
Essential
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Erina Fair Shopping Centre (opens in a new tab)

New events on the Central Coast every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events on the Central Coast every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

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Christmas events for kids in Toukley

Listed soonest first: 2 confirmed events in Toukley.

Meet SantaFree

Christmas on the Central Coast (Toukley)

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Christmas on the Central Coast is the region's free festive program for December, listed by NSW Government tourism. Gosford, Terrigal, Toukley, The Entrance and Wyong are the heart of the celebrations, each with its own lineup of free festive activities, from twinkling tree lights and bustling Christmas markets to carolling in picturesque parks and magical moments with Santa himself.

It runs from 1 to 24 December 2026 and is free and family friendly. It also invites visitors to vote for the most dazzling shop window display created by local businesses. Session times for each activity are still to come, so check the Destination Central Coast website for the daily program and the town you plan to visit as the dates are released.

Parent tip: Daily times are not listed yet, so check Destination Central Coast for each town's program before you travel.

Host
Destination Central Coast (opens in a new tab)
Where
Central Coast town centres (Gosford, Terrigal, Toukley, The Entrance, Wyong), Yaralla Road, Toukley 2263 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Destination Central Coast (opens in a new tab)

New events on the Central Coast every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events on the Central Coast every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

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Meet SantaFree

Christmas on the Coast (Toukley)

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Christmas on the Coast is the Central Coast's December festive season, and the main celebration hubs are Gosford, Terrigal, Toukley, The Entrance and Wyong. It runs from Tuesday 1 December to Thursday 24 December 2026.

There are free festive activities, including carolling in parks, twinkling tree lights, Christmas markets and visits with Santa, plus a vote for the most dazzling shop window display made by local businesses. There are also beachside lunches and Christmas Day dining options. Individual session times are still to come, so check the Love Central Coast Christmas page for the schedule of each activity as it is released.

Parent tip: Individual dates, times and venues are not yet published, so check the Love Central Coast Christmas page before you set out.

Host
Central Coast Council (opens in a new tab)
Where
Christmas on the Coast (Gosford, Terrigal, Toukley, The Entrance and Wyong), Yaralla Rd, Toukley 2263 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Central Coast Council (opens in a new tab)

New events on the Central Coast every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events on the Central Coast every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas events for kids in Pearl Beach

Listed soonest first: 1 confirmed event in Pearl Beach.

Santa photos

Pearl Beach Santa Photos

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Pearl Beach Santa Photos are back for a fifth year, with Santa setting up his grotto on the beachfront at Pearl Parade. Santa sessions run 8am to 1pm on 28 and 29 November and on the weekends 4 to 6, 11 to 13 and 18 to 20 December. The Grinch also takes over on Fridays 4, 11 and 18 December from 5pm to 7pm for a cheekier photo.

Sessions last 10 minutes, cost $85, and include six professionally edited photos. All family members are welcome, including pets, and larger families should book two time slots. Please be on time. Santa's elves will contact you to reschedule if the weather causes problems. Bookings are made online through the Pearl Beach Social Club page, and the fundraiser supports local charity Coast Shelter.

Parent tip: Book online early, as sessions sell out. Large families should book two slots, and arrive on time.

Host
Pearl Beach Social Club (opens in a new tab)
Where
Pearl Beach beachfront, Pearl Parade, Pearl Beach 2256 (opens in maps)
Booking
Essential
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Pearl Beach Social Club (opens in a new tab)

New events on the Central Coast every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events on the Central Coast every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas events for kids in Tuggerah

Listed soonest first: 1 confirmed event in Tuggerah.

Meet Santa

Santa Haus Tuggerah

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Santa Haus is a purpose-built Santa photo studio at 5/5 Joule Place, Tuggerah, with richly styled sets that change every year. Bookings for 2026 are open. A 5-minute session with three photos costs $165 and suits school age children, tweens and teenagers. Families with children under six are advised to book a longer session, such as the 10-minute option with four photos for $220, or a 15-minute session with six photos from $360.

Images are delivered by download link within five to seven days, and extra images can be purchased. The studio is open Thursday to Sunday from 1 October to 20 December. Street parking is available outside the warehouse complex, with four spaces directly outside. If you are running late, send a text and staff will fit you in.

Parent tip: Book early, as sessions fill quickly. Text the studio if you are running late and mind the marked parking spaces for neighbouring tenants.

Host
Santa Haus (opens in a new tab)
Where
Santa Haus, 5/5 Joule Place, Tuggerah 2259 (opens in maps)
Booking
Essential
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Santa Haus (opens in a new tab)

New events on the Central Coast every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events on the Central Coast every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

More Christmas events for kids in Australia

A story for the trip home

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Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolour corgi peeking from a red train

A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolour. Ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon.com.au (opens in a new tab)

Christmas events for kids on the Central Coast: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids on the Central Coast?

For 2026, we confirmed 7 Christmas events for kids on the Central Coast, each on its host’s own page: Santa Photography and Auslan Santa at Erina Fair (Erina), Santa Haus Tuggerah (Tuggerah), Christmas on the Central Coast (Toukley) and 4 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids on the Central Coast?

Yes, 3 of the 7 events here are free: Christmas on the Central Coast (Toukley), Santa's Arrival at Erina Fair (Erina) and Christmas on the Coast (Toukley). Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.

Where can kids see Santa this year on the Central Coast?

Where to see Santa: Santa Photography and Auslan Santa at Erina Fair (Erina), Santa Haus Tuggerah (Tuggerah), Christmas on the Central Coast (Toukley) and 4 more. Check the listings above for times and booking.

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on 5 November 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November

More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.

The story of Christmas on the Central Coast

On the Central Coast, a street in Woy Woy has strung more than 85,000 lights, and a Saratoga street has held snowball fights in summer. The coast's Christmas is part council program, part neighbours who go all out.

Santa's garden and a 30-day light show at The Entrance

The Central Coast sits about 77 km north-northeast of Sydney and 86 km southwest of Newcastle, and its Christmas has grown around town centres and parks. In 2017 the council opened Santa's Magical Garden at The Entrance as the start of 30 days of Christmas activities, with a tree lighting at The Entrance Waterfront Plaza and the Tuggerah Lakes Showband playing carols. In 2018 A Luminous Christmas followed, a 30-day LED light, sound and animation show along The Entrance foreshore. Christmas Eve carols in Memorial Park were already on the calendar in both years.

Window trail, Tinsel Time and carols with fireworks

Under the Christmas on the Coast banner, Central Coast Council added a Christmas Window Display Competition in 2022, where the public votes for a favourite shopfront, with a $250 gift card as the prize. By 2025 the window trail ran from 1 December to 2 January across Terrigal, Gosford, The Entrance, Wyong and Toukley. Tinsel Time filled the Village Green in Toukley on Friday 5 December from 5.30 to 8.30pm. Wyong Community Carols ran at Wyong High School on Saturday 6 December from 5.30pm, with fireworks at 9pm. The Gallery Container in Toukley had a giant Santa chair for family photos from 5 to 24 December.

An 85,000-light house in Woy Woy and a snowball fight in Saratoga

Some of the coast's best-loved displays are in ordinary streets. Watkin Avenue in Woy Woy has run for over 30 years and in 2025 had more than 85,000 lights, with trains, snow and a selfie station. Colin Street in Saratoga ran cold spark fireworks at 9pm from 18 to 24 December and held snowball fights on 23 and 24 December, raising money for Coast Shelter. Tamara Road in Erina has what one local magazine calls the biggest inflatable Christmas tree on the coast, and Thomas Mitchell Road in Killarney Vale has an animatronic Santa's workshop made with kids in mind.

Traditions today

  • Christmas on the Coast: Central Coast Council's December program across Gosford, Terrigal, Toukley, The Entrance and Wyong, with decorations, photos, entertainment and carols.
  • Christmas Eve carols: Community carols at Kibble Park in Gosford and Memorial Park in The Entrance on Christmas Eve.
  • Shop window trail: Local businesses decorate their windows and the public votes online or by QR code for a $250 gift card.
  • Santa photos with pets welcome: Free photos with Santa at the Gallery Container in Toukley on the three days before Christmas in 2025.
  • Street light displays: Neighbours decorate whole houses, such as Watkin Avenue in Woy Woy, and many raise money for charities.
  • Wyong Community Carols: An evening of carols that ends with fireworks, held at Wyong High School in 2025.

A fact for kids

A street in Saratoga held snowball fights on 23 and 24 December 2025, in the middle of an Australian summer.

Questions about Christmas on the Central Coast

How did Christmas on the Coast start at The Entrance?

In 2017 Central Coast Council opened Santa's Magical Garden at The Entrance as the start of 30 days of Christmas activities. A tree lighting at The Entrance Waterfront Plaza on Friday 24 November came with the Tuggerah Lakes Showband. In 2018 the council followed with a 30-day light show along the foreshore.

What was A Luminous Christmas at The Entrance?

A Luminous Christmas was a 30-day LED light, sound and animation show along The Entrance foreshore, running each evening in December 2018. It launched on Saturday 1 December at 5.30pm with stilt walkers, giant bouncy elves and Santa, and the lights switched on at 8.30pm. An Including You tent offered sensory and mobility aids.

Which town centres join in Christmas on the Coast?

Council material names four town centres in 2022: Gosford, Wyong, The Entrance and Toukley. By 2025 Terrigal was listed too, so the hubs are Gosford, Terrigal, Toukley, The Entrance and Wyong. Each gets Christmas decorations unveiled on 1 December, and the Visit NSW page uses the same five names.

When is Christmas on the Coast in 2026?

Visit NSW shows Christmas on the Coast running from Tuesday 1 December to Thursday 24 December 2026, with free festive activities. It gives Yaralla Rd, Toukley as the listed address and does not post individual session times. Rally Takes the Train's Central Coast Christmas events guide will add dates as hosts confirm them.

Besides the Watkin Avenue lights, what can kids do at Christmas on the Central Coast?

In the 2025 season kids could sit in a giant Santa chair for photos at the Gallery Container in Toukley, see Santa with pets welcome on 20, 21 and 22 December, and join Tinsel Time on the Toukley Village Green. Thomas Mitchell Road in Killarney Vale also had an animatronic Santa's workshop aimed at children.

Which Woy Woy street has more than 85,000 Christmas lights?

Watkin Avenue in Woy Woy is one of the best known, with over 85,000 lights in 2025, plus trains, snow, cut-outs and a selfie station. Coasties Magazine says the display has run for more than 30 years. It is a private home, so please be respectful of the neighbours, and check for any donation collection.

How old is the Watkin Avenue Christmas display in Woy Woy?

The Watkin Avenue display in Woy Woy has been running for over 30 years. In 2025 it had more than 85,000 lights, model trains, snow, cut-outs and a selfie station. The house is at 77 Watkin Avenue.

What happens at the Saratoga Christmas house on Colin Street?

In 2025 Colin Street in Saratoga ran cold spark fireworks at 9pm from 18 to 24 December and held snowball fights on 23 and 24 December. The display also raised money for Coast Shelter. Display hosts change their plans each year, so check before you go.

Is there a Santa letterbox on the Central Coast?

Katoomba Avenue in San Remo, in 2025, had Santa meet and greets on Friday and Saturday nights in December, and children could leave a letter in his letterbox for a reply. Coasties Magazine listed it among the coast's light hunting stops. Display hosts change their plans each year, so check before you go.

Where can I get a free photo with Santa on the Central Coast?

In 2025 Central Coast Council ran free photos with Santa at the Gallery Container in Toukley on 20, 21 and 22 December from 9am to 1pm, and pets were welcome. The container also had a giant Santa chair for DIY family photos from 5 to 24 December. The 2026 times will be posted by the hosts.

When was Tinsel Time in Toukley in 2025?

Tinsel Time was a Christmas night on The Village Green in Toukley on Friday 5 December 2025, from 5.30 to 8.30pm, listed on Central Coast Council's Christmas on the Coast page. Love Central Coast named the Toukley Neighbourhood Centre as presenter. No 2026 date has been posted yet, so watch those pages.

When and where were the Wyong Community Carols in 2025?

Wyong Community Carols took place at Wyong High School on Saturday 6 December 2025, from 5.30pm to 9pm, with fireworks at 9pm, weather permitting. In 2022 the council listed the same carols on 3 December at Alison Road. No 2026 date has been posted yet, so watch Love Central Coast.

Where are the Christmas Eve carols on the Central Coast?

In 2025 there were two on Christmas Eve, Wednesday 24 December: Christmas Eve Carols at Kibble Park in Gosford, and Carols in the Park at Memorial Park in The Entrance. In 2022 the Gosford carols ran 6.30pm to 9pm and The Entrance carols 6pm to 9pm. Check the 2026 times with the hosts.

How does the Central Coast Christmas window trail work?

Local businesses decorate their shopfronts, and visitors walk the town centres of Terrigal, Gosford, The Entrance, Wyong and Toukley to view them. You vote for a favourite window online or by scanning a QR code at participating shops, with a $250 gift card on offer. The 2025 trail ran 1 December to 2 January.

Where can we spend Christmas Day on the Central Coast?

Visit NSW mentions beachside lunches and Christmas Day dining options, and says the main celebration hubs are Gosford, Terrigal, Toukley, The Entrance and Wyong. Christmas Eve is the big community night, with carols at Kibble Park and Memorial Park in 2025. Book any restaurant early and check details with the venue.

Where should families start for Christmas with kids, from Gosford to Toukley?

Start with the hubs named by Visit NSW: Gosford, Terrigal, Toukley, The Entrance and Wyong, where December brings carolling in parks, tree lights, markets and Santa visits. Add a night drive past the street displays at Woy Woy and Saratoga. Rally Takes the Train's Central Coast Christmas events guide lists confirmed dates.

Is the Central Coast a good place for a summer Christmas by the water?

The region sits on the Pacific coast, with Brisbane Water, Tuggerah Lakes and many beaches, and December is summer in Australia. Visit NSW lists beachside lunches among its Christmas on the Coast ideas, and The Entrance has had a foreshore light show and Santa's garden by the water in past years.

What is Christmas on the Coast and who runs it?

Christmas on the Coast is Central Coast Council's name for its December festive program across town centres. It has included decorations, DIY photos, live entertainment, a letterbox for Santa, a window display vote and community carols. Council pages from 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2025 describe it, and Visit NSW lists the 2026 season.

How many people live on the Central Coast?

The 2021 census counted 346,596 people on the Central Coast, which lies on the New South Wales coast between Sydney and Newcastle. Gosford is the largest centre, with Wyong, Woy Woy, Terrigal, The Entrance and Bateau Bay among the other towns. Wyong's The Art House is the region's largest theatre.

Can families donate when visiting Central Coast Christmas lights?

Many street displays raise money, so bring small change. In 2025 Colin Street in Saratoga supported Coast Shelter, Emu Drive in San Remo supported the Starlight Children's Foundation, Selina Avenue in Kariong held a Ronald McDonald House fundraiser on 21 December, and James Watt Drive in Chittaway Bay raised funds for MND Australia.

Sources

  1. Central Coast (New South Wales), Wikipedia
  2. Christmas on the Coast 2025, Central Coast Council
  3. Christmas Light Hunting on the Central Coast 2025, Coasties Magazine
  4. Central Coast gets Christmas spirit (2022), Central Coast Council
  5. Celebrate Christmas on the Coast (2017), Central Coast Council
  6. Never seen Coast 30 days Luminous Christmas (2018), Central Coast Council
  7. Christmas on the Central Coast, Visit NSW
  8. Central Coast Christmas Window Trail, Love Central Coast
Kelsey Cecil
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