Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour's carols fill Brelsford Park, and in 2018 a record crowd came despite threatening rain. The city's newer tradition is a Christmas drone show at the Showground.
Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November
We’re checking this season’s Christmas events in Coffs Harbour with every host. Subscribe and we’ll email you the day they go live.
Free. We’ll email you the day they go live, then once a week with new events in Coffs Harbour. Unsubscribe at any time.
Already confirmed in Coffs Harbour
So far we’ve confirmed 1 of this season’s events, and more are on the way.
Coffs Coast Carols at Brelsford Park
When: Sat 19 December, 6.30 to 8.30pm
Where: Brelsford Park, Coffs Harbour
Cost: Free
The story of Christmas in Coffs Harbour
Thousands at Brelsford Park, rain or not
Coffs Harbour's carols centre on Brelsford Park on Earl Street, where families bring picnic blankets for a singalong, Santa and fireworks. In 2018 a record crowd of thousands came despite threatening rain and strong winds.
On Saturday 21 December 2024 the carols started at 6.30pm with nine performers and a full live band, and the fireworks finale came around 8.30pm. The City of Coffs Harbour supports the event. Coffs Central Shopping Centre ran its own Christmas Festival on 7 December 2024, with live carols, market stalls, children's entertainment and a Santa visit.
Drones, Santa and fairground games at the Showground
Christmas in the Sky ran on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December 2025 at the Coffs Harbour Showground on the Pacific Highway. It had a drone light show from 9pm, free Santa photos, a North Pole letterbox, a bubble show, fairground games and food trucks, with the Grinch, Santa and elves dropping in.
On Monday 22 December 2025 the Family Christmas Party at Aanuka Beach House offered a Santa visit, a free Reindeer Food Workshop and The Grinch at sunset.
A 12-metre tree made from a power pole
In 2015 one Coffs Harbour street was covered in thousands of lights and festive displays, and one resident built a 12-metre Christmas tree from a power pole.
In 2020 the Coffs Harbour City Orchestra played carols under the lights at the Botanic Gardens on Hardacre Street on Saturday 12 December, free with donations welcome. Organisers advised pre-booking to manage crowd numbers. The 2026 Coffs Coast Carols are on Saturday 19 December at Brelsford Park, 6.30 to 8.30pm, and the NSW Government listing says entry is free.
Traditions today
- Coffs Coast Carols: A free family carols night at Brelsford Park with Santa, food stalls and fireworks.
- Christmas in the Sky: A 2025 weekend at the Showground with a drone light show, free Santa photos and fairground games.
- Coffs Central Christmas Festival: Carols, market stalls and a Santa visit at the shopping centre in 2024.
- Christmas in the Gardens: Carols by the Coffs Harbour City Orchestra under the lights at the Botanic Gardens in 2020.
- Letters to Santa: A North Pole letterbox for children at Christmas in the Sky in 2025.
A fact for kids
One Coffs Harbour resident once built a 12-metre Christmas tree out of a power pole.
Questions about Christmas in Coffs Harbour
When are the Coffs Coast Carols in 2026?
The Coffs Coast Carols are on Saturday 19 December 2026 at Brelsford Park, 6 Earl Street, Coffs Harbour, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Rally Takes the Train's Coffs Harbour Christmas events guide lists this as the confirmed 2026 date for families.
Are the Coffs Coast Carols free?
Yes. The NSW Government event page gives the cost as free. The night is run by Coffs Harbour Carols and proudly supported by the City of Coffs Harbour. Food stalls on site sell dinner and drinks if you do not bring your own.
What is on at the Coffs Coast Carols for kids?
The event page mentions carol singing, performances by local artists, food stalls, kids' activities, a visit from Santa and a fireworks finale. It describes the evening as laid-back and family-friendly, so toddlers and older children can both join in.
What should I bring to the Coffs carols at Brelsford Park?
Bring a picnic blanket, as the organisers advise. The event page notes a car park, public toilets and non-smoking areas, and says people with access needs are welcome. Details are managed by the organiser and may change, so check before you go. Arriving early helps you get a good picnic spot.
Who do I contact about the Coffs Coast Carols?
The NSW Government event page gives smebookings@chcc.nsw.gov.au and (02) 6648 4950 for enquiries, which go through C.ex Coffs International Stadium. The event is organised by Coffs Harbour Carols and has its own Facebook page, and the listing adds that details may change.
What time do the fireworks start at the Coffs Harbour carols?
The 2026 event page promises a fireworks finale and runs the night from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. In 2024 the fireworks finale came around 8.30pm, after nine performers and a full live band. Check with the organiser for the exact 2026 timing.
How many people go to the Coffs Harbour carols?
No exact figure was found. In 2018 Mid North News reported a record crowd of thousands at Brelsford Park, despite threatening rain and strong winds. The paper did not give a number, so families should arrive early for a good picnic spot.
Is there a Christmas drone show in Coffs Harbour?
In 2025 Christmas in the Sky ran on 6 and 7 December at the Coffs Harbour Showground with a drone light show from 9pm. No 2026 dates were found, so Rally Takes the Train's Coffs Harbour Christmas events guide does not list it yet.
Where can kids see Santa in Coffs Harbour?
The 2026 Coffs Coast Carols on Saturday 19 December include a visit from Santa. In 2025 Christmas in the Sky offered free Santa photos and a North Pole letterbox at the Showground, but no 2026 dates for that event were found.
What was at Christmas in the Sky in Coffs Harbour in 2025?
It ran on 6 and 7 December 2025 at 123 Pacific Highway with a drone light show at 9pm, free Santa photos, a bubble show, fairground games and food trucks. The Grinch, Santa and elves made appearances, and kids could post letters at a North Pole letterbox.
Are there fairground rides at Christmas in Coffs Harbour?
In 2025 Christmas in the Sky at the Coffs Harbour Showground had fairground games, with the Grinch, Santa and elves dropping in. No 2026 dates were found for that event.
Is there a fireworks show at the Coffs Harbour carols?
Yes. The Coffs Coast Carols at Brelsford Park on Saturday 19 December 2026 end with a fireworks finale, and the night runs from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
Can kids post a letter to Santa in Coffs Harbour?
In 2025 Christmas in the Sky had a North Pole letterbox where kids could post letters. No 2026 dates were found for that event.
Is there a Christmas festival at Coffs Central shopping centre?
Coffs Central ran a Christmas Festival on Saturday 7 December 2024, with live carols, market stalls, entertainment for children and a visit from Santa. The event page shows only the 2024 date, so no 2026 event is confirmed yet. Check the centre before planning around it.
What was the Family Christmas Party at Aanuka Beach House?
On Monday 22 December 2025 Aanuka Beach House, 11 Firman Drive, ran a Family Christmas Party with a Santa visit and photo, a free Reindeer Food Workshop and The Grinch at sunset. No 2026 date was found.
Where can I spend Christmas Eve or Christmas Day with kids in Coffs Harbour?
No Christmas Eve or Christmas Day family event was found for 2026. The Coffs Coast Carols on Saturday 19 December are the confirmed Christmas event, so Rally Takes the Train's Coffs Harbour Christmas events guide suggests planning around that date.
Did the Coffs Harbour City Orchestra play Christmas carols?
Yes. In 2020 the Coffs Harbour City Orchestra played Christmas carols under the lights at the Botanic Gardens on Hardacre Street on Saturday 12 December. It was free, donations were welcome, and organisers advised pre-booking to manage crowd numbers. No 2026 orchestra concert was found.
Are there Christmas lights displays in Coffs Harbour?
A 2015 Mid North News story described one street where residents added thousands of lights and festive displays, including a 12-metre tree built from a power pole. No 2026 lights trail was found, so no street or date can be given.
Do Coffs Harbour libraries run Christmas events?
The library's upcoming events page, when checked, showed no Christmas storytimes. Families can call the library on 02 6648 4900 or check its What's On page for December programs.
Where is Brelsford Park in Coffs Harbour?
Brelsford Park is at 6 Earl Street, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450, and it hosts the Coffs Coast Carols. The event page notes a car park and public toilets. In 2026 the carols are on Saturday 19 December, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, and are free.
Sources
- Coffs Coast Carols at Brelsford Park, NSW Government
- Coffs Coast Carols at Brelsford Park, Visit NSW
- Christmas In The Sky: Coffs Habour, Visit NSW
- Family Christmas Party, Visit NSW
- Coffs Jetty Carnival, NSW Government
- Coffs Harbour Christmas Carols preview (December 2024), News Of The Area
- Record crowd for Coffs carols (2018), Mid North News
- Coffs Harbour lights up for Christmas (2015), Mid North News
- Christmas in the Gardens, Coffs Harbour (2020), Coastbeat
- Coffs Central Christmas Festival, Visit NSW
- Upcoming events, Coffs Harbour City Libraries