Christmas Events for Kids in Rockhampton (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

4 min read

For 2026, we confirmed 4 Christmas events for kids in Rockhampton, running from 27 November to 24 December. Of these, 2 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 Rockhampton: 4
  • First: Radiance: Lights of Christmas Past at the Heritage Village, Rockhampton, 27 November
  • Free events: Heritage Village Christmas Markets and CBD Christmas Fair

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 in Rockhampton

Kids’ Christmas events
4 confirmed for 2026
Suburbs
Rockhampton
Season
27 November to 24 December
Free events
2
Last checked

Christmas events for kids in Rockhampton

Listed soonest first: 4 confirmed events in Rockhampton.

Christmas lights

Radiance: Lights of Christmas Past at the Heritage Village

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Explore Rockhampton lists Radiance as a Christmas experience for all ages, set at the Rockhampton Heritage Village on Boundary Road, Parkhurst. In 2026 it runs nightly from Friday 27 November to Thursday 24 December, with the village closed on Saturday 28 November for the Christmas Markets.

On Fridays and Saturdays a low sensory session starts at 6.45pm, then general sessions leave every 15 minutes from 7pm to 9pm. From Sunday to Thursday the low sensory session is also at 6.45pm and general sessions run every 15 minutes from 7pm to 8.30pm. Tickets must be bought in advance online through the Radiance website, and the listing does not state a price.

Parent tip: Book tickets online before you go. Families who prefer a quieter visit can look at the 6.45pm low sensory session.

Host
Radiance Rockhampton (opens in a new tab)
Where
Rockhampton Heritage Village, 296 Boundary Road (opens in maps)
Booking
Essential
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Radiance Rockhampton (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 3 more Rockhampton 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 in Rockhampton.
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Coming up on this page

  • 2 Lights
  • 2 Markets
  • 1 Santa
  • 1 Shows
  • 2 Free

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Christmas marketFree

Heritage Village Christmas Markets

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The Heritage Village Christmas Markets take over the Rockhampton Heritage Village on Boundary Road, Parkhurst, on Saturday 28 November 2026. The council's listing describes an evening of festive market stalls, food and drinks, and it is tagged as a kids and family event.

The markets run from 4pm to 9pm and entry is free. The Explore Rockhampton Christmas page groups it with Radiance, which starts the night before on Friday 27 November. Radiance is closed on the night of the markets, so the two do not clash.

Parent tip: Radiance is closed on Saturday 28 November, so the markets are the only Christmas event at the village that night.

Host
Rockhampton Regional Council (opens in a new tab)
Where
Rockhampton Heritage Village, 296 Boundary Road (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Rockhampton Regional Council (opens in a new tab)

New events in Rockhampton every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Rockhampton 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

CBD Christmas Fair

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The CBD Christmas Fair fills Quay Street and the Riverside Precinct in Rockhampton on Saturday 5 December 2026, from 5pm to 9pm. Explore Rockhampton lists craft workshops, an outdoor cinema, photos with Santa and a station for writing letters to Santa, and its Christmas page also mentions market stalls and the official lighting of the Christmas tree.

Entry is free. The page tags the fair as a kids and family event. The council runs it, and questions can go to Rockhampton Regional Council on 07 4936 8005 or events@rrc.qld.gov.au. The listing for 2026 does not give times for the cinema, the Santa photos or the tree lighting.

Parent tip: Check the council's page closer to the day for the film and tree lighting times, which the 2026 listing does not give.

Host
Rockhampton Regional Council (opens in a new tab)
Where
Riverside Precinct, Quay Street, Rockhampton 4700 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Rockhampton Regional Council (opens in a new tab)

New events in Rockhampton every week

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

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Christmas carols

Carols by Candlelight

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Carols by Candlelight plays the Pilbeam Theatre on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December 2026, with both shows running from 7pm to 9pm. Explore Rockhampton tags it as a kids and family event and says it suits families who prefer the comfort and more intimate nature of a theatre.

Tickets are sold through SEE IT LIVE, and the page does not state a price or an age range. In 2025 the council gave ticket proceeds and donations to a local charity, and each year it selects one local charity for this purpose.

Parent tip: Book through the Buy Tickets link on the Explore Rockhampton page. No ages or prices are stated, so check when booking.

Host
Rockhampton Regional Council and SEE IT LIVE (opens in a new tab)
Where
Pilbeam Theatre, Cnr Victoria Parade and Cambridge Street, Rockhampton 4700 (opens in maps)
Booking
Essential
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Rockhampton Regional Council and SEE IT LIVE (opens in a new tab)

New events in Rockhampton every week

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

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More Christmas events for kids in Australia

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Christmas events for kids in Rockhampton: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Rockhampton?

For 2026, we confirmed 4 Christmas events for kids in Rockhampton, each on its host’s own page: Radiance: Lights of Christmas Past at the Heritage Village, CBD Christmas Fair, Heritage Village Christmas Markets and 1 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Rockhampton?

Yes, 2 of the 4 events here are free: CBD Christmas Fair and Heritage Village Christmas Markets. Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.

Where can kids see Santa this year in Rockhampton?

Where to see Santa: CBD Christmas Fair. 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 8 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 in Rockhampton

Rockhampton's carols were long held at the Music Bowl, which opened in 1985. Its newer tradition, Radiance, drew almost 15,000 people in its first twelve nights.

Music Bowl carols and one charity chosen each year

Rockhampton's Carols by Candlelight has long been tied to the Rockhampton Music Bowl, which opened on 9 March 1985 and became the traditional home of the city's carols, held every December. While the bowl was closed, the carols moved to the Heritage Village, Victoria Park and the Pilbeam Theatre, and the 2015 carols were the first held once it reopened.

Every year Council selects one local charity to receive ticket proceeds and donations. The other yearly fixture is the CBD Christmas Fair on Quay Street. Council describes it as annual, and the tree lighting is one of its most anticipated community events.

A Toy Maker's workshop and an outdoor film by the river

In 2025 Radiance ran from 28 November to Christmas Eve at the Botanic Gardens. The mayor called it the event's third year. The story took visitors into a Toy Maker's workshop, and the reflective Japanese Gardens and falling snow returned. Food vendors opened from 5 December.

The CBD Christmas Fair ran on Saturday 6 December 2025, 5 to 9pm, with The Grinch (G) on the outdoor screen from 6pm, Santa photos at Customs House from 6.30pm and the tree lit at 7.45pm. Carols by Candlelight ran at the Pilbeam Theatre on 12 and 13 December.

Almost 15,000 people in the first twelve nights

Radiance's first season, in 2023, drew almost 15,000 people by 12 December, after it opened on 1 December. It used holograms, lasers and light sculptures at the Botanic Gardens. In 2026 it moves to the Heritage Village as Lights of Christmas Past.

In 2023 Council also ran a free Lights of Christmas show on St Joseph's Cathedral about six times a night from 17 to 23 December. At the 2024 fair, kids posted letters to Santa outside Customs House, and letters posted before 9 December with a home address were promised a reply before Christmas Day.

Traditions today

  • Carols by Candlelight: A Council carols night with local performers, with proceeds going to one local charity each year.
  • CBD Christmas Fair: A free riverfront evening on Quay Street with crafts, an outdoor film, Santa photos and the tree lighting.
  • Radiance: A nightly Christmas light and sound journey, at the Botanic Gardens in earlier years and at the Heritage Village in 2026.
  • Heritage Village Christmas Markets: An evening of festive stalls, food and drinks at the Rockhampton Heritage Village.
  • Letters to Santa: At the 2024 fair children posted letters to Santa at a letterbox outside Customs House. The 2026 dates are not confirmed.

A fact for kids

Almost 15,000 people went to Rockhampton's Radiance light show in its first twelve nights in 2023.

Questions about Christmas in Rockhampton

When is the Rockhampton CBD Christmas Fair in 2026?

The CBD Christmas Fair is on Saturday 5 December 2026, from 5pm to 9pm, on Quay Street and at the Riverside Precinct. Entry is free. Rally Takes the Train's Rockhampton Christmas events guide lists it with the other confirmed 2026 dates for families.

Is the CBD Christmas Fair in Rockhampton free?

Yes. Rockhampton Regional Council runs the fair and entry is free. In 2025 the free program included face painting, a craft workshop, a Santa letter writing station, live music and roving entertainment, so families only need money for food or extras.

What time is the Christmas tree lit at the Rockhampton CBD Christmas Fair?

In both 2024 and 2025 the official tree lighting was at 7.45pm. The 2026 event page says the tree is lit at the fair on Saturday 5 December but does not give a time, so check Council's page nearer the day. The fair itself runs from 5pm to 9pm.

Can kids get a photo with Santa in Rockhampton?

Yes. The 2026 CBD Christmas Fair on Saturday 5 December lists photos with Santa. In 2025 the Santa photos were at Customs House from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Rally Takes the Train's Rockhampton Christmas events guide has the 2026 details. Entry to the fair is free.

How can my child send a letter to Santa in Rockhampton?

Explore Rockhampton has listed a Letters to Santa idea with a North Pole Express Letterbox where children post wish lists and Santa replies before Christmas, but the 2026 dates are not confirmed here. At the 2024 fair the letterbox was outside Customs House, and letters needed a home address to get a reply.

When does Radiance Rockhampton start in 2026?

Radiance runs nightly from Friday 27 November to Thursday 24 December 2026 at the Rockhampton Heritage Village. It is closed on Saturday 28 November, when the Heritage Village Christmas Markets are on. Tickets are bought online in advance. Sessions start in the evening, so it suits families with children who can stay up.

Where is Radiance held in 2026?

In 2026 Radiance is called Lights of Christmas Past and is held at the Rockhampton Heritage Village, 296 Boundary Road, Parkhurst. In 2023 and 2025 it was held at the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens, so families who went before should note the new location.

Do I need to book tickets for Radiance in Rockhampton?

Yes. The Explore Rockhampton page says tickets must be bought in advance online, and it points to the Radiance website at radiancerockhampton.com.au for more information. The page does not state a ticket price, so check the website before you plan the evening.

What time are the Radiance sessions in Rockhampton?

On Fridays and Saturdays a low sensory session starts at 6.45pm, then general sessions run every 15 minutes from 7pm to 9pm. From Sunday to Thursday the low sensory session is also at 6.45pm and general sessions run from 7pm to 8.30pm, every 15 minutes.

Is Radiance suitable for young children?

Explore Rockhampton describes Radiance as a memorable Christmas experience for all ages and tags it as a kids and family event. A low sensory session runs at 6.45pm each night. Council's mayor also called the 2023 show an event for the whole family.

How many people went to Radiance in Rockhampton in its first year?

Almost 15,000 people had been to Radiance by 12 December 2023, after it opened on 1 December that year. It used holograms, lasers, interactive projections, light sculptures and soundscapes at the Botanic Gardens, and Council said it would welcome the show back.

When are the Heritage Village Christmas Markets in 2026?

The Heritage Village Christmas Markets are on Saturday 28 November 2026, from 4pm to 9pm, at the Rockhampton Heritage Village on Boundary Road, Parkhurst. Entry is free. The event page describes festive market stalls, food and drinks, and Radiance is closed that night.

When is Carols by Candlelight in Rockhampton in 2026?

Carols by Candlelight is at the Pilbeam Theatre on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December 2026, with both shows from 7pm to 9pm. Tickets are sold through SEE IT LIVE. Rally Takes the Train's Rockhampton Christmas events guide lists the dates for families.

Are the Rockhampton carols outdoors or indoors?

The 2026 carols are indoors at the Pilbeam Theatre, and the page says they suit families who prefer comfort and a more intimate setting. The carols were long held at the outdoor Rockhampton Music Bowl, and in 2023 Council listed them at the bowl on 9 December.

What is the Rockhampton Music Bowl?

The Rockhampton Music Bowl opened on 9 March 1985 and was the traditional home of the city's Carols by Candlelight, held every December. While it was closed the carols moved to the Heritage Village, Victoria Park and the Pilbeam Theatre. The 2015 carols were the first after it reopened.

Where does the money from Rockhampton's Carols by Candlelight go?

Council selects one local charity each year to receive ticket proceeds and donations. That gives families a local cause behind the night.

Is there a free Christmas light show in Rockhampton?

In 2023 Council ran a free Lights of Christmas show on St Joseph's Cathedral, about six times a night from 17 to 23 December. No 2026 dates for it were found. For 2026 the confirmed light show, Radiance, is ticketed.

What Christmas films has the Rockhampton CBD fair shown outdoors?

The CBD fair screens a G-rated film outdoors on the riverfront. In 2024 it was Elf, shown from 6pm to 7.30pm, and in 2025 it was The Grinch (2018), shown at the same time. The 2026 fair also lists an outdoor cinema, but the film is not named.

What can families do in Rockhampton on the first weekend of the 2026 Christmas season?

Radiance opens on Friday 27 November 2026 at the Heritage Village, and the free Heritage Village Christmas Markets follow on Saturday 28 November from 4pm to 9pm. Rally Takes the Train's Rockhampton Christmas events guide lists both for families. Both events are at the same site on Boundary Road.

Where can kids go on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day in Rockhampton?

Radiance runs nightly until 24 December 2026, so Christmas Eve is covered by that ticketed light journey at the Heritage Village. No Christmas Day family event was found for Rockhampton, so check Council's Christmas page before planning. Sessions run in the evening only.

Sources

  1. Council news: Join the festivities at the CBD Christmas Fair (2024), Rockhampton Regional Council
  2. CBD Christmas Fair 2025, Rockhampton Regional Council
  3. Radiance back in 2025 at Rockhampton Botanic Gardens, Rockhampton Regional Council
  4. A Dazzling Success at the Botanic Gardens, Rockhampton Regional Council
  5. Carols by Candlelight 2025, SEE IT LIVE
  6. Rockhampton Music Bowl, Wikipedia
  7. Summer School Holiday fun in the Region (2023), Rockhampton Regional Council
  8. What's On Christmas & NYE, Explore Rockhampton
  9. Radiance, Explore Rockhampton
  10. Heritage Village Christmas Markets, Explore Rockhampton
  11. CBD Christmas Fair, Explore Rockhampton
  12. Carols by Candlelight, Explore Rockhampton
  13. Carols by Candlelight (charity and Council), SEE IT LIVE
Kelsey Cecil
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