Christmas Events for Kids in Shepparton (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

3 min read

For 2026, we confirmed 2 Christmas events for kids in Shepparton. The season opens on 9 December with Tatura Carols by Candlelight and runs until 21 December with Shepparton Carols by Candlelight. Every event here is 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 Shepparton and Tatura: 2
  • First: Tatura Carols by Candlelight, Tatura, 9 December
  • Free events: Tatura Carols by Candlelight and Shepparton Carols by Candlelight

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 Shepparton

Kids’ Christmas events
2 confirmed for 2026
Suburbs
Shepparton and Tatura
Season
9 December to 21 December
Free events
2
Last checked

Christmas events for kids in Shepparton

Listed soonest first: 1 confirmed event in Shepparton.

Christmas carolsFree

Shepparton Carols by Candlelight

Expand to see the parent tip

Local artists perform well-known Christmas songs at Queens Gardens in Shepparton on Monday 21 December 2026, from 6 to 9pm. The night is free, and food and drinks are sold on the day.

Seating is limited, so bring a rug or chair. If you cannot get there, the event can be watched by livestream on the Council website or on YouTube.

Parent tip: Bring a rug or chair because seating is limited. The night is also livestreamed if little ones need an early bedtime.

Host
Greater Shepparton City Council (opens in a new tab)
Where
Queens Gardens, Shepparton (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Greater Shepparton City Council (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas events for kids in Tatura

Listed soonest first: 1 confirmed event in Tatura.

Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 1 more Shepparton event researched for you.

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Christmas carolsFree

Tatura Carols by Candlelight

Expand to see the parent tip

The Lions Club of Tatura holds its carols night at Mactier Gardens on Hogan Street, Tatura, on Wednesday 9 December 2026. Gates open at 6pm with a barbecue, coffee and ice cream, and the carols begin at 6.30pm.

Entry is free, and donations for Vision Australia are collected on the night. There is carol singing, performances, food and drinks, and a visit from Father Christmas.

Parent tip: Gates open at 6pm, so you can eat first and settle in before the carols start at 6.30pm.

Host
Lions Club of Tatura (opens in a new tab)
Where
Mactier Gardens, Hogan Street, Tatura (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Lions Club of Tatura (opens in a new tab)

New events in Shepparton every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Shepparton 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

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 in Shepparton: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Shepparton?

For 2026, we confirmed 2 Christmas events for kids in Shepparton, each on its host’s own page: Tatura Carols by Candlelight (Tatura) and Shepparton Carols by Candlelight. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Shepparton?

Yes, every event here is free: Tatura Carols by Candlelight (Tatura) and Shepparton Carols by Candlelight.

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 Shepparton

Shepparton's Carols by Candlelight reached its 51st year in 2025, and the Queens Gardens night is still free for anyone to join. The Council's Christmas Trail now links a giant bauble, a gingerbread man and giant Santas across the region.

Fifty-one years of carols in Queens Gardens

Shepparton Carols by Candlelight is the town's longest-running Christmas night. The 2025 show was the 51st, held on Sunday 21 December in Queens Gardens, with 15 acts, a pre-show by Shepparton Brass & Wind at 6pm and the main program from 6.30 to 9pm. The night is free and alcohol-free, and it is livestreamed on the Council website and YouTube.

In 2014 the carols marked their 40th anniversary, and Council asked locals to send in photos, programs and memories from past years.

Celine the Bauble and Bernard the Gingerbread Man

Council's 2025 campaign was called A Wonder Filled Summer. Sparkle Shepparton lit up Victoria Park Lake on Friday 28 November 2025, and Sparkle Mooroopna followed at Ferrari Park on Saturday 29 November. About 1,000 people came across the two nights. Celine the Bauble and Leroy the Teddy Bear debuted at the lake, and Bernard the Gingerbread Man debuted in Mooroopna.

The decorations became a Christmas Trail, with giant Santas in Dookie, Murchison and Tatura and a digital hunt called Santa's Missing Elves in the Greater Shepparton app.

Letters to Santa at the Wyndham Street Post Office

In 2025 kids could post a letter to Santa at the Wyndham Street Post Office until Christmas Day, and Australia Post sent back a hard-copy reply. In 2025 Santa on the Move popped up at Judd Memorial Park in Merrigum on 5 December, then at Maude Street Precinct on 13 and 21 December and Ferrari Park on 20 December, with free photos, games, craft and face painting. Reindeer stand in Tallygaroopna and an aluminium Christmas tree in Tatura. In 2026 the Lions Club of Tatura holds Tatura Carols by Candlelight on 9 December.

Traditions today

  • Shepparton Carols by Candlelight: A free night in Queens Gardens with local acts, now in its 51st year, livestreamed for anyone at home.
  • Tatura Carols by Candlelight: The Lions Club of Tatura runs a free family carols night at Mactier Gardens, with a barbecue, ice cream and Father Christmas.
  • Sparkle Shepparton and Sparkle Mooroopna: Two switch-on nights in late November at Victoria Park Lake and Ferrari Park, with food trucks and kids' activities.
  • Christmas Trail: Giant Santas, a Selfie Elfie, reindeer, gnomes, LED stars and an aluminium tree dotted through the towns of the region.
  • Santa on the Move: Free pop-up visits in December with Santa photos, games, craft and face painting in towns around the region.
  • Santa's Mailbox: In 2025 a mailbox at the Wyndham Street Post Office where children posted letters to Santa and got a reply.

A fact for kids

A giant bauble called Celine lives at Victoria Park Lake in Shepparton, and a gingerbread man called Bernard lives in Mooroopna.

Questions about Christmas in Shepparton

When is Shepparton Carols by Candlelight in 2026?

Shepparton Carols by Candlelight is on Monday 21 December 2026 in Queens Gardens, from 6 to 9pm. It is free, and food and drinks are sold on the day. Seating is limited, so Council asks people to bring a rug or chair. Rally Takes the Train's Shepparton Christmas events guide lists the details.

Is the Shepparton carols night free, and can we watch from home?

Yes. Shepparton Carols by Candlelight is free to attend, and it can be watched by livestream on the Greater Shepparton Council website or on YouTube. If you go in person, the night is alcohol-free in Queens Gardens, and food and drinks are sold to support local community groups and businesses.

How long have the Shepparton carols been going?

The 2025 Shepparton Carols by Candlelight was the 51st. The event was already celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2014, when Council and the carols committee asked the public for photos, programs and stories from past years. The Queens Gardens night has been a December fixture for decades.

What time should we arrive for Shepparton Carols by Candlelight?

In 2025 a pre-show by Shepparton Brass & Wind started at 6pm and the main program ran from 6.30 to 9pm. The 2026 night is listed from 6 to 9pm on Monday 21 December. Arriving close to 6pm gives young kids time to settle on a rug before the singing starts.

When is the Tatura Carols by Candlelight in 2026?

Tatura Carols by Candlelight is on Wednesday 9 December 2026 at Mactier Gardens on Hogan Street, Tatura. Gates open at 6pm with a barbecue, coffee and ice cream, and the carols begin at 6.30pm. It is free, with donations for Vision Australia collected on the night.

Who runs the Tatura carols, and will Santa be there?

The Lions Club of Tatura runs the carols at Mactier Gardens. The event page describes a family-friendly evening of carol singing and performances, with food and drinks and a visit from Father Christmas. Entry is free, and donations for Vision Australia are collected on the night.

What were Sparkle Shepparton and Sparkle Mooroopna?

They were the 2025 switch-on nights for Council's A Wonder Filled Summer campaign. Sparkle Shepparton was at Victoria Park Lake on Friday 28 November 2025 and Sparkle Mooroopna at Ferrari Park on Saturday 29 November. About 1,000 people came across both, with food trucks, activities and live entertainment.

Who are Celine the Bauble and Leroy the Teddy Bear?

They are the new festive characters that debuted at Victoria Park Lake in Shepparton in 2025. Celine is a giant bauble and Leroy is a teddy bear. In Mooroopna, Bernard the Gingerbread Man debuted at Ferrari Park alongside illuminated stars and trees. Together they formed part of the region's Christmas Trail.

What is the Greater Shepparton Christmas Trail?

The Christmas Trail is a region-wide set of decorations that stayed up through December 2025. It includes giant Santas in Dookie, Murchison and Tatura, plus the displays at Victoria Park Lake and Ferrari Park. A printed map came in the Shepparton Adviser, and a digital version was online.

What is Santa's Missing Elves in Shepparton?

Santa's Missing Elves is a digital hunt in the Greater Shepparton app that links to the Christmas Trail. Kids and parents follow the decorations around the region while looking for the elves. The 2025 campaign tied it to the trail of characters at Victoria Park Lake and Ferrari Park.

Where can kids post a letter to Santa in Shepparton?

In 2025 Santa's Mailbox was at the Wyndham Street Post Office and stayed open until Christmas Day. Australia Post sent a hard-copy reply to each child. It ran as part of Council's 2025 Christmas campaign, and a letter to Santa also featured in the 2024 Local Gift Guide.

What is Santa on the Move in Greater Shepparton?

Santa on the Move is a series of free pop-up visits across the region in December. In 2025 families could take photos with Santa and join festive games, craft activities and face painting. Stops included Merrigum, Shepparton CBD at Maude Street Precinct and Ferrari Park in Mooroopna.

Where did Santa on the Move stop in December 2025?

Santa was at Judd Memorial Park in Merrigum from 6 to 8pm on Friday 5 December, then at Maude Street Precinct in Shepparton on Saturday 13 and Sunday 21 December from 10am to 1pm. He visited Ferrari Park in Mooroopna on Saturday 20 December. All visits were free.

Is there community gift wrapping in Shepparton at Christmas?

In 2025 community groups ran gift wrapping at City Central Arcade in the Shepparton CBD from 11 to 24 December, 10am to 4pm, for a gold coin donation. No 2026 dates have been confirmed, so check Council's Christmas pages before you go.

What Christmas decorations are in the smaller towns around Shepparton?

The 2024 Great Christmas Campaign put Santa statues in Toolamba, Murchison and Dookie, a Selfie Elfie in Merrigum, reindeer in Tallygaroopna, gnome statues in Katandra West, LED stars in Mooroopna and an aluminium Christmas tree in Tatura. Council ran the trail to bring the whole region together.

Is there live music in Shepparton in December?

In 2025 live music played on the Maude Street Precinct stage on Saturdays and Sundays in December, from 10am to 1pm. It sat alongside Santa on the Move and the gift wrapping in the CBD. Rally Takes the Train's Shepparton Christmas events guide will add dates for 2026 once they are confirmed.

What happened at the Shepparton carols in 2018?

The 2018 carols ran on Sunday 23 December at Queens Gardens from 6.30pm, with local carollers, new acts, carol books, ice cream trucks and glow sticks. The show was livestreamed with the Shepparton News.

What should I bring to the Shepparton carols with young kids?

Bring a rug or chair, because seating in Queens Gardens is limited. The 2025 event page also suggested a pillow or blanket for comfort, and insect repellent and loose clothing because of mosquitoes. Food and drinks are on sale, so you do not need to pack dinner.

Where can kids see Christmas lights and decorations in Shepparton?

Victoria Park Lake in Shepparton and Ferrari Park in Mooroopna host Council's biggest displays, which in 2025 were lit at switch-on nights on 28 and 29 November. The decorations stayed up through December as part of the Christmas Trail. Rally Takes the Train's Shepparton Christmas events guide lists confirmed 2026 events.

What can kids do at Christmas in Shepparton besides the carols?

Besides the carols, kids could post a letter to Santa at the Wyndham Street Post Office in 2025, follow the Christmas Trail to the giant bauble and gingerbread man, and meet Santa at free Santa on the Move pop-ups. In 2026 there is also a Tatura carols night on 9 December.

Sources

  1. Sparkle Shepparton and Mooroopna light up Greater Shepparton, Greater Shepparton City Council
  2. Greater Shepparton set for a wonder filled summer, Greater Shepparton City Council
  3. Santa on the Move: Shepparton CBD, Greater Shepparton City Council
  4. Shepparton Carols by Candlelight 2025, Greater Shepparton City Council
  5. Shepparton Adviser carols article, December 2025, Shepparton Adviser
  6. Call for memorabilia to celebrate 40 years of Carols by Candlelight, Greater Shepparton City Council
  7. Greater Shepparton is set to sparkle with the Great Christmas Campaign, Greater Shepparton City Council
  8. Tatura Carols by Candlelight, Greater Shepparton City Council
  9. Shepparton Carols by Candlelight 2026, Greater Shepparton City Council
  10. Santa on the Move: Merrigum, Greater Shepparton City Council
  11. Carols by Candlelight lighting up the Queens Gardens and in homes around the region, Greater Shepparton City Council
Kelsey Cecil
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