Festive cheer: funding flows for seasonal favourites
A comprehensive Festive Season Program, with a budget of almost $1.2 million, endorsed by Sunshine Coast Council will run over the Christmas holidays and into the New Year with community-led Christmas and New Year's events across the region and the annual Council-delivered New Year’s Eve celebration at Mooloolaba.
The program, which will run over the Christmas holidays and into the New Year, includes community-led Christmas events across the region and New Year’s Eve celebrations at Coolum, Caloundra and the annual Council-delivered New Year’s Eve celebration at Mooloolaba.
The $1,195,563 program - up $182,431 on last year - also delivers 26 festive trees and 464 banner pole decorations and banners to spread cheer across the region.
The funding will ensure the continuation of the popular family friendly fireworks at Mooloolaba at 8.30pm on New Year’s Eve, while a sponsor will be sought in a bid to extend the event and include a midnight spectacle.
Council estimates that an additional budget of $133,045 would be required for midnight fireworks and it would investigate attracting external revenue, such as sponsorship, to fund it. This funding would need to be confirmed by June 30 for the midnight fireworks to go ahead this festive season.
Pink, purple and yellow event entry signage, security person on the right, and patrons (including one with a pram) entering/exiting the site at Mooloolaba - with the Mooloolaba Surf Club building in the background on the left.
People sitting and walking around Mooloolaba
A crowd of people standing in front of a stage at NYE Mooloolaba
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the 2025-26 Festive Season Program was aimed at helping foster a wonderful, month-long celebration that would bring our community together.
“These events build connection and pride and allow our communities, our residents and our visitors, to join in a tradition, one that is filled with joy and hope,” Mayor Natoli said..
“There is a greater investment in festive season “infrastructure’’, such as the lighting, trees and banner pole artworks, and this will again be installed - and enjoyed - right across the region. There is increased funding for much-loved, community-led events like carols by candlelight.”
“Our festive season program has been developed through consultation with Councillors, multiple surveys to gauge our community’s views, benchmarking against other councils, event data and feedback from business and tourism groups.
“The Mooloolaba New Year’s Eve event will continue as a regional attraction for locals and visitors.
“While some changes are anticipated due to the Mooloolaba foreshore redevelopment, we will work with relevant stakeholders, including emergency services, to minimise any issues.”
A total of $349,763 has been allocated through the Festive and Commemorative Events Grants funding pool to support community-led celebrations across the region.
The injection of $228,043 would enable the return of cherished community-led Christmas events in Nambour, Coolum Beach, and Caloundra, while also ensuring appropriate support for New Year’s Eve festivities in Coolum Beach and Caloundra as event delivery costs continue to rise.
Festive Season Budget at a glance
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
| Festive infrastructure | ||
| One regional tree*, 464 banners/pole decorations, 25 local trees. | $529,072 | $470,000* |
| Community-led events | ||
| Festive and Commemorative Events grants and direct agreements | $121,720 | $274,763 |
| **Festive and commemorative events grants via grants budget | $75,000 | $75,000 |
| Council delivered events | ||
Mooloolaba New Year’s Eve 8.30pm only Mooloolaba New Year’s Eve midnight - subject to external sponsorship | $287,340 $0 | $375,800 $133,045 |
| TOTAL | $1,013,132 | $1,195,563 |
| Per capita spend | $2.76 | $3.26 |
* Budget saving achieved by using natural tree in place of artificial tree.
** In the past this was funded from community grants budget and supplemented by the festive season budget. To provide full clarity of the total spend, these budgets will be combined and presented to Council as part of the festive season program going forward.