South Burnett 2003 Christmas Calendar

Almost every town in our region holds a Christmas Festival of some sort. And most Shires also operate Christmas Lights competitions and hold Carols by Candlelight services too. Here's what's happening around the South Burnett this Christmas:

PS: Have we missed your Christmas event? Email us and we'll update the Calendar to include it.

Sat 29th Nov	South Burnett Chorale 7th Annual Christmas Concert - Kingaroy The acclaimed South Burnett Chorale will be presenting the first performance of their 7th Annual Christmas Concert at the Anglican Church Hall immediately across the road from the Kingaroy police station at 7:30pm this evening. This year's concert will feature new arrangements of popular yuletide favourites and will be followed by a light supper. Admission is $5 for adults (children under 12 are free) and proceeds of the evening will go towards a charity nominated by the Anglican Church. A second performance will be held at Nanango tomorrow night and two final performances at Murgon and Wondai on Sunday 7th December. Durong Community Christmas Market The Durong Hall Committe will be holding a special Christmas Community Market at the Durong Community Hall from 9:00am this morning - a great way to do some Christmas shopping and contribute to a worthy cause. Stalls will include arts and crafts, produce, plants, health care items, woodwork, aromatherapy, hats, clothes, sweets, devonshire teas and more. The Durong Community Library will also be open. Stalls are available for $5:00 each. More details? Contact Leeann on (07) 4168 0273 Christmas Craft Expo - Kingaroy The Kingaroy Church of Christ will be holding their annual Christmas Craft Expo at the Church of Christ Hall at 254 Haly Street in Kingaroy from 9:00am to 1:00pm today. The Expo will feature Christmas crafts, garden crafts, woodcrafts, sewing and crochet work - all great potential Christmas gifts! More details? Phone (07) 4162-3466
Sun 30th Nov	Bunya Country Music Christmas Concert - Kingaroy The Bunya Country Music Association will be holding their final monthly Country Music Arvo for 2003 upstairs at the Kingaroy RSL in Kingaroy St, Kingaroy from 12:00pm until around 5:00pm today. Today's concert will have a Christmas theme and special guest artists include the Association's recent Festival winner Gary McDonald, Bell harmonica player Graham Edwards and The Two Echoes (plus a host of regulars). Bunya Country Music afternoons normally have a small admission fee to help raise money for local charities, but because today's show is the group's Christmas break-up it's completely free. There'll also be some great Christmas raffles running throughout the afternoon and everyone is welcome! More details? Phone (07) 4162-5676 South Burnett Chorale 7th Annual Christmas Concert - Nanango The South Burnett Chorale will be presenting the second performance of their 7th Annual Christmas Concert at the Nanango Baptist Church at 7:00pm this evening. This year's concert will feature new arrangements of popular yuletide favourites and will be followed by a light supper. Admission is $5 for adults (children under 12 are free) and proceeds of the evening will go towards a charity nominated by the Baptist Church. Two final performances will be held at Murgon and Wondai on Sunday 7th December.
Mon 1st Dec	Blackbutt 2003 Christmas Festival Blackbutt's 2003 Christmas Festival begins today and will continue until December 6th. Today's Festival highlights include the judging of the town's business premises Christmas decorations; the traditional turning on of the Christmas tree lights at 6:30pm, which will be followed by community carol-singing led by the Taromeo Country Music Club; and then the monthly Friends of Cultcha art exhibition opening at the Archie Muir Centre at 7:00pm (this month's exhibition is "Qcwaft", featuring the work of the QCWA's crafters - admission to the opening night is $6, but all proceeds go to worthwhile Blackbutt charities). More details about the 2003 Christmas Festival can be obtained from co-ordinator Cr. Brian Tillyer on (07) 4163-0385 Hivesville QCWA Christmas Break-Up - Hivesville The Hivesville QCWA - who celebrated their branch's 80th birthday in September this year - will be holding their 2003 Christmas break-up function at the Hivesville Hotel from around 11:30am this morning. Everyone is welcome and you can obtain more details by phoning (07) 4168-9851 or (07) 4169-0345
Tue 2nd Dec	Blackbutt 2003 Christmas Festival The second day of Blackbutt's 2003 Christmas Festival will be held today.A major highlight of today's events will be Giant Respite Christmas Party organised by Blackbutt's churches and other local organisations for elderly Blackbutt residents. The event will be held at the Blackbutt Memorial Hall and will get underway at 11:00am. Admission is $5 - which includes a finger food lunch, cold drinks, tea and coffee and live musical entertainment by the Blackbutt Singers. There'll also be lucky door prizes and a hot Christmas seat prize. Bookings can be made by phoning Janette on (07) 4163-0666. A second highlight will occur at 2:00pm when the town's Christmas mural is officially unveiled. The mural has been painted by Blackbutt State School's students and teachers. Other details about the 2003 Blackbutt Christmas Festival can be obtained from Festival co-ordinator Cr. Brian Tillyer on (07) 4163-0385 Christmas Coffee Morning - Kingaroy The Kingaroy Church of Christ will be holding a Christmas coffee morning at 9:30am today at the Church of Christ Hall at 254 Haly Street in Kingaroy. Everyone is welcome.
Wed 3rd Dec	Blackbutt 2003 Christmas Festival The third day of Blackbutt's 2003 Christmas Festival will be held in Blackbutt today. Highlights of today's events include the Blackbutt Christmas Sale Day (with every business in the town having a sale of one type or another); a Children's Christmas Pageant at 6:30pm performed by pupils from the Blackbutt State School; and the annual Carols By Candlelight in the Park celebration at 7:00pm next to Blackbutt Memorial Hall, led this year by Helena Marsh and the Salvation Army Band. The Carols ceremony will be followed by a community supper in the grounds hosted by the Blackbutt Catholic Ladies (so please bring a plate). Everyone is welcome! More details can be obtained from Festival co-ordinator Cr. Brian Tillyer on (07) 4163-0385 Barambah QWRN Christmas Lunch - Redgate The Barambah branch of the Queensland Rural Womens Network will be holding their Christmas break-up lunch at Barambah Ridge Winery on Goshnick's Road at Redgate from around 12:00pm today. Tickets are $15 per head for a 2-course meal and new members are very welcome! More details and RSVPs? Phone Fay on (07) 4168-1253 or Ailsa on (07) 4168-5354
Ths 4th Dec	Blackbutt 2003 Christmas Festival The fourth day of Blackbutt's 2003 Christmas Festival will be held in Blackbutt today. One of the highlights of today's events will be the judging of the Christmas scarecrow competition at 9:30am (Christmas scarecrows are on display all over Blackbutt throughout the duration of the Festival). Then at 4:00pm in the afternoon, there'll be Christmas Fun At The Pool - an event for children organised by the Blackbutt Swimming Club. More details can be obtained from Festival co-ordinator Cr. Brian Tillyer on (07) 4163-0385 Nanango Garden Club Christmas Break-Up The Nanango & District Garden Club will be holding their annual Christmas break-up function at the Nanango RSL in Henry St, Nanango from 11:30am onwards this morning. This year's break-up will be a $12.50 per head Christmas luncheon and new members are very welcome. More details? hone Joanna on (07) 4163-1876 or Kath on (07) 4163-2832 [NB: For catering purposes, RSVPs need to be received by November 30th]
Fri 5th Dec	Blackbutt 2003 Christmas Festival The fifth day of Blackbutt's 2003 Christmas Festival will be held in Blackbutt today. The major highlight of today's activities is the opening of the all-day Blackbutt Arts and Crafts Fair at the Blackbutt Memorial Hall (the Arts and Crafts Fair will also continue tomorrow). The Fair features the works of Blackbutt's many talented artists and craftspeople and is a wonderful source of unique Christmas gifts. It will be open from 8:30am right through to 5:00pm and will be officially opened by Member for Nanango Dorthy Pratt at 10:00am. More details can be obtained from Festival co-ordinator Cr. Brian Tillyer on (07) 4163-0385 KCCI Christmas Break-Up - Kingaroy The Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be holding its Christmas break-up in the beer garden of the Carrollee Hotel in Haly Street, Kingaroy from 6:30pm onwards this evening. Nibbles will be provided - buy your own drinks - and anyone who belongs to the KCCI or is interested in its operations is most welcome to attend.
Sat 6th Dec	Blackbutt 2003 Christmas Festival The sixth (and final) day of Blackbutt's 2003 Christmas Festival will commence at 8:30am this morning with Maudsley's Christmas Celebrity Hour in Mueller Park - a community sausage sizzle combined with live entertainment, a Christmas T-shirt parade, a celebrity citizen award, raffle draws and lots more. This will be followed at 9:30am with a Combined Churches Christmas Bus-About which will take visitors to all the churches in town, providing a commentary and history on each one as the tour proceeds. Meanwhile, the second (and final) day of the annual Blackbutt Christmas Art and Crafts Fair will be held from 8:30am to 3:00pm in the Blackbutt Memorial Hall. The Festival will conclude in the evening with an Outdoor Christmas Party and Food Night at the Memorial Hall from 6:30pm onwards - a giant event which will feature local ethnic food stalls, music, displays, an appearance by Father Christmas, a Battle Of The Bands competition and a great deal more. Everyone is welcome! More details can be obtained from Festival co-ordinator Cr. Brian Tillyer on (07) 4163-0385 Annual Bunya Mountains Veterans Picnic The Bunya Mountains Natural History Association will be staging their popular annual Veterans Picnic from 10:00am this morning at the Association's headquarters at "Cedervale" at Dandabah Park in the Bunya Mountains. Visitors to this free event will be given morning and afternoon teas and lunch, and there'll be all day entertainment as well. All past and present residents of the Bunya Mountains and immediate surrounding areas are most welcome to attend. More details? Phone Audrey on (07) 4164-6198 or Ruth on (07) 4663-4744. Durong Christmas Tree The annual Durong Christmas Tree celebrations will be held at Durong Hall from 7:00pm this evening. As usual this fun, family event will feature a sausage sizzle, Christmas carols, live entertainment and a visit by Santa to delight the children. Admission is by gold coin donation - BYO food and gifts. Everyone is most welcome! More details? Phone Lynnelle on (07) 4168-0208 Children's Christmas Tree Night - Maidenwell The Maidenwell branch of the QCWA will be holding a special Children's Christmas Tree night at Maidenwell Hall from 6:30pm this evening. More details will be published as they become available.
Sun 7th Dec	South Burnett Chorale 7th Annual Christmas Concert - Murgon and Wondai The South Burnett Chorale will be presenting the final performances of their 7th Annual Christmas Concert at the Castra Retirement Home in Murgon at 2:00pm this afternoon; and at the Sound Shell in Coronation Park, Wondai at 7:00pm this evening. This year's concerts will feature new arrangements of popular yuletide favourites and will be followed by an afternoon tea (Castra) and light supper (Wondai). Admission is $5 for adults - children under 12 are free - and proceeds of both shows will go to assist local charities. Christmas Country Music Arvo - Nanango The Nanango Country Music Friends will be holding their final Country Music Afternoon for 2003 from 1:00pm today at the Nanango pera House in Elk St, Nanango. Today's show will feature a number of local and visiting artists and everyone is welcome! Admission is $4 for adults and $1 for children (which includes afternoon tea and an entry in the lucky door prize draw) and proceeds from the event will go to assist a worthy cause - in this case, the Salvation Army's Christmas Appeal. More details? Phone (07) 4163-2469 Carols By Candlelight - Nanango The combined churches of Nanango will be holding a community Carols By Candlelight service at 7:00pm this evening in Pioneer Park, Nanango. The Nanango State High School Band will be providing the musical accompaniment for a wonderful selection of timeless carols and Father Christmas will be putting in an appearance during the evening as well. Glowsticks and glow bracelets will be available on site and everyone is most welcome to attend this heart-warming family event. More details? Phone (07) 4163-1393 Carols In The Park - Kingaroy The Kingaroy branch of the Salvation Army will be staging Carols In The Park at Memorial Park in Haly Street, Kingaroy at 2:30pm this afternoon. The event will include face painting for children, puppets and an afternoon of community singing, followed by afternoon tea. Admission is free and everyone is very welcome.
Tue 9th Dec	Nanango Red Cross Christmas Break-Up Meeting The Nanango branch of Red Cross will be holding their final monthly meeting for 2003 in the Toorak Room of the Nanango CWA Hall in Fitzroy Street, Nanango at 9:30am this morning (9:30am for a cuppa - meeting starts at 10:00am). Today's meeting will be the group's Christmas break-up and new members are most welcome. More details? Phone Margaret on (07) 4171-0553 or Glenis on (07) 4163-3984 Nanango Neighbourhood Watch Christmas Break-Up Meeting The Nanango Neighbourhood Watch (Rural) group will be holding their regular bi-monthly meeting at the Nanango Cultural Centre in George St, Nanango at 7:30pm this evening. Tonight's meeting will be the group's Christmas break-up and all interested people are welcome to attend. More details? Phone Greg on (07) 4163-1585 or May on (07) 4163-3281 Kingaroy Christmas Lights Tour Map The South Burnett Times will be publishing the 2003 Kingaroy Christmas Lights Tour Map in today's edition of the paper. The map will list the locations of all entrants in the Shire's 2003 Christmas Lights celebrations so you can go view them after dark. The Times will also be publishing the words of the carols that will be sung at Kingaroy's Carols by Candlelight celebrations on Sunday 14th December. Nanango Shire Christmas Lights Competition Begins Today is also the closing day for entries in Nanango Shire's 2003 Christmas Lights Competition. Houses from Benarkin and Blackbutt through to Maidenwell and Nanango will be lit up for the season. Judging of the winners will take place on the 11th and 12th December.
Wed 10th Dec	Nanango Lions Christmas Carnival Nanango's annual Lions Christmas Carnival will be held at Pioneer Park in Nanango from 5:00pm until late this evening. The Nanango Shire Band will begin playing at 6:30pm, Santa will be arriving at 7:30pm and a disco will commence at 8:30pm. As always, there'll be lots of entertainment for both the young and the young at heart - including pony rides, a jumping castle, merry-go-round, go-carts, train rides, stalls and games. A BBQ will also be operating and refreshments will be available on site as well. Admission is free and everyone is most welcome to attend. More details? Phone Elvie on (07) 4163-1646 Wondai Senior Citizens Christmas Break-Up Lunch The Wondai Senior Citizens will be holding their annual Christmas break-up lunch at the Wondai RSL in Mackenzie Street, Wondai from around 12:00pm today. The lunch will be followed by a concert. New members are most welcome!
Ths 11th Dec	KCCI Kingaroy Christmas Carnival The Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce's annual Christmas Carnival will be held from 6:00pm to around 9:00pm this evening in Haly and Kingaroy Streets. This year's Christmas Carnival will feature live entertainment from a variety of performers including Willy & The Leadfree, the Kingaroy State School Choir, South Burnett Chorale, Ruth Dyer's String Quartet, St John's School Band and the Kingaroy and District Brass Band There'll also be 10 different carnival amusement rides, all subsidised by local businesses (just $2 a ride!); a wide selection of food and craft stalls and Old McDonald's Farm. In addition, the KCCI have arranged a special visit by Santa and Mrs Claus (assisted by the Kingaroy Little Theatre Group) so that children can have their photo taken with the jolly pair. Potential stall-holders can contact Lynnelle on (07) 4162-8466.
Fri 12th Dec	11th Annual Murgon Christmas Fair The Murgon Business and Development Association in conjunction with Crow-FM and the South Burnett Times will be staging Murgon's 11th Annual Christmas Fair from 4:00pm until 9:00pm this afternoon and evening in the Murgon CBD. Highlights of this year's Fair include live entertainment, a special Art Exhibition at Mark Smith's Menswear (opens at 6:30pm), brass and pipe bands, lots of $1 children's rides and several thousands of dollars in prizes and giveaways. Santa Claus will also be making his usual appearance at the Fair to delight the youngsters, and the event will be professionally emceed too. The Murgon Christmas Fair is always a great evening of family entertainment and everyone is welcome! Carols By Candlelight - Yarraman Yarraman will be holding its annual community Carols By Candlelight service at the Heritage Centre at 26 Millar Street, Yarraman from 7:00pm to 9:00pm this evening. Musical accompaniment will be provided by the Kingaroy Town Band and several local performers who'll be lending their talents to the occasion. Santa will also be putting in an appearance during the event (which will be followed by light refreshments) and glow sticks and bracelets will be on sale. Admission is by gold coin donation to help defray the band's travelling expenses. Everyone is most welcome! More details? Phone the Heritage Centre on (07) 4163-8111 Wondai Garden Club Christmas Break-Up Meeting The Wondai & District Garden Club - the organisers of the hugely successful Wondai Garden Show each April - will be holding their regular monthly meeting and Christmas break-up at the home of Jan and John Dorris in Wondai today (an annual tradition with the club). New members are most welcome! More details? Phone John on (07) 4168-9131
Sat 13th Dec	Kilkivan Lions Christmas Carnival The annual Kilkivan Lions Christmas Carnival will be held at Lions Park in Kilkivan from 5:00pm until late this afternoon. As the usual, the Carnival will feature a wide assortment of food, drinks and entertainment and a special visit by Santa. Tonight will also see the drawing of the Kilkivan Shopper's Raffle with five $100 prizes and a grand prize of $500 awarded to lucky winners - but you have to be in attendance to claim the prize if your name is drawn out of the hat. Everyone is welcome!
Sun 14th Dec	Goomeri Christmas Carnival The annual Goomeri Lions-Chamber of Commerce Christmas Carnival will be held in Dickinson Park, Goomeri at 4:00pm this afternoon. As usual, this very popular family event will feature ham wheels, raffles, a bbq, a licensed bar and live entertainment from the Wondai Town Band and young Goomeri singer Genevieve Beverley. Santa will be arriving at 7:30pm - in a very unusual way this year! - and there'll be novelty events too (eg: ice-cream eating competitions). Admission is free and everyone is welcome! More details? Phone Sid Innes from Lions on (07) 4163-5136 or Geoff Stumm from the Chamber on (07) 4168-1925 Kumbia Christmas Carnival and Markets Kumbia's annual combined Christmas Carnival and Markets will be held in and around Kumbia Hall from 5:00pm until late this evening. Features of this year's event will include the town's traditional Festival of Christmas Trees, face-painting, games, musical entertainment and the drawing of a raffle for a giant Christmas Hamper, as well as lots of quick ham and chook raffles during the evening. A BBQ will also be operating and Santa will be paying a visit to give away sample bags to children up to Year 7 at around 7:00pm. There'll be lots of market stalls as well. If you'd like to book a stall or obtain more information, call Anne on (07) 4164-4368 Carols By Candlelight - Kingaroy Kingaroy's annual Carols by Candlelight ceremony - organised by the Kingaroy Ministers' Fraternal - will be held at Kingaroy Town Hall from 7:00pm to 8:30pm this evening. Special guest artist Sarah Woodhead will lead the Kingaroy State High School Stage Band and the Taabinga School Choir in a spirited rendition of Christmas favourites. Local students will also present readings during the event. Light sticks will be on sale for $2 but admission is completely free and everyone is most welcome to attend this large and very popular carol service. [Note: The words to the carols that will be sung at tonight's event were printed in the December 9th edition of the South Burnett Times]
Ths 18th Dec	South Burnett Tourism Association Christmas Break-Up - Kingaroy The South Burnett Tourism Association will be holding their traditional Christmas break-up meeting at the Carrollee Hotel in Haly Street, Kingaroy from 6:30pm this evening. The Association has undergone significant membership growth in 2003 and visitor numbers at the region's four accredited Visitor Information Centres have also risen solidly during the year. Attendees at tonight's meeting will get to hear some of the major highlights of the year gone by (including the outcome of the preliminary Bunya Country report) and gain an insight into some of the ambitious projects the SBTA are planning for 2004. Potential new members from the region's tourism industry are most welcome. More details? Call Noreen on (07) 4168-5652 or Sue on (07) 4162-3199
Sat 20th Dec	Boondooma Homestead Christmas Party The Boondooma Homestead Committee will be holding their annual Christmas Party at Boondooma Homestead from 4:00pm this afternoon until late in the evening for committee members, volunteers and locals. Attendees should BYO BBQ meat, drinks, salad and dessert to share around and everyone is welcome! The historic building is located 21km north of Durong on the Mundubbera-Durong Road. More details? Phone Lyn on (07) 4168-0161
Wed 24th Dec	Wondai Christmas Carnival Wondai's traditional Christmas Eve Carnival will be held in Mackenzie Street, Wondai from 6:00pm onwards this evening. The Carnival - staged by the Wondai Show Society and Wondai Chamber of Commerce - will feature amusement rides, a BBQ, a ham and turkey wheel, a goods wheel and (naturally!) a visit by Santa at around 7:00pm. The Christmas Eve Carnival is always a great way to get together with friends in Wondai at Yuletide - a warm and quite wonderful annual street party that everyone is welcome to attend! Christmas Eve Carols - Windera Residents of Windera and district are invited to join Grahame Drew and his family for their traditional Christmas Eve carol singing and bible reading night this evening. The event will be held at the Drew family home at 2684 Gayndah Road, Windera from 7.00pm to around 9.00pm and everyone is most welcome! If you'd like to join in, please contact them beforehand by phoning (07) 4168-6127 Christmas Eve At Kings - Maidenwell Popular country performer Arthur Nettelfield will be appearing in concert at Kings Hotel in Maidenwell from 7:00pm until late this evening. Arthur will be performing many of his favourites (including the "Walgett QCWA Talent Quest") and a few special Christmas surprises too. Admission is free. You can obtain more details by phoning Kings on (07) 4164-6133 Christmas Eve At The Killy Hotel - Kilkivan The Kilkivan Hotel Motel in Bligh Street, Kilkivan will be marking Christmas Eve from 6:00pm onwards this evening with a traditional meal, live entertainment (exactly who'll be playing has yet to be confirmed) and a visit from Santa. Admission is free and everyone is welcome along.
Ths 25th Dec	Community Christmas Lunch - Kingaroy Kingaroy and District Meals on Wheels will be holding their traditional free Christmas Lunch at the Senior Citizens Centre in Alford Street, Kingaroy from 11:00am this morning (lunch around 12:00 noon). The lunch is open to anyone young or old, including single parents and those who'd just appreciate some company today. Free transport can also be arranged for those who need it - but for catering purposes an RSVP by the 21st would be greatly appreciated. Phone the Centre on (07) 4162-7300 or Eldred Lange on (07) 4162-1691 for more details... or just turn up! Christmas Lunch At Dimities - Wondai The multi-award winning Dimites Cottage at 49 Haly Street, Wondai will be serving up their traditional BYO Christmas Smorgasbord Lunch from 12:00 noon today. This is always a terrific all-you-can-eat feed (even Santa puts in an appearance to briefly chow down) and it routinely draws up to 100 people. Cost is $30 per head but bookings are absolutely essential if you want to be certain of place. More details? Phone Graham on (07) 4168-5744