South Burnett Celebrates!

Santa Claus and Mrs Claus have been kept very busy around the region over the past few weeks, but they had time to chat to children near the Kingaroy Library

December 19, 2025

There’s been festive activities popping up all over the region during the past couple of weeks … it must be Christmas!

There’s been carols nights, carnivals, free entertainment, market stalls and lots and lots of tinsel and glitter.

Santa Claus has also been kept busy, turning up everywhere from Yarraman to Proston and Murgon.

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Blackbutt

The South Burnett Performing Arts Academy hosted a free Christmas musical spectacular at the Blackbutt Memorial Hall.

There were lots of musical performances on stage – including by the Blackbutt Singers, Julee-anne Bell and Stephanie Wimpenny – and the Grinch also made an appearance!

Stephanie Wimpenny led the young performers from the South Burnett Performing Arts Academy (Photo: SBPAC)

Entrants in the Decorated Christmas Tree competition (Photos: Jane Erkens)

There was singing … (Photo: Jane Erkens)

The original Christmas story was also presented to an appreciative audience (Photo: Jane Erkens)

The Grinch also starred at Blackbutt’s Christmas celebration (Photo: Jane Erkens)

Julee-anne Bell and Stephanie Wimpenny also sang on stage (Photos: Jane Erkens)

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Hivesville

Santa arrived in a Rural Fire Brigade truck for Hivesville’s celebration!

Santa was handing out lollies and presents from his big bag of gifts

Margaret and Nina House, from Marshlands, and Andrea Stewart, from Mondure, dropped in to check out the Hivesville celebration

Mellissa Dunn, from Proston, with Edna Nicol, Wondai … Mellissa was keen to remind everyone that the Proston Christmas Carnival will be held in Railway Park this Saturday (December 6)

Checking out the Hivesville event were Nick and Nikita Hockey with Lauren, 7 months; Alexandra, 7; Kathleen, 9; Henry, 5; and Thomas, 6

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Kingaroy

The largest Christmas Carnival held around the South Burnett this year was definitely in Kingaroy – with rides, a giant slide, food and market stalls, live entertainment and, of course, Santa!

The carnival took over the Glendon Street entertainment space, the Town Hall forecourt and part of the parking area at the rear of the hall.

One of the large rides which filled the Glendon Street area

Kerry Heit, Dianne Kowalski and Bev Watter were among the Kingaroy Lions Club volunteers selling ham wheel tickets … the club had 20 hams on offer during the night

Michael Ulrick, from Kingaroy, and Malarma Howard, from Booie, were enjoying the carnival fun

South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff and compere for the night Cr Danita Potter with Kingaroy Christmas Carnival committee president Jason Olsen

Students from the Ally Walker Dance Academy performed a number of routines for the crowd

Sgt Brad Fewtrell and Constable Emily Cook were getting to know a notorious speedster, “Roy”

Lolly, from Hula Hoop Brisbane, was blowing giant bubbles that wafted over the crowd

The Martoo family were out to join in the fun … from left, Damien, Minnie, Bronwyn, Cherry and Evelyn, 16 months

Julee-anne Bell was one of a number of performers who sang from the top of the town hall steps

Popular local singer Amber Goldsmith also entertained the crowd

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Kumbia

Kumbia’s annual Christmas Carnival is always a big community get-together next to the Kumbia Memorial Hall.

There were market stalls, a licensed bar, barbecue, ham wheel, a jumping castle and raffles and Santa arrived aboard an historic fire truck!

Deputy Mayor Ros Heit with former Kumbia resident Murray Beil

Gayle Carroll, Desiree Crawford and Linda Thomas were three of the hard-working volunteers

Joy Patch, from Beauvale Day Lilies, was one of the local business people who had a stall

Rita Buchholz, from Kingaroy, with Margaret Kearney, from Kumbia, and some delicious Christmas cakes

Rhonda Callow, from Kingaroy, had a stall selling craft items, including these scented candles

Santa arrived aboard a fully restored 1960 International fire truck (Photo: Melissa Beil)

Santa was sharing secrets with Mark Beil (Photo: Ros Heit)

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Murgon

Murgon’s Christmas Tree auction was arranged at the last minute, but that didn’t stop the fun!

Ten trees were decorated by local not-for-profit groups: Murgon State School, SES Cadets, St Joseph’s Catholic School, Murgon Pool, Wheatlands State School, Murgon Independent Lifestyle Project, Murgon Fire Brigade (for Moffatdale SS), Murgon Cricket, Goomeri P-10 State School and the Dairy Museum.

Each group decorated their trees which were then auctioned by Josh Steinhardt with the funds going to the nominated association.

The 10 trees lined up ready to be auctioned

Lorraine Goodchild and Cr Heath Sander, from the Murgon Business & Development Association, with Murgon Services Club treasurer Kimberley Kunde … the MBDA, Murgon Services Club and Cr Sander sponsored the event

Auctioneer Josh Steinhardt with Murgon resident Bryce Swift who was preparing to bid on the trees

The children from Wheatlands State School were particularly proud of their decorated tree!

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Nanango

Nanango’s Christmas celebrations took the form of carols and a casual picnic-like atmosphere under the shade sails in the grounds of historic Ringsfield House.

Volunteers from the Nanango Men’s Shed cooked the sausage sizzle, the local netball club was serving up cordial, there was a display of rock’n’roll dancing, lots of singing and even Christmas cartoons on the big screen!

Nanango Men’s Shed volunteers … from left, Herman Lette, Grant Watson and Roy McKee

Belinda Hadley-Wells and Janet Margaret were getting into the Christmas spirit

Grace Wells and Neil Melville, from Nanango, were relaxing under the shade sails

Lauren and Jayden Flint, from Nanango, were dressed for festive fun

Natalie Fenton was encouraging crowd members to sing, and also creating giant bubbles to amuse the youngsters

The NaTDA Heritage Nanango choir sang on the lawn and also performed carols in the old church

Santa was making friends with Jane Hodgkinson and her granddaughter, Maggie Jane Hodgkinson-Jones, 2

Jenny and Rod Morgan were chatting with South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff … Mayor Duff also brought a long a suite of games for the children to play

Part of the rock’n’roll dance crew … from left, Diane Musgrave, Nanango; Greg Wagner, Yarraman; and Rhonda and Terry Mackrell, Nanango

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Proston

Proston QCWA organised the local Christmas Carnival in Railway Park.

There were stalls, a sausage sizzle, a jumping castle, carols and a visit from Santa who greeted children from his chair on The Platform.

There were a lot of craft items for sale … perfect last-minute Christmas gifts! (Photo: Facebook)

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Wondai

Wondai residents enjoyed Christmas carols in Coronation Park, thanks to the local QCWA and Community Choir and the Wondai Town & District Band to perform carols.

There was also a free sausage sizzle put on by Wondai Lions and, of course, a visit by Santa!

NB. Wondai’s Christmas Carnival will be held from 5:00pm on Saturday (December 20) at the Wondai Showgrounds. There’ll be a ham wheel and chocolate wheel; market stalls, food and drinks, live entertainment and jumping castles.