Welcome to your ultimate holiday guide for Mount Gambier! Discover all the festive events and activities right here. Whether you're a Mount Gambier veteran or a first-timer, this guide helps you create lasting holiday memories.
Popular events this festive season include the Mount Gambier Christmas Parade, where you can enjoy a vibrant display of floats and local performances, bringing the community together in celebration. Unique in its charm, the Blue Lake Carols offers melodious performances that resonate in the picturesque setting of the lake. And the Mount Gambier New Year’s Eve Festival is something you definitely don't want to miss, featuring live music, fireworks, and family-friendly activities to ring in the New Year. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Mount Gambier
- Mount Gambier New Year’s Eve Festival
- Mount Gambier Christmas Parade
- Blue Lake Carols
- Band of SA Police Christmas Concert 2024
- Legend of the Lakes Hillclimb
- Mount Gambier Show
- Penola Show (Penola)
- 20th Anniversary Concert
- Art & Craft Festivals
- Cycling Events
See these and even more events listed below!
Mount Gambier Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Mount Gambier Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Community-driven floats and live performances.
Description:
The Mount Gambier Christmas Parade is a vibrant community event featuring fantasy floats, colourful characters, bands, and dancers. It begins at 11:00 AM on Crouch Street North, traveling west to Commercial Street and Vansittart Park. Local favorites include Christmas Toy Town, Bill Steam Shovel, Hansel and Gretel, and the Christmas Tree. Thousands of people attend, making it challenging for children to see past the crowds. All attendees are reminded to stay behind the blue safety line at all times during the parade. Following the parade, Father Christmas will attend the Rotary Club Mount Gambier Wests Party at Cave Gardens, featuring live performances, food, drinks, and children's entertainment.
Where: Mount Gambier | More Info: Mount Gambier Christmas Parade
Blue Lake Carols
What to Expect:
Free community caroling event with local artists.
Description:
The Blue Lake Carols is an annual Christmas tradition in Mount Gambier, featuring local artists singing everyone's favorite Christmas songs. This one-night-only event is free and takes place at the Mount Gambier Railway Lands, a multipurpose community space carved from an old railway corridor. The event will be live-streamed via YouTube and Facebook.
Where: Mount Gambier | More Info: Blue Lake Carols
Band of SA Police Christmas Concert 2024
What to Expect:
Traditional Christmas carols and sing-alongs by Australia's oldest police band.
Description:
The Band of SA Police Christmas Concert 2024, in partnership with Country Arts SA, features Australia's oldest police band performing an extensive repertoire of classic carols and sing-alongs. This event is perfect for kicking off the festive season with traditional cheer.
Where: Mount Gambier | More Info: Band of SA Police Christmas Concert 2024
Mount Gambier Show
What to Expect:
Centralized community hub with free entertainment and interactive agricultural displays.
Description:
The Mount Gambier Show is a three-day event showcasing agriculture and horticulture, featuring livestock exhibits, horse demonstrations, arts and crafts displays, and interactive agricultural learning activities. It includes indoor and outdoor trade exhibits, yard dog trials, log chopping, and a fireworks spectacular.
Where: Mount Gambier | More Info: Mount Gambier Show
Penola Show
What to Expect:
Traditional country show with family-friendly activities and competitions.
Description:
The Penola Show is a vibrant community event featuring a variety of attractions, including whole family entertainment, trade spaces, and competitions. It offers early access to show day tickets and provides a fun-filled day for all attendees.
Where: Penola | More Info: Penola Show
20th Anniversary Concert
What to Expect:
Commemorative celebration of 20 years of artistic excellence.
Description:
Celebrate two decades of outstanding performances with a special concert featuring a diverse range of music and dance, showcasing the talents of local and international artists.
Where: Mount Gambier | More Info: 20th Anniversary Concert
Mount Gambier Other Holiday Activities
Mount Gambier New Year’s Eve Festival
What to Expect:
Family-friendly celebration with live entertainment and activities.
Description:
The Mount Gambier New Year’s Eve Festival at Cave Garden/Thugi features food stalls, jumping castles, face painting, balloon sculptures, and giant games. Live entertainment includes children's entertainer Candi Smith and music by Christy Wallace Trio. This family-friendly event complements the Summer Watson trial CBD activation program and is an alcohol-free, smoke-free zone.
Where: Mount Gambier | More Info: Mount Gambier New Year’s Eve Festival
Legend of the Lakes Hillclimb
What to Expect:
High-speed car racing with a focus on safety and competitive driving.
Description:
The Legend of the Lakes Hillclimb is a premier car racing event held in Mount Gambier, featuring a variety of classes and engine sizes, with a strong emphasis on safety and competitive driving.
Where: Mount Gambier | More Info: Legend of the Lakes Hillclimb
Fringe in Mount Gambier
What to Expect:
Interactive visual art and community-driven performances.
Description:
Fringe in Mount Gambier is a vibrant festival featuring over 35 events across three weeks, including comedy, cabaret, burlesque, and interactive visual art. The festival showcases local talent and community spirit with a variety of performances and activities.
Where: Mount Gambier | More Info: Fringe in Mount Gambier
Mount Gambier Gold Cup Carnival
What to Expect:
High-quality racing with local food and wine.
Description:
The Mount Gambier Gold Cup Carnival is a premier sporting event on the Limestone Coast, featuring top-quality racing, local food and wine, and trackside entertainment.
Where: Glenburnie | More Info: Mount Gambier Gold Cup Carnival
Coonawarra After Dark
What to Expect:
Wineries open for night-time wine tastings and festivities.
Description:
Coonawarra After Dark is an event where Coonawarra wineries open their doors to visitors at the peak of the grape harvest, offering top-notch wines, fabulous foods, and lively entertainment.
Where: Penola | More Info: Coonawarra After Dark
Valley Lake Hill Climb
What to Expect:
High-speed hill climb competition with various activities.
Description:
The Legend of the Lakes Hillclimb is a premier car racing event held annually in Mount Gambier. It features three days of non-stop hill climb action, showcasing some of Australia's fastest and coolest hill climb machines. The event includes a car show, food trucks, event merchandise, and spectator buses. Participants and spectators alike enjoy the competitive drivers in action at this beautiful venue.
Where: Mount Gambier | More Info: Valley Lake Hill Climb
Coonawarra Vignerons Cup
What to Expect:
Exclusive wine and racing experience in a picturesque setting.
Description:
The Coonawarra Vignerons Cup is a premier event featuring thoroughbred racing, gourmet food, and Coonawarra premium wines, with live entertainment and a trackside marquee.
Where: Coonawarra | More Info: Coonawarra Vignerons Cup
Mount Gambier Food & Wine Shows
What to Expect:
Month-long wine celebration with diverse activities.
Description:
Koonara Wines offers a diverse range of events, including Koonara Food and Wine Fiestas with Platinum Marquees at Race Days, intimate wine dinners, and art workshops. These events cater to various tastes and interests, ensuring there is something for everyone.
Where: Mount Gambier | More Info: Mount Gambier Food & Wine Shows
Surfing Competitions
What to Expect:
Surf fishing competition with a junior section and a prize pool of up to $25,000.
Description:
The Lions Surf Fishing Competition is a premier event where anglers compete to catch the largest Mulloway and other scale fish, with a junior section for those under 14. The competition is held at 42 Mile Crossing Beach Entry, Southern Boundary, Kingston SE, SA, and features a prize pool of up to $25,000.
Where: Mount Gambier | More Info: Surfing Competitions
Cycling Events
What to Expect:
Longest cycling event in the region with a rich history.
Description:
The Mount Gambier Cycling Club's 100 Mile Classic is a prestigious cycling event with over 80 years of history, featuring road and track events for juniors and adults.
Where: Mount Gambier | More Info: Cycling Events
Art & Craft Festivals
What to Expect:
Celebrating local artisans and community creativity.
Description:
Art & Craft Festivals in Mount Gambier showcase local artisans' work, featuring handmade crafts, unique art pieces, and community-driven creativity.