Towering at five metres tall, these playful visitors have reportedly escaped the North Pole in search of warmer weather, swapping snow sleds for palm trees and setting the scene for a truly Queensland-style celebration.
Families can pick up an elf map and turn the precinct into a festive treasure hunt, snapping photos as they go and soaking up the season beneath South Bank’s open skies. The arrival of the elves signals the start of a packed Christmas program that blends community spirit and some good ol’ holiday cheer.
This year’s Christmas line-up includes:
- South Bank’s Giant Elves, 5 Dec – 5 Jan: Mega-sized elves are hiding across the precinct. Visitors can pick up an elf map, spot them, snap them, and soak up the festive atmosphere as they wander the precinct, lawns and riverfront.
- Lost Worlds Cinema: Most Wonderful Time of the Year, 15 – 23 Dec: In partnership with Brisbane International Film Festival, Rainforest Green transforms into a hidden open-air cinema, featuring Christmas classics to modern festive comedies.
- Santa photos, 12 – 23 Dec: Families, including four-legged friends, can stop by Riverside Green for Santa photos set against a South Bank-style backdrop, with a portion of proceeds donated to the Queensland Children’s Hospital Foundation.
- Storytime & Christmas craft, 12 – 23 Dec: Join Mrs. Claus at Riverside Green for magical festive stories, including a tale of how the giant elves journeyed from the North Pole to South Bank, plus free festive craft activities for little ones.
- Christmas workshops, 5 – 7 Dec: Get creative at festive workshops hosted by Dead Puppet Society, where visitors can craft their very own Christmas wreath.
- Collective Markets: Christmas Edition, 12 – 23 Dec: Explore South Bank’s markets with a Christmas twist along a fairy-light lit Little Stanley Street, and find unique gifts to put under the tree.
Together, the elves and the expansive Christmas program signal an exciting start to the Christmas season. Whether you are shopping, dining, exploring or embracing the festivities with family, this year’s Christmas at South Bank invites you to experience the precinct at its most joyful.
Check out the programme here.