‘All I want for Christmas is’…permission to shop. Well, you’re in luck, because Urban List hereby grants you permission to spend your Christmas bonus (and let’s be real, your ‘savings’) on homemade local goodies under the Brisbane/Meanjin sun and stars. And what better way to do that than hit up all the Christmas markets Brisbane has to offer? Yes, we know it's September—but it's never too early to start planning your Christmas shopping itinerary.
From boho luxe trinkets to twilight sessions, here are all the Christmas-themed markets you need to stroll through in Brisbane this festive season.
Samford Handmade Christmas Market
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The Made Local Market: Christmas Edition
Festive season is well and truly here and The Made Local Market is hosting a Christmas market the whole family will love. With over 120 stalls from local creatives, you’re bound to find a gift for everyone, and maybe even a few things for yourself. Once you’ve finished browsing, you can hit one of the food trucks for a bite to eat, or check out a workshop and create something unique. Entry is just $2, with a low sensory session on the timetable, and you can grab your tickets here.
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Slowly Made Christmas Markets
Get into the crafty spirit and celebrate slow fashion this festive season at the Slowly Made Christmas Markets. Brought to you by the What We Make team, this pop-up will showcase the work of creatives and small businesses that are made with love, locally. Shop quality and sustainable decorations for the tree and gifts for your crew, and why not explore the bustling Racecourse Road village precinct for lunch afterwards? Sounds like the perfect Sunday, we think.
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Redland Rhapsody Chorus Christmas Night Market
Jingling your way down to Star of the Sea Catholic Parish will grant you a night of festivities, Christmas shopping and live carol performances. Market stalls will feature a diverse range of gifts for you to scoop up for everyone you’re celebrating with, such as art, pottery, candles, textiles and so much more. While you browse, listen to your favourite Christmas carols sung by the Redland Rhapsody Chorus (we can’t imagine those church acoustics disappointing). Tickets will also buy you a complimentary beverage and lucky door entry, and you can secure them here.
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Beenleigh Christmas Twilight Markets
Beenleigh Town Square will transform into a Christmas market wonderland with over 100 unique vendors five weeks before the big day, so you can get into the spirit and get your gifts well ahead of time (for once). Reward yourself for being oh-so organised by digging into the eats available from some of SEQ’s best food trucks, meeting adorable farm animals and soaking up the essence of Christmas in Queensland on your picnic rug.
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Carseldine Christmas Twilight Markets
Making a (shopping) list, checking it twice! Carseldine Christmas Markets have all the fixings to ensure this is a twilight you won’t forget, so it’s time to be a little (s)elfish and treat yourself to an evening of delectable feeds and spectacular Christmas cheer. With all your favourite seasonal bops blaring (Wham! obviously), you can indulge in a plethora of stalls sporting handmade gifts.
The Details
When: 4pm–10pm, Saturday 23 NovemberWhere: 133 Dorville Road, Carseldine
Find out more here.
King Street Christmas Markets
The Market Folk are blessing King Street with Christmas markets to make your holiday shopping an absolute breeze. Complete with local design stalls selling handmade ornaments, fashion pieces and artisanal treats, you can snatch up your gifts while soaking up the atmosphere of this Brisbane hive that is buzzing with food, music and entertainment. We can’t think of a better way to kick off the festive season.
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Gasworks Plaza Movie + Markets
The perfect recipe for a festive evening, you ask? A nostalgic Christmas flick with a splash of pop-up markets is the answer, and The Market Folk are bringing this exact experience to Gasworks Plaza this year. Settle into a cheery night under the stars with a screening of the beloved Chrissie classic, The Polar Express, alongside 20 market stalls from local creatives–holiday shopping stress be gone. Bring your picnic rug (or you can rent a deck chair) and your loved ones, this is not one to miss.
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Milton Christmas Twilight Markets
Santa Claus is coming to Milton, and snaps are up for grabs with him for you and the kids at Milton’s Christmas Twilight Markets. Plus there will be countless gourmet eats and drinks, incredible live entertainment and a pop-up bar to see you into the silly season. There will also be an extensive range of artisan handmade gifts that you won’t find just anywhere, so you can sort out all your Christmas gifts before December even rolls around.
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Vend Christmas Pop-Up Market
VEND Marketplace is going all out this festive season this year with Christmas markets in two locations. Could we expect anything less from the renowned indoor market spot? With over 120 vendors to browse from inside, plus a selection of local creators of bespoke Christmas gifts outside, you’re guaranteed to find something you love. Plus, there'll be a cafe serving up delicious dinner meals, a cocktail pop-up bar for the grown-ups and face painting for the kids.
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Witches Night Market: Christmas Edition
We all know that one person who’s incredibly hard to buy for. We might just have a solution for you—prepare to be enchanted at the Christmas edition of the Witches Night Market, where you’ll find all things magic and mythical. You can get your hands on one-of-a-kind handcrafted gifts that will be sure to boost your gift-giving status on Christmas Day. Bring your family, friends and pets—they’re all welcome at the Petrie School of Arts this late November.
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Festive Farm Gate To City Door Market
Prep early for the festive season with this Scenic Rim produce market at the Breakfast Creek Lifestyle Precinct. With stalls offering up seasonal veggies, fresh flowers, farm fresh meats, boutique distilled spirits and so much more, all produced in the Scenic Rim, this market is the perfect place to go to support local and try out regional produce. Treat yourself to some goodies or even pick up a thing or two for a loved one, and who knows, you might just be on Santa’s good list.
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West End Christmas Twilight Market
A holly, jolly Christmas is coming to West End this year, and we don’t think you want to miss it. Grab the kids, grab your friends, and come along to West End’s Twilight Market for an evening of festivities you won’t forget. You’re guaranteed to find the perfect homemade stocking stuffers, feast on some delicious food from Brisbane’s local gourmet chefs and dance the night away to your favourite Christmas hits. There’s plenty of fun to be had for the kids too with Christmas entertainment, activities, and a visit from Santa.
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QAGOMA Christmas Design Market
A huge Christmas market is taking over the Gallery of Modern Art Forecourt on Saturday 7 December and Sunday 8 December, with more than 90 independent local artisans to shop from. Featuring handmade ceramics, jewellery, homewares, textiles and clothing, here you can buy direct from the makers, and make a stop at the QAGOMA store if you don't quite tick off everyone on your list at the stalls. While you’re there, don’t miss the flagship 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art exhibition, exclusive to Brisbane and featuring bold, groundbreaking contemporary works from over 70 emerging and established artists, collectives and filmmakers spanning 30+ countries—entry is totally free, so make a day of it.
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Portside Christmas Markets
Is there a better way to market browse than on the waterfront? Answer: obviously not. Portside Wharf welcomes The Market Folk with a pop-up market that will showcase local businesses and Christmas tunes to set the mood while you browse and shop. Located in the heart of the eclectic Northside urban village, you can catch a meal or grab a feed at one of the many slick new eateries around the precinct before launching into your Christmas shopping at stalls offering flowers, plants, ceramics, jewellery, skincare, decor and more, alongside giveaways and interactive workshops.
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Nundah Christmas Market
Nothing says Christmas quite like fairy lights and evening ambience. The Nundah Christmas Market is bringing the vibes and kitchen sink to the table this silly season. Featuring bulk street eats, you’ll be able to stock up for Christmas stockings with gourmet sweets curated by bespoke makers. A boozy market, there will also be multiple pop-up bars and live music to accompany you as you cruise through your Christmas shopping—and we hear Mariah is already queued.
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Manly Handcrafted Christmas Expo
Bayside dwellers, this one’s for you. The Manly Lota RSL is playing host to a handcrafted Christmas expo this December, so that you can absolutely spoil those on your ‘nice list’. It’s set to be packed with many local artisans selling their handmade pieces, including jewellery by Believe & Surrender Handcrafted Jewellery. Head on down to shop ‘til you drop and support some local businesses.
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Tarragindi Christmas Markets
Embrace those festive feels and add this one to your calendar because the Tarragindi Christmas Markets are back this December. Bring the family along for Christmas treats and have a wonder around this market wonderland at the Bowls Club. You’ll be sure to see plenty of local businesses, community groups and festive stalls, and you might even be able to tick a few people off your Christmas gift list while you’re at it.
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Heritage Lanes Christmas Pop-Up Market
Heritage Lanes, a striking fusion of modern architecture and historic preservation, is the destination of this upcoming Christmas market. Featuring the work of local Brisbane creatives and set in the foyer and downstairs event space of this vibrant precinct, this pop-up is one to mark in your calendar. As well as grabbing your Christmas presents, you can explore the building’s display of public art, including installations and murals that celebrate the cultural heritage of our city.
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South Bank Christmas Market
Not content with just one day of Christmas shopping, South Bank is extending their usual weekend market over a whole six days, and giving it a Christmas makeover to boot. A bustling festive village where you’ll find everything from handcrafted Christmas trees, ornaments and wreaths to festive sweet treats and so much more, it’s also just the beginning of the Christmas happenings in South Bank, with a nightly Christmas parade, a Christmas maze and outdoor movies also happening in the precinct throughout the week.
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Gasworks Plaza Christmas Markets
Under the iconic metal structure of Newstead’s social hub will live the Gasworks Plaza Christmas Market this December. Surrounded by some of Brisbane’s greatest foodie spots, this will be a Saturday night to have circled in the calendar with local dining and shopping at the helm. With stalls offering up fashion, art, homewares, skincare, plants and ceramics (just to name a few), it’s sure not to disappoint.
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Sandstone Point Hotel Christmas Carnival
It’s not a merry Christmas without fireworks, carol-singing and a chance to meet Santa’s reindeer. The Sandstone Point Hotel Christmas Carnival is back and bigger than ever, with tickets buying you a day of live music and entertainment, plenty of market stalls for gift shopping and food stalls to keep your jolly levels high. There’s some new festive additions this year—you can decorate your own cookie, dive into some Christmas crafts and don your ugliest Christmas sweater with prizes up for grabs. Not to mention the carnival rides and a visit from Santa and his reindeer are guaranteed to be core memories for the little ones.
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The Handmade Christmas Markets
Underneath flying whales is a pretty unusual setting for a Christmas market, we’ll admit, but hey, we also celebrate with barbecues and pavlova, so who cares? BrisStyle’s Handmade Markets are coming back to South Bank’s Whale Mall with a curated selection of local artisans hawking their handmade products. Best of all, you can make a day of it by grabbing a bite at the onsite café, exploring the surrounding cultural precinct or checking out a GOMA exhibition.
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Looking for more Christmas fun? Head here:
- Brisbane Restaurants Open On Christmas Day
- Brisbane's Best Christmas Party Venues
- Where To Get A Real Christmas Tree In Brisbane
Image credit: South Bank Corporation | Supplied