Christmas lights set to brighten the Fraser Coast from December 1st

CHRISTMAS is about to light up the Fraser Coast, with hundreds of local homes and businesses gearing up for what is shaping to be the region’s brightest and most community-spirited festive season yet.

From December 1st, residents can begin touring this year’s Fraser Coast Christmas Lights Trail, an annual tradition that has grown into one of the most beloved celebrations on the local calendar.

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said the excitement had been building for weeks, with early registrations pointing toward another huge turnout.
“Every year, this trail reminds us just how connected our community is,” Cr Seymour said.

“Christmas lights do something special, they bring streets alive, they bring people to the front yard instead of the lounge room, and they bring strangers together in a way that only Christmas can.”

Last year saw a record number of participants, with almost 170 homes and businesses registering official displays across Hervey Bay and Maryborough.

Some streets were so spectacular that residents reported slow-moving traffic, groups gathering on nature strips, and carloads of visiting families returning multiple times across December.

Cr Seymour said the momentum from 2024 had created ‘wonderful community energy’ heading into this year’s trail.

“Last year we saw the highest level of involvement we have ever had,” he said.

“People told us they planned their December evenings around visiting the displays. That kind of shared joy is something you can’t manufacture, it comes from the community itself.”

While many long-time residents are used to collecting their Christmas Lights Trail map from the newspaper, the process has changed this year.

There will not be a printed map in the Hervey Bay Advertiser for 2025. Instead, all participating addresses will appear on the Fraser Coast Regional Council’s interactive online map, which will go live in early December.

“It’s a simple and reliable way for families to see every decorated home, customise their route, and make a night of it,” Cr Seymour said.

“The online map gives us flexibility, live updates, and it allows residents to find displays on any device. It’s the easiest guide we have offered.”

For the families who go all-out, the Trail is much more than a chance to decorate, it’s a yearly project that builds friendships, strengthens neighbourhoods and creates lasting memories.

Westminster Court in Kawungan, the reigning Christmas Street champion, captured the region’s attention in 2024 with a dazzling collaboration that featured more than 50,000 lights across multiple homes.

Local resident Paul Mewett said their street was already hard at work for this year’s display.

“We started planning earlier than ever. We loved winning the title last year, but what we loved even more was seeing kids’ faces light up as they walked down the street. That’s what keeps us going.”

“People might come for the lights, but they stay for the sense of community,” the Mayor said.

“Every illuminated home is a message of welcome. It says, ‘Come share this moment with us.’ And in a world that often feels rushed or divided, these small gestures of connection matter more than ever.”

He encouraged residents to take their time exploring the region’s displays throughout December. On a warm evening, with an ice-cream or hot chocolate in hand, follow the lights and soak up the magic.

The real joy is seeing the wonder on the kids’ faces; that’s Christmas on the Fraser Coast, where memories are made.