Christmas Magic at Aura

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Aura’s second annual community Christmas event brought a twinkle of holiday magic to Baringa State Primary School as residents gathered for a night of festive fun. 

From the tiniest elves to die-hard festive fans in red suits and reindeer antlers, the Aura community embraced their best Christmas-core aesthetic for this free family-friendly event. 

Charlotte Buckley, Aura’s Community Development Manager, said she was delighted to see so many people join in to celebrate the magic of Christmas.  

“This community event is all about bringing our residents together to create beautiful memories,” Charlotte said. “It’s incredible to see neighbours connecting and families celebrating the festive season with one another. These are the magical moments that make Aura such a unique and special place to live.” 

The festivities kicked off on the right note, with DJs spinning holiday favourites — from Christmas queen Mariah to timeless singalong classics — before Santa Claus came to town. In true Sunshine-Coast fashion, the man in red traded in his sleigh for a motorbike to make an unforgettable entrance. 

The jam-packed program of Christmas-inspired activities kept kids of all ages entertained with craft stations, roving entertainers, carol singers, and even a ‘ho ho ho!’ competition to crown Aura’s most convincing Santa impersonator. Families also lined up for free face painting and balloon twisting, and joined in lively game of ‘Santa Says’ — a festive riff on ‘Simon Says’. 

As the sun set, families laid out picnic blankets for a special outdoor screening of the holiday classic, The Santa Clause, before the not-so-silent night ended with a bang as a dazzling fireworks display lit up the sky. 

Melissa Johnson, P&C Fundraising Manager for Baringa State Primary School, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the event's sponsors for their commitment to the Aura community. 

“This incredible event simply wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of our local sponsors,” Melissa said. “Their support not only makes it possible to host a free community celebration like this but also helps to create unforgettable memories for Aura families during the festive season.” 

Be sure to watch the highlights from this year’s event!