Sunday 6 December 2026
4pm to 8pm. All activities and entry are free.
Crummunda Park, Coongarra Esplanade, Wurtulla
Run sheet
- 4pm Gates open. Live music, food vans, face painting and the drumming circle.
- 4 to 6pm Supervised children’s activities.
- 5:30pm Last chance for paddlers to register or check in at the park.
- About 6pm Santa arrives across the lake.
- At dusk Water parade of lit-up kayaks and canoes.
- 8pm Festival finishes.
Good to know
- Bring
- A picnic blanket and hamper. Claim a patch of grass near the stage or on the lake bank for the parade.
- Getting there
- Parking is limited. Walk, cycle or paddle if you can. The park is right next to the bus stops on Nicklin Way.
- Taking part in the parade
- Bring your own kayak or canoe. No naked flames and no motorised craft. Children under 13 need an adult and a flotation device.
The fun will start at 4pm with
- music and entertainment all afternoon and evening on the Caloundra Community Bendigo Bank Branch Stage
- supervised children’s activities from 4 – 6pm sponsored by Ray White Real Estate, Caloundra
- Sunshine Toyota Drumming Circle with Levi VanerAa
- face-painters at the TJM Face Painting stand busy all afternoon.
All activities and entry to the event are free.
There will be great food choices at a variety of food vans and stalls.
Bring a picnic blanket and hamper so your family and friends can stake out your own patch of grass to watch the fun on stage or on the bank of the lake to watch the water parade of decorated and lit kayaks and canoes at dusk.
Santa will arrive across the lake around 6pm before the dazzling water parade of kayaks and canoes festooned with Christmas lights and decorations commences as darkness falls.
This is a family event that appeals to all ages. It finishes up by 8pm so you won’t be out too late on Sunday night. Parking is limited. If you live nearby consider walking, cycling or paddling to the event. The park is right next to bus stops on Nicklin Way. You will probably meet a neighbour or two because it’s a chance for our community to get out and have an enjoyable afternoon in our own beautiful part of the world, so why not share a ride.
Put 6 December 2026 in your calendar now. We will keep you posted via our social media sites (see below).
Some photos from the previous events
The Water Parade
The water parade is always a highlight. Every year we are amazed by the effort community members put into preparing their entries. In 2025 we had 50 people taking part in 20 beautifully decorated and illuminated watercraft.
Get in early and save time filling in paperwork at the event. You will just need to check-in at the event to let us know you have arrived.
Register for the 2026 water parade here.
The parade is not a competition—we love every entry, big or small. However we do have some informal awards to recognise the effort and ingenuity of our community members.
At the 2025 event, our judges, local Councillor Tim Byrnes and Colin Rose, Chair of Bendigo Community Bank, Caloundra chose the following:
| Best-dressed vessel | Best illuminated vessel | |
| Winner | Monica Espinosa | Emmanuel Espinosa |
| Runner-up | Baiden Drew | David Johnson |
| Encouragement Award | Kym & Josh Ayling | Taylor Bennet |
General Water Parade Information
You must be registered (or checked-in) at the launch site (Crummunda Park) by 5.30 pm.
No naked flames, no motorised craft (electric motors permitted with conditions).
Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult and wear a flotation device.
We encourage all participants to wear a flotation device.
Most of all, have fun!
Directions:
Crummunda Park is on the northern shore of Currimundi Lake, to the east of the Nicklin Way bridge.
Thank You to our Generous Sponsors, Volunteers and Supporters
Lights on the Lake is organised and run entirely by volunteers.
The organising committee comprises volunteers from local community groups Currimundi Catchment Care Group, and Friends of Currimundi Lake and volunteers from our community. If you would like to help email Tony at lightsonthelake@currimundicatchment.org.au .
Sunshine Coast Council
This event is proudly supported by Sunshine Coast Council’s grants program
Bendigo Bank Community Bank, Caloundra – Major Sponsor
Bendigo Bank Caloundra Community Bank Branch are major sponsors of the event. The Bank has generously sponsored the entertainment stage. The branch have supported our event since the very beginning and each year a team from the branch come along to help out.
Sunshine Coast Airport
We are delighted to announce that we have received funding from the Sunshine Coast Airport Community Support Fund for the 2026 year.
Other Local Community Sponsors
Social Media
