Christmas Wonderland

Celebrate the festive season with family and friends at Christmas Wonderland! This magical lighting display is back and on a much grander scale, treating visitors to a wonderland of glittering lights, illuminated trees, animated displays, light tunnels and projections that will mesmerise and delight.

Each night from 6pm, enjoy a magical Christmas market with delicious fare and live entertainment for the whole family. Grab a bite to eat and don't miss the roving carolers, along with Santa and his Christmas friends as they spread festive cheer. At 7.15pm the gates to Christmas Wonderland will open!

Event closes at 10pm, location Nerima Gardens, Goleby Ave Queens Park.

Contact Brenton Waters 3810 6784, Brenton.waters@ipswich.qld.gov.au

Christmas in Ipswich

The entire City of Ipswich is getting involved in the festive season.  Finding Santa is live in 40 locations across the city allowing you to bring Christmas characters to life and take a photo with them.  People uploading photos with #findingsanta go into the draw to win one of four VIP Christmas Wonderland passes – include jump the queue access, food vouchers and a special visit with Santa.  Entries close December 12.  https://www.christmasinipswich.com.au/home/finding-santa-app/finding-santa-photo-competition/

Riverlink will host a four-night celebration of festivities with fireworks kicking off on Thursday December 19 at 8pm.  Christmas carols and roving entertainment outside iPlay Riverlink, snow will also magically fall.  Fireworks will take place each night from December 19-22.

Christmas markets are being held across the city, on December 6 there will be twilight markets at The Boulevarde (6-9pm) and Christmas Markets in Springfield (3-8pm).  BrisStyle Museum Twilight Markets will be held on December 13 from 5pm-9pm at The Workshops Rail Museum, entry is $2. A torchlight museum tour can be purchased for $10 on the night.  There will be food trucks, live music and kids activities.

The town of Marburg will open when the Scenic Soul Christmas Markets take place on Saturday December 14 from 3pm-7pm at the old church, Queen St Marburg.  Expect artisan markets with handmade goodies, live entertainment live mandala painting and demonstrations, over 30 stalls and food trucks.  The Special Branch Collective will be running a market, they will also be open serving coffee and selling their unique pots and plants.  Scotland Yard Antiques will also open for the night as well as the Post Office with gifts for sale and the Marburg Pub will be open with specials on the night.

Special Twilight Christmas markets will be held at Orion Springfield Central on Monday December 23 from 9am-midnight.   Expect a day and evening full of live music, festive fun and unique Christmas market stalls. Main Street will be closed to vehicular traffic to make way for local artisan products and delicious food offerings.

And carols at Robelle Domain will be held on December 7.

See www.christmasinipswich.com.au for more information.

Contact Brenton Waters for information on Finding Santa 3810 6784, Brenton.waters@ipswich.qld.gov.au

Where's TOTI

This Christmas you have the chance to win a $1000 prize package by visiting Ipswich's Top of Town precinct.  Join the fun at Top of Town, Brisbane Street this festive season and find TOTI the elf!

Adventure through the cafes, retailers and participating businesses – search the store windows and try to catch a glimpse of TOTI the elf.  Complete an entry form (available in participating stores) to go into the draw to win an amazing Top of Town Experience Package, including gifts and vouchers valued at over $1,000! 

The winner will be drawn at Heisenberg Haus, 164 Brisbane Street at 11am on Saturday December 21.  Follow the adventures of TOTI the Elf on Facebook.

See www.christmasinipswich.com.au for more information.

Floating Images celebrates 18th birthday

Ipswich's only hot air ballooning company has celebrated 18 years in business.  Chief pilot and managing director Graeme Day has flown nearly 15,000 people over Ipswich, Somerset and the Scenic Rim in those 18 years.  That's 1800 hours of flying.  

Contact Graeme Day 3294 8770

International Tea Day

This International Tea Day, Sunday December 15, Tranquil Tea owner Dona Perera is encouraging people to celebrate by enjoying a brew with loved ones.  Ms Perera said tea has been a drink of choice for people all over the world for 150 years.

“People all over the world drink tea.  It can bring people together.  It is very versatile and can be used in many different ways,” she said.  Ms Perera started Tranquil Tea to re-ignite her passion for the traditional drink and specialises in importing black and green Ceylon tea as well as infused teas with fruity and spicy flavours.  She also regularly hosts tea tasting events in her Tivoli gardens.  

“I love tea,” she said.  “You can add it to red wine and make a cocktail, cupcakes and perfumes and you can use it to flavour meat.  It can be used at any time of the day for any event.” International Tea Day was introduced in 2005 in India to address wages and fair prices for small tea producers.  It started important conversations such as working conditions and the rights of women in plantations, these days the movement is looking at issues like climate change.  “This International Tea Day we celebrate the growers and their contribution whilst supporting continual improvement in working conditions.  There is a growing number of tea drinkers who are mindful of the chemicals and additives in their daily drink and looking for natural teas that are grown and harvested ethically.”

Ms Perera will be hosting two Ceylon Tea Tasting events at the Ipswich Visitor Information Centre on International Tea Day. One at 10am-11.30am and another at 2.30pm-4pm.  Cost is $5 per person, book online or phone 3281 0555.

 Dona encourages people to enjoy an Ipswich tea trail:  https://www.discoveripswich.com.au/celebrate-international-tea-day-in-ipswich-with-a-tea-trail/ 

Contact Dona Perera 0413 096 441

Sip 'n' Dip launches new product

Crafty Ipswich business Sip 'n' Dip has launched new Sip 'n' Craft classes showing people how to make their own soap at home.  The classes are a relaxing way to learn a new skill and include dinner, all materials and a glass of wine.  You make six bars of soap in a gift box to take home.

The creative mind behind the popular Sip 'n' Dip classes, Jaana Brown is also starting arts and crafts tours in conjunction with The Soul Nook Collective.  The tours include a styled picnic under the bell tent, art classes, craft classes and of course wine!

Contact Jaana 0438 758 269 https://www.sipndipipswich.com/

Queensland Museum Network Under Construction School holiday program

These school holidays The Workshops Rail Museum will be hosting Summer Days at the Workshops Rail Museum for kids to get hands on with construction, explore real life steam trains, diesel locomotives and more. 

https://theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au/Events+and+Exhibitions/Events/2019/12/Summer+Days#.XeSauUYzaUk

Contact Louise Whitlcok 3432 5100.

Ungermann Brothers Ice Cream now available at Ballistic Beer Co

A recent pop up event at Ballistic Beer's new Springfield brewery has led to a deal to sell Ungermann Brothers Ice Cream at the new bar and kitchen. 

Contact Wade Curtis on 0400 170 347 or Danny Ungermann on 0417 260 340.

Urbane Markets at Ballistic Beer

Ballistic Beer Co Springfield Brewery, Bar and Kitchen has partnered with the Urbane Markets to bring their signature 'must visit' markets to Springfield on Friday December 20. 

There will be stalls, rides for kids, food and drinks from 3pm-9pm.

Contact Wade Curtis on 0400 170 347

TapeScape

US Artist Eric Lennartson has created a unique sculpture of tunnels and slides at the Ipswich Art Gallery, twice as big as the last time he was here in 2016.  TapeScape returns to Ipswich from December 2- February 16, 2020.  TapeScape is the centrepiece to Construction Site Summer Fun which will take over the whole gallery this school holidays. 

More than 115,000 metres of packing tape will transform Ipswich Art Gallery into a multi-level play space for kids when TapeScape returns this December.

US artist Eric Lennartson said the unique sculpture of tunnels and slides would be twice as big as the previous iteration, which drew record crowds to the gallery in 2016.

https://www.discoveripswich.com.au/playground-made-of-sticky-tape-takes-shape/ (story and quotes ok for media to use).

Contact Brenton Waters 3810 6784, Brenton.waters@ipswich.qld.gov.au

Keep your cool in Ipswich

If you're looking for a way to keep cool during a summer of heatwaves head out to Ipswich's Orion Lagoon, Robelle Domain, Bob Gamble Park and Ripley Splash 'n' Play for some water-based fun.

A new 'world first' surface has been installed at the Robelle Domain zero depth water park.  The surface is made up of interlocking tiles that are recyclabale and help to drain water. 

Contact Brenton Waters 3810 6784, Brenton.waters@ipswich.qld.gov.au

New Year's Thunder

On Saturday January 4, the first round of the 400 Thunder Professional Drag Racing Series for 2020 will be held at Willowbank Raceway.  See top fuel racers, pro alcohol, pro stock, and pro stock bike on the track.  A huge field of local and interstate racers will compete.  Children under 13 are free to enter. Event is being held from 4pm-9.30pm.

Contact Rob Oberg on 0417 756 565

For Famil opportunities, photos or more information please contact Carly Morrissey 3810 7712 carly.morrissey@ipswich.qld.gov.au