Bringing Life, Light and Hope to our City at Christmas
STABLE NQ!
Bringing to Life
North Queensland’s
Premier Tourist
Attraction
Register here for any Nativity Story Character, including Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus!
Stable NQ is the organisation behind one of Townsville's most loved Christmas traditions. For almost 30 years, Stable NQ has partnered with Together for Townsville, local businesses, government, schools, community organisations and 600+ volunteers to deliver a free Christmas experience for the people of our city.
While the location and event format have evolved over the years, from Stable on the Strand, to Stable at Cluden, and now into an exciting new chapter, our vision has remained the same: to create an interactive and immersive Christmas celebration that brings people together through creativity, storytelling, music, food and live entertainment, while sharing the hope and wonder of Christmas.
Each year, more than 30,000 locals and visitors enjoy this much-loved event, making it one of North Queensland's largest Christmas festivals and a significant contributor to our city's Christmas season.
Help Bring Stable NQ to Life!
This year marks an exciting new chapter as Stable NQ proudly presents Stable in the City,
reimagining this iconic Christmas tradition in the heart of Townsville's CBD.
(Book your FREE Nativity Story Ticket)
(Plan Your Visit - Map and Event Details)
(Volunteer, become a Stable NQ Champion, Register for Markets and Food Trucks)
(Become a Stable NQ Business Sponsor)
(Discover Faith and find a Home Church)
Stable in the City!
Experience the story of Christmas across our CBD!
NEW! - Event Dates for 2026
December 3 - 5, 2026
NEW! - Event Times
Thur & Fri: 5:30 - 9:00pm (All)
Saturday: 3:00 - 5:00pm
(Accessibility Afternoon - Hub 1 Only)
Saturday: 5:30 - 9:00pm (All)
NEW! - 4 Locations across the CBD
1. YWAM Youth Precinct - Main Hub
2. Sacred Heart Cathedral
3. St Andrews Presbyterian / TCCM Church
4. Flinders Lane & Street (Near City Lane)
Special Mention
St James Cathedral
-
YWAM Youth Precinct
312 Walker Street, Townsville CBDStep into the Christmas story. Experience a live, immersive nativity presentation, browse artisan markets, enjoy food trucks, First National Hospitality with their famous Melting Moments and soak up live entertainment in the heart of the city.
-
St Andrews Presbyterian & TCCM Church
119 Wills Street, Townsville CBDFun for the whole family. Enjoy exciting BMX and skate demonstrations, community carols, creative activities for the kids, and a classic sausage sizzle.
-
Sacred Heart Cathedral
270 Stanley Street, Townsville CBDLook up and be amazed. See this iconic landmark transformed by spectacular projection mapping and light installations, then step inside to enjoy live music, performances and a truly memorable Christmas experience.
-
Flinders Lane (Near City Lane), Townsville CBD
Follow the lights down Flinders Street. Enjoy creative performers, festive shopfront displays and warm atmospheric lighting make Flinders Street the perfect place to wander and wonder. Hang words of gratitude our Flinders Lane Gratitude Christmas Tree
-
St James Anglican Cathedral
36 Cleveland Terrace, Townsville CBDLook through the Anglican Cathedral and explore Nativity Scenes from around the world.
Testimonials
“I love that Stable is inclusive and family friendly. All walks of life are welcome!”
— Breanna
“Loved the puppet show, the whole thing was wonderful, thank-you volunteers and organisers!”
— Marcus
“I love how families can do something at Christmas for free!”
— Tracy
Keen to share the good news of Stable in the City with your church, youth group, school or organisation?
Use our Media Kit
Become a Stable NQ Sponsor and Support the wellbeing of our community
-
Stable NQ is a Not-For-Profit Christian organisation made up of 600+ volunteers from across Townsville. Annually we partner with churches, businesses, government, schools and organisations to run one of Townsville’s most loved premier Christmas tourist attractions.
-
Stable NQ is FOR Townsville. We believe in our city. Every year, Stable NQ volunteers pour their hearts into making Townsville a vibrant, family-friendly city, delivering the most memorable and cost-effective Christmas festival North Queensland has ever seen!
-
Driven by a strong, visionary (volunteer!) management team, Stable NQ partners with churches, schools, businesses and organisations who love our city and want to make a positive impact, just like YOU!
We acknowledge God as Creator and owner of all things. We acknowledge that He gave stewardship of the land on which we meet to the Bindal and Wulgurukaba people who have welcomed many other cultures onto this land.
We pay our respects to the Wulgurukaba and Bindal people and their elders/leaders, both past and present, and future.