Program
Don’t miss any of the activities at Stable at Riverway 2023. Plan your trip before you come.
View the Stable Event Guide
Annandale Christian College Oval Stage
Catholic Education Raintree Grove Stage
Christmas Marketeers List - Thurs 21st
Food Trucks List
Town of Bethlehem
The town of Bethlehem will open at 6:00 p.m. every night. So much to explore and so much to do.
Outside the Town of Bethlehem Walls you will find:
The Puppet show ‘Bethlehem Rhapsody’ will be presented every 30 mins from 6:00p.m
The Angel choir that you are invited to sing and dance with every 30 minutes
Inside the Walls of Bethlehem there is:
The Roman Quarter
Talk to Herod
Dress up and train as a soldier!
The Marketplace
Help the Carpenter
Try your skill at Bethlehem Block Masters
Taste the Bakers Bread
Talk to the Woman at the Well
Go Fishing
Attend a Jewish wedding and dance with the bride and groom
Hassle the Marketeers selling their wares.
Carefully cuddle baby Chicks and Ducklings
Clean the Inns
Donate to the beggars
Take a selfie!
The Shepherds Field
Younger children can go on the Shepherd’s Walk in search of baby Jesus
Cuddle the cute lambs, goats and calf
Pat the donkey and camel!
The Smelly Stable
Greet the wise men as they search for Baby Jesus
Add a prayer to the prayer wall
Talk to the donkey
Receive a Christmas blessing
Don’t forget to find Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus!
Townsville Catholic Education Raintree Grove
This is a magical space beneath a beautifully lit canopy of huge rain trees.
Come and sit and enjoy!
The relaxing sounds of the Townsville Catholic Education Stage
While sipping a complimentary cup of tea or coffee and eating Christmas cake
Let the kids explore Carters petting Farm and bottle feed goats and lambs
Face painting
Christmas Crafts
And take a wander through the arch to the joyful hands and reflect on what Christmas means to you.
Annandale Christian College Oval
At 7pm nightly you can catch a talented, local, up-and-coming artist or band on the Annandale Christian College Stage.
See the full program here.
But that's just the beginning! Star Show Alley is the ultimate family and youth space. Here, you'll find classic amusements like 'knock 'em downs,' skittles, and an array of family and team challenges.
Calling all high schoolers to the Youth Hub – a world of excitement awaits! Get ready to immerse yourself in the art of henna, conquer the sizzling 'The Floor is Lava,' unleash your inner artist with Stain Glass Window making, showcase your basketball prowess, and dive into a bunch of games galore!
All aboard, don't forget to hop on the Stable Express! Catch your ride at the station and while you wait or before you head home grab a snack from the Food trucks near the front gate.
And one more thing – let's celebrate diversity and unity by adding a 'Welcome' in your language to the front entrance arch!
Entertainment
Click here for the full program on the Townsville Catholic Education Raintree Grove Stage.
Click here for the full program on the Annandale Christian College Oval Stage.
Don’t miss Nightly the ‘Young Artist spot’ 6:30 p.m. each night featuring young talent between ages 10 and 17 – John Scanlen, Michaela Feather, Levi X, Amelia Betcher and Caroline Walton.
Followed by the Nightly special entertainment at 7:00 p.m. by our very talented local artists.
All on the Annandale Christian College Oval stage
Mon 18th - Sarah Lane - The Sarah Lane Jazz Trio features Sarah Lane on Vocals, Jake Curro on Guitar, and Grant Thomas on Bass. Come along and hear your favorite Christmas jazz standards and holiday songs!"
Tues 19th – Melanesian Pride - With the tagline “Positive Vibes Only”, Melanesian Pride is a multicultural celebration of life, inspired to share joy through their love for music. Soaring harmonies, toe-tapping rhythms and inexhaustible energy will have you dancing in your seat!
Wed 20th – Katisha Adelaide - Experience the violin in ways you never imagined with this live looping artist. Both a singer and multi-instrumentalist, Katisha Adelaide will take you on a symphonic inspired journey of your favorite tunes!
Thurs 21st - Christmas Collective - Come sing along and tap your toes to a diverse group of local musicians who gather annually to spread Christmas Cheer! You name it and they play it: jazz, celtic, rock, pop, and classical featuring guitar, violin, banjo, whistles and more!
Fri -22nd – The Embassy Project - A Christian Rock band that draws together musicians from diverse musical backgrounds and utilizes their talents to write, record and perform music that encourages people to deepen their relationship with God.
Food and Drinks
Food takes center stage at every festival, and you won't believe your taste buds when you see what we've got in store!
Townsville Catholic Education Rain tree Grove is the site of our main hospitality tent where we will serve free tea and coffee and Christmas cake.
Every night the Food fair will operate providing yummy delights like pizza, hamburgers, fish and chips, international food, healthy options, snacks, roasts, and lots, lots more.
On Tuesday 19th is our Food Fiesta will also be open for an explosion of delicious dishes, delightful treats, and exotic eats from around the world.
For a full list of our Food trucks click here.
Christmas Markets
Thursday the 21st is Market night.
Here is your chance to buy those last minute hand made Christmas presents. We have all sorts of different gifts including timber work products, hand painted resin homewares, candles, earrings, clothing, jewellery, baby goods and much much more.
For a full list of marketeers click here.
The Yarning Circle
A vibrant and interactive space where the rich traditions, faith, and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities come to life through music, dance, Indigenous crafts, and storytelling.
Check out the whiteboard for the evening program.
Oasis Of Hope
A space for peaceful contemplation where you can take a moment to simply be, savor a soothing hand massage, address your immediate needs, seek spiritual guidance through prayer, or simply share a cuppa and a chat.
And there is more to explore
Make sure you ride the Stable Express.
And have your photo taken at the Free photo booth.
And Write ‘welcome’ in your language on the Front arch.
Mater Foundation Mothers Tent is a quiet place for nappy changing and breastfeeding. Just near First aid.
For those with mobility issues a buggy will be available near the entrance.
Sunday 17th between 6:00-8:00 pm is our preview night and we want to extend a very warm welcome to all our seniors and those with disabilities to come along for a less crowded experience.
Pets: As animals are part of the display you are encouraged not to bring your pets with you to Stable at Riverway.