St Nicholas Precinct, Christmas in Ipswich

St Nicholas Precinct is Ipswich’s free Christmas lights night, with a lighting installation, live entertainment and select market stalls in the Nicholas Street Precinct from Friday 11 to Sunday 20 December. It is part of the city’s Christmas in Ipswich program and runs ten nights.

Ipswich Festivals presents the precinct in partnership with Ray White AKG, and the event is listed on the Visit Ipswich What’s On calendar. It suits an easy after-dinner outing: the precinct is wheelchair and pram accessible, entry is free and there are restaurants close by.

Dates and times for St Nicholas Precinct

The lights are on from 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm every night from Friday 11 to Sunday 20 December, except Monday 14 December, which is the Sensory Friendly Night (6 pm to 9 pm).

The Sensory Friendly Night has a quieter environment and a dedicated low sensory tent, which helps families who find crowds, noise or bright lights hard to manage.

What’s on

The organiser lists three things:

• A lighting installation across the precinct
• Live entertainment
• Select market stalls

The performers and stallholders are not named on the event page, so check before you go if you are after something in particular. The organiser suggests booking a nearby restaurant before or after your visit, and lists dining options at Discover Ipswich.

Planning your visit

• Arrive by 6.30 pm if you want the lights as they come on, and allow an hour or two to wander the stalls and watch the entertainment before the 9.30 pm finish.
• Make it a night out: book a nearby restaurant before or after, as the organiser suggests.
• Sensory needs: choose Monday 14 December if crowds and noise are hard going for someone in your group.
• Questions: Ipswich City Council’s events team is on (07) 3810 6666 or [email protected].

Cost and rules

• Entry: free.
• Dogs: allowed, but owners are asked to use their discretion given the crowds.
• Photography: if you use a tripod, the organiser asks you to avoid peak times and be mindful of other visitors.
• Accessibility: the site is wheelchair and pram accessible, and accessible parking is available on street and in the undercover car park for Disabled Permit holders.

Getting there and parking

Ipswich is about 40 minutes by car from the Brisbane CBD. By public transport, take the Ipswich/Rosewood line train to Ipswich Station on Bell Street, opposite Metro Ipswich Central, or a bus to the Bell Street Interchange, directly across from Nicholas Street. Plan your trip with the Translink journey planner.

There is an undercover car park with over 1,000 spaces, entered from Bremer Street. For navigation, search for 6 Bremer Street (car park) or 1 Nicholas Street, Union Place, then take any lift to the Ground Floor (Tulmur Place). Ipswich City Council says parking in the car park is free after 5 pm on weekdays and all day on weekends and public holidays, and free for up to 3 hours at other weekday times. Paid street parking is available in most of Ipswich Central.

Nearby

• Queens Park Ipswich – playground, nature centre and cafe for a daytime visit.
• Nerima Gardens Ipswich – a Japanese garden by day.
• Lord Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting – another free Christmas lights night, in Brisbane.
• More events on What’s on

Details can change, so check the organiser’s website before you go.

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