Free fireworks will light up the skies at Mooloolaba to help celebrate New Year’s Eve on the Sunshine Coast.

The Mooloolaba event will be held from 5pm, with a range of entertainment for all. There will also be fun-filled, community-run programs at Caloundra and Coolum.

In the family zone, on Mooloolaba Esplanade, there will be music, children’s entertainment, face painters, and food and market stalls. As well as a free bungy trampoline (for under 18s) on the beach.

From 7pm, live DJs will entertain, and volunteers from the Red Frogs will be out and about in the youth zone.

Mooloolaba, Coolum and Caloundra Celebrate

·        Caloundra 9.30pm, Kings Beach

·        Mooloolaba 8.30pm and Midnight, Mooloolaba Esplanade

·        Coolum 8.30pm, Coolum Beach near Tickle Park

Mooloolaba on New Year’s Eve will be a fully-fenced and secure patrolled event. This is to ensure everyone has a fun, safe and memorable evening. Firework displays will come alive at 8.30pm and midnight.

Council also supports community-organised events at Coolum and Caloundra. 

Coolum Beach fireworks start at 8.30pm. And the Caloundra celebrations are from 4pm, with live music at the Kings Beach Amphitheatre. A free children’s film and fireworks will be held at 9.30pm in Caloundra.

More information on the Mooloolaba and Caloundra celebrations, including transport and parking options, head to Council’s website: events.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au.

Focus Is On Fun And Safety This New Year

Mayor Mark Jamieson says Council’s focus for the Mooloolaba New Year’s Eve event is on fun and safety.

“Council has been actively working with Queensland Police Service (QPS) to deliver a festive event where everyone gets home safely, having had an enjoyable evening,” Mayor Jamieson says.

“We understand that families and teens want different entertainment and different music, so we will have two areas spread at either end of Mooloolaba Esplanade, one for families and one for youth.

“In response to feedback from the previous year, we’re removing any temptation to bring in alcohol by having a fenced and security patrolled event zone.

“QPS supports this move, which will make it much easier to refuse entry to anyone wanting to do the wrong thing.

“After their successful inclusion at last year’s event, we’ve engaged Red Frogs, who do a wonderful job of keeping youth events moving in the right direction and have a positive peer presence.”

Event information, including entertainment, transport info and more can be found on council’s website.

However, for the latest information on the night, make sure you turn to our updates posted to @sunshinecoastcouncil on Facebook.

Mooloolaba New Year’s Eve Event Information

Safety Measures

·        Fully gated event area

·        Drug, alcohol and glass free event

·        Security at all entry gate points where bag checks will be conducted to keep the public safe

·        Intoxicated people will not be permitted to enter the event zone

·        Red frogs engaged for the youth area.

Getting there

To reduce traffic and parking issues, Council has engaged a number of options to ensure road safety.

A free ThinkChange Bike Valet service is available for all bicycles, e-bikes, e-scooters etc. The service is located outside the event zone on River Esplanade, South of the Mooloolaba Surf Club. It will operate from 4pm-12:30am on the day.

A free Park N Ride Kinetic shuttle bus service is available to get patrons to and from the event.

The shuttle departs from outside the front of Chancellor State College at University of the Sunshine Coast (USC). It arrives at Alexandra Headland carpark (the northern end of the Mooloolaba Esplanade). 

Public parking is available at USC – CP15 carpark on Claymore Road. Buses run between locations from 5 – 10pm, every 15 minutes. Expect some delays after 8.30pm fireworks.

Other options include using Neuron e-bikes or e-scooters or planning a journey on public transport using the TransLink Journey Planner.

Food
There will be a range of food and market stalls available on Mooloolaba Esplanade and Beach Terrace only.

Event Parking At Mooloolaba

Special event parking, capped at $12.50, is available at PARKnGO Mooloolaba Central from 2pm New Year’s Eve to midnight. Normal pricing then resumes which includes the first hour free.

This will allow special event car parkers to leave by 1am at no extra cost.

During this time, payments will be taken via portable EFTPOS at the car park on entry. Wilson Parking attendants will be available to ensure a smooth entry and exit.

Pre-booking will not available for the day or for the event.

Road Closures
For a full list of road and car park closures visit https://events.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/event/22044228-a/sunshine-coast-new-years-eve-2023

Pet owners
There will be fireworks at all three New Year’s Eve events, so please make sure you pet is safe and secure. Visit https://www.rspcasa.org.au/pets-in-fireworks/

Fireworks and the environment

Local company Fuse Pyrotechnics will deliver Mooloolaba NYE fireworks The company takes steps to minimise environmental impact by using new technologies to reduce display debris.