Follow the Star Returns to Toowoomba in 2026
Come and experience the Christmas story brought to life
Last December, something extraordinary happened at The Goods Shed in Toowoomba.
Across five unforgettable nights, more than 3,000 people stepped out of modern-day Toowoomba and into the world of the very first Christmas. Families, children, grandparents, church communities and curious visitors came together to experience a story that has been told for generations—but rarely experienced quite like this.
More than 120 cast members, crew and volunteers worked together to create a large-scale, live nativity experience filled with actors, animals, music, bustling marketplace scenes and moments of wonder.
This December, Follow the Star returns for 2026—and once again, everyone is invited to become part of the story.
This is more than a Christmas performance
Follow the Star is not a traditional stage production where the audience simply takes a seat and watches from a distance.
It is an immersive journey through the Christmas story.
From the moment you arrive, you will be surrounded by the sights, sounds and activity of another time. Enter a lively marketplace filled with merchants and townspeople. Encounter Roman soldiers, hear conversations carrying the ancient hope of a promised Messiah, and follow the unfolding story toward Mary, Joseph and the birth of Jesus.
Along the way, the familiar words of Christmas become something you can see, hear and experience.
There will be live actors, real animals, beautiful sets, music, market stalls, food and welcoming spaces where families and friends can enjoy the evening together.
Whether the Christmas story has been part of your life for many years, you have only heard pieces of it, or you are simply looking for a meaningful experience to share with your family, Follow the Star has been created for you.
A story of joy and hope
Long before the manger, generations of people were waiting.
They had heard the promises spoken by the prophets. They carried stories of God’s faithfulness and deliverance. Even through uncertainty, oppression and darkness, they held onto the hope that God would act—that a Saviour would come.
Then, in an ordinary town, to an ordinary young woman, an angel brought extraordinary news.
The promised Messiah was coming.
Follow the Star invites visitors to enter that unfolding story: to feel the anticipation, witness the wonder and rediscover the message at the centre of Christmas.
It is the story of a God who came near.
It is a story of light entering darkness, hope arriving in uncertainty and love made visible in the birth of Jesus Christ.
Building on an extraordinary first year
In 2025, more than 600 people came through Follow the Star each night.
The Goods Shed came alive through months of preparation, rehearsals, set construction, costume creation, music, hospitality and the service of a mighty team of volunteers. People from across Toowoomba and the Darling Downs contributed their time, creativity and gifts to make the experience possible.
What began as a vision became a remarkable expression of churches and Christians working together—not to promote one congregation, but to celebrate Christ and share His message with the wider community.
In 2026, we are building on everything that made the first event so special, while refining and expanding the experience for another year.
There will be new details to discover, familiar moments to revisit and another opportunity for thousands of people to encounter the heart of Christmas together.
An experience for the whole community
Follow the Star is proudly presented as a free community event coordinated by Christian Events Toowoomba.
At its heart is a desire to create a beautiful, welcoming and accessible space for everyone: believers, seekers, families, friends and those who may simply be curious about the story behind Christmas.
There is no pressure and no expectation that you need to know the story before you arrive.
Simply come as you are.
Bring your children, invite your neighbours, gather your friends and follow the star with us.
Follow the Star 2026
Dates: Thursday 17 – Sunday 20 December 2026
Time: 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: The Goods Shed, Toowoomba
Entry: Free
Sessions: New journey groups commence every 10 minutes
Bookings are essential to help us manage session numbers and provide the best possible experience for every visitor.
Choose your preferred date and session time through Humanitix and reserve your free tickets.
Come and be part of the story
For one week in December, the marketplace will rise again. The actors will take their places. The animals will arrive. Music will fill The Goods Shed, and a star will lead people toward a humble manger and the message that continues to change lives.
Christmas can so easily become crowded with shopping, rushing and endless lists.
Follow the Star offers something different: an opportunity to slow down, step into the story and remember why Christmas began.
The star is waiting. The journey is returning.
Come and experience Follow the Star 2026.
https://events.humanitix.com/follow-the-star-2026
