Geoff Deacon setting up some of the Christmas Wonderland lights.

Nev Madsen

TOOWOOMBA'S Christmas Wonderland began with a dream by the Burstow families of creating an event where the whole community could come and experience the joy and wonder of Christmas.

Toowoomba's Christmas Wonderland had grown to be one of Queensland's biggest light extravaganzas with 48,000 visitors in 2006 and 50,000 in 2007 and more than $150,000 was raised for charity in the process.

However with the growth, the Burstow families found it difficult to continue the event at their premises but they wanted the concept to continue.

The Lions Club of Toowoomba West has taken it over, found a new venue and will continue to raise funds for charity.

With support from the Toowoomba Regional Council and a great deal of work behind the scenes by Cr Ian Orford before his untimely passing, the Botanical Gardens in Queens Park was secured as the new home for the Christmas Wonderland of Lights.

With support from the business community and media partners The Chronicle, Seven Toowoomba and Radio 4GR, Mayor Peter Taylor will 'throw the switch' and officially turn on the lights this Friday, December 5.

The spectacular will then be open for the public 7pm to 10pm each night from Saturday, December 6 through to and including Christmas Eve on Wednesday, December 24.

Entry will be a gold-coin donation and the three major beneficiaries for this year's event are the Toowoomba Hospice, the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation and Lifeline's Living Works Program.

Christmas Wonderland began with a dream by the Burstow families of creating an event where the whole community could come and experience the joy and wonder of Christmas.

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