2021 is almost over, and Sydney Christmas events are centre stage again. It’s time to get into the Christmas mood, and while that may be a little harder this year, we decided to bring all the options together so you can find all the best things to do in Sydney at Christmas, from festivals and Christmas markets to carolling and the prettiest Christmas trees.
Updated 27 November 2021
Christmas Festivals and Special Experiences
Sydney Christmas Fair 2021
The Sydney Christmas Fair is on track to go ahead this year at The Entertainment Quarter and offers plenty to keep the whole family busy. With carnival rides, water activities, outdoor cinema, Santa photos and a gingerbread party house.
The Covid Safe plan will require bookings for 2-hour sessions. Some tickets may be available on the day if not sold out.
Where: 122 Lang Road, Moore Park
Cost: $5 entry, ride tickets from $10 – add a 2-hour unlimited ride ticket for $20 more.
When: Sat: 4th, 11th & 18th Dec: 2-hour sessions beginning hourly from 10am to 5pm
Sun: 5th, 12th & 19th Dec: 10am to 2pm (closing at 4pm)
Christmas Markets in Sydney 2021
There are a bunch of Christmas Markets running, and all your favourite regular markets will likely have some Christmas stalls.
French Christmas Market
For the first time ever Sydney has its own European style, Christmas Market! After being postponed from July the Bastille Festival is back – with added Christmas flavour.
Over 50 stalls with food, wine, crafts and gifts will take over the streets of Circular Quay. There will also be an oyster and Champagne bar, French wine tasting experiences and a cheese cellar!
Where: Customs House forecourt
When: Friday 17-Monday 20 December
The Rocks Christmas Market
If you are not quite feeling the Christmas love a visit to the Rocks Christmas Market is bound to change that. With elves on stilts, light up angels, live music and DJs and of course delicious holiday-themed, gourmet street food all up over 70 stalls for your Christmas shopping (and eating) needs!
Where: George Street
When: 3-19 December on Friday (4-9pm) and Sat (10-9pm) Sun (10-5pm)
Carriageworks Christmas Market
Things are back to normal for the Carriageworks Christmas Market with no registration required this year. There will be 80+ stalls featuring NSW growers, farmers and artisans, offering everything you need for a Christmas feast. With fruit and veg, seasonal produce, meats, seafood, cheeses, preserves, confectionery, baked goodies and festive tipples.
Along with all you need to put together a cracking good Xmas celebration you can also
- buy your Christmas flowers
- choose from a range of non-alcoholic options for the sober-curious
- pick up vegan alternatives from meat free roasts to dairy free cheeses
- finish your xmas shopping with unique food-related giftware, from cookbooks to textiles, ceramics and more.
When: Wed 22 Dec, 4-9pm
Where: Carriageworks
The Ultimate Christmas Market at EQ
Come for 160 stalls, great food, fun times and great shopping in a Covid-safe environment.
When: Sunday 5 December 2021
Where: The Entertainment Quarter, Lang Rd, Moore Park
The Shire Christmas Market
This year the Shire Christmas Market will be held in Miranda, 150 stalls, kids’ rides, cool tunes, delicious international food and an appearance by Santa! Previously held in Cronulla, it has been moved to Miranda this year to allow for bigger crowds.
When: Sat-Sun 27-28 November 2021 Cancelled due to the horrible weather this weekend 🙁
Where: Don Lucas Reserve
The Pittwater Christmas Market
This year the Pittwater Christmas Market will be the first of the Cambridge seasonal markets this year.
When: Saturday 11 December
Where: Winnererremy Bay, Mona St, Mona Vale
Mosman Christmas Market
Pop along and find all your Christmas gifts in one place. A range of quality artisan products including homewares, jewellery, clothing, Fair Trade and eco products.
There will also be plenty of indulgent Christmas treats and family entertainment.
When: Thursday 9 December 20214.30pm – 9.00pm 2021
Where: Mosman Square & Village Green Spit Junction
Fair Trade Christmas Market
Head to Chatswood to support the ethically sourced Fair Trade Christmas market. You will find handcrafted gifts at this annual Fair Trade Market.
When: 04 Dec 2021 | 10am – 4pm
Where: The Concourse, Victoria Avenue, Chatswood
Cannery Christmas Market
Purchase your Christmas gifts from jewellery to sweets, arts to home decor, fresh flowers, cookies and loads more. There is something exciting for everyone at the Cannery.
When: 04-05 Dec 2021 | 10am-5pm Sat and 10-3pm Sunday
Where: 61 Mentmore Ave Rosebery
Glebe Artisan Market
Held four times a year, the Glebe Artisans Market is a fantastic place to get your Christmas shopping done and support small operators.
When: 11 December 2021
Where: 140 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe NSW 2037
Finders Keepers Market
A fantastic market for picking up unique Christmas gifts for the special people in your life
When: Fri-Sun, 10-12 December: Fri – 5pm – 9.30pm, Sat-Sun: 10am – 5pm
Where: The Cutaway Barangaroo
Christmas Trees In Sydney you should visit
We expect Christmas trees to be going up across the city over the next few weeks or so and will update this page as soon as we have details.
The Rocks Christmas Tree
The Rocks Christmas Tree will be set up in the heart of the Rocks and feature plenty of Instagrammable spots for sharing your images with family and friends.
Where: Playfair Street and Argyle Street
When: November to Dec
Martin Place Christmas Tree
Martin Place is home to a 3.4m high tree decorated with 10,000 LED lights and 330 colourful baubles. This year the tree will feature 15000 Aussie flowers and will be unveiled on 28 November. The area will also boast over 4 thousand fairy lights strung across Martin Place.
This year the tree features 15,000 Australian flowers including banksia, waratah, bottlebrush, wattle, eucalyptus gum flower, kangaroo paw, flannel flower, pink waxflower and white waxflower. See more here
Where: Between George St and Pitt St at Martin Place
When: Saturday 27 November to Wednesday 1 January.
QVB Christmas Tree
At 24m tall, the sparking Swarovski Tree Christmas tree in the QVB is the tallest Xmas tree in Australia and the largest indoor tree in the Southern Hemisphere.
With over 100,000 crystal ornaments and more than 60,000 lights, the tree reaches from the ground floor to the top of the dome.
Where: Queen Victoria Building George Street Sydney
When: 7 November – December 30 (approx)
Related: Find out more about Christmas in Australia
Christmas Drinks
Tinseltown
If you have an ugly Christmas sweater sitting at home waiting for an outing, this one is for you! Wonderland will host Tinseltown with Christmas tunes and in house Santa and plenty of sugary treats.
Where: Wonderland Bar – 24 Bayswater Rd, Potts Point
Cost: $17 per person for a 90-minute visit, which gets you a mulled wine or festive cocktail (with or without alcohol)
When: 3pm to 11pm
High Tea with Santa
Why not join Santa for high tea? The Tea Room in QVB, along with delicious eats, there will be opportunities for photos with Santa – either professional or with your camera.
Sensory Santa Experiences are also available for a calm and comfortable environment. Bookings are available from Saturday 13 November until Friday 24 December. Your experience includes at least two digital photos. You can also take photos with Santa on your own device.
Where: Level 3, QVB George St
When: Book a one-hour session between 8:30am-10am or 13:30am to noon.
Cost: Adults $70, Kids $49 includes a digital photo or Cocktails with Santa – Tickets cost $75 per person.
The North Pole Hotline
A video call with Santa – 2021 details have not been released.
You can book a zoom call with Santa (for free!) on the David Jones website.
Where: David Jones
When: Saturday and Sunday – 5th-6th Dec / 12-13th Dec / 19th-24 Dec 10am-3pm each day!
Santa Photos on top of the Harbour Bridge
How about going one step further than the average Santa photo and booking a Christmas Day Bridgeclimb. If you are unable to celebrate with family this year a Bridgeclimb will make things a lot more memorable than a picnic in the park!
BridgeClimb is open on the 25th of December, with Climbs departing during the Day, at Twilight and Night.
Where: Bridgeclimb
When: 25 December 2021
Christmas Carols
Carols in the Domain
Carols in the Domain is back in 2021. Sydney’s biggest carolling event is going ahead. Things will be quite different this year. You will need to book tickets or register for the free ballot now. Paid tickets that get you into a seated area however they have increased the seated area enormously and ticket prices are incredibly expensive
Where: The Domain Sydney
Cost: Ticketed area $59-$160 – the free balloted tickets look to be right at the back
When: 18 December
Hark
Join The Song Company for a night of Christmas Carolling as they perform songs from the Renaissance along with audience favourites. Everyone is welcome, especially keen voices!
Where: The Garrison Church (Monday) and St James Church (Tue/Wed)
When: Mon 20th Dec 2022 6pm, Tues 21th Dec 2022 3pm/6pm, Wed 22 Dec 2022 3pm/6pm
Cost: Tickets $65 Adults, $55 Concession and $10 kids. Family $110 (2 adults and 3 kids) – Any 5 tickets $225
The Best Christmas Lights and Decorations in Sydney
Sydney city council have developed a self-guided walking app that will guide you around the city’s best decorations and light displays. The walk covers 4km and is estimated to take 1-2 hours, depending on how many stops you make.
Lights of Christmas – St Mary’s Cathedral
The best Christmas light show in the city takes place in front of St Mary’s Cathedral. This year’s show is a three-part narrative on the importance of ‘home” in our lives.
Where: St Mary’s Cathedral College St Sydney – entry via William Street
When: 9 Dec – 25 December
Time: 8.30pm-11pm with Choices from 7:30pm
David Jones Christmas Windows
Over 6500 hours of labour went into creating the displays in this year’s David Jones windows. The 2021 display at the Elizabeth Street flagship is based on the story of the children’s book My Pet Star. They are not as Christmassy as other years but fans of the book may enjoy it.
Where: David Jones, 86-108 Castlereagh St, Sydney
When: 24 hours a day from 12 Nov – 3 Jan (avoid peak shopping hours for the best experience)
Cost: free
Darling Harbour
Giant Christmas gifts – These enormous 1.8m Christmas presents create a perfect Instagram shot – sparkling silver and pink packages can be found in the Harbourside Forecourt.
You will also find three large interactive bells at Darling Quarter – with swings that light up when you reach the top.
Where: Darling Harbour Foreshore and Darling Quarter
When: 1 Nov – 25 Dec.
Strand Arcade
Christmas decorations inspired by native flowers, the Strand Arcade is always stunning, but it looks especially lovely with some extra sparkle.
Where: 412-414 George St, Sydney
When: 2 Nov to 10 Jan 2021
Westfield Sydney Central
Westfield has 150 trees featuring half a million twinkling LED lights inspired by Eucalyptus Trees, the ‘Christmas Gum’. Plenty of backgrounds perfect for your Christmas Instagram shot. “Check out the 3D Matrix lighting installation between Zara and Innisfree, the Christmas forest down the Grand Staircase into the Food Court or the twinkling green wall pillars on the Level 3 Market St entry.”
Where: Westfield Central (Pitt Street Mall)
When: Now until Dec 28 approx.
Flour Drum Newton
Giving David Jones window a run perhaps is the Christmas Display Window at Flour Drum This will be the 5th year this Newtown cafe will be decorating and it promises to be bigger and better than ever. The window is just the start with the dining room and garden also decorated.
Pop in and try their delicious Xmas treats including Christmas Pudding / Cake / Mince Pies (all marinaded for over 12 months with a more than healthy tipple of Brandy), Gingerbreads People, Gingerbread Animals, White Christmas, Christmas Jams and Relishes. As well as handmade cookies and biscuits range, Christmas Pudding and an array of handcrafted gourmet treats.
Where: 531 King Street Newtown.
When: Mon, Thur & Fri : 7:30am – 2pm, Sat & Sun 7:30am – 2:30pm
Christmas Light Spectacular at Hunter Valley Gardens
The annual Christmas Lights Show at Hunter Valley Gardens is back with Covid safe measures in place. Book early to avoid disappointment.
Where: Broke Road, Pokolbin
Cost: $30 adults $25 for kids (Family tickets also available)
When: 5 Nov – 26 Jan, 2021 (Closed 25th Dec) 6:30pm – 9:30pm. Event closes at 10:30pm.
