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 markets to carolling and Christmas trees.
Updated 24 November 2020
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Christmas Festivals and Special Experiences
Sydney Christmas Fair
The Sydney Christmas Fair will be held 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.
Where: 122 Lang Road, Moore Park
Cost: $5 entry – add a 2-hour unlimited ride ticket for $20 more.
When: Sat 5 & 12 Dec : 10am – 9pm and Sun 6 & 13 : 10am – 4pm
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 own camera.
Sensory Santa Experiences are also available for a calm and comfortable environment.
Where: Level 3, QVB George St
When: Book a one-hour session between 7.30am – 12pm.
Cost: $55 includes a digital photo or Cocktails with Santa – Tickets cost $75 per person.
The North Pole Hotline
A video call with Santa – 2020 is most certainly the year of the Zoom platform and Santa did not want to be left out! 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
Book a Sunday morning climb between 9am – 10:55am, and you can don a Santa hat and strike a pose with the big man in red when you reach the top.
Where: Bridgeclimb
When: Sunday Mornings 29 November – 20 December 2020,
Christmas Markets in Sydney
There are a bunch of Christmas Markets running and all your favourite regular markets will likely have some Christmas stalls.
The Rocks Christmas Market
While the Rocks will host a special Christmas Eve market things are already pretty Christmassy right now with plenty of great decorations and gift ideas.
Where: George Street
When: Special Christmas Eve Market Thu 24 Dec, 11am – 6pm
Carriageworks Christmas Market
Things will be a little different this year with bookings required for the Carriageworks Christmas Market. Register from December 1st to secure a one-hour shopping window. It is expected that this will fill really fast so perhaps set a reminder.
There will be 70 plus 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.
When: Wed 23 Dec, 4-8pm
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: November 29
Where: The Entertainment Quarter, Lang Rd, Moore Park
Related: Find out more about Christmas in Australia
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: Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th Dec 2020 | 10am – 4pm
Where: Seymour Shaw Oval, 224 The Boulevard Miranda
Fair Trade Christmas Market
Head to Chatswood to support ethically-sourced, handcrafted gifts at this annual Fair Trade Market.
When: 05 Dec 2020 | 10am – 4pm
Where: The Concourse, Victoria Avenue, Chatswood
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: 12 December
Where: 140 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe NSW 2037
Christmas Trees you should visit
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 ta 3.4m high tree decorated with 110, 000 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.
Where: Between George St and Pitt St at Martin Place
When: Saturday 28 November to Thursday 31 December.
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)
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, an 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
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 on the front of St Mary’s Cathedral
Where: St Mary’s Cathedral College St Sydney
When: Dates to be announced.
David Jones Christmas Windows
Over 6500 hours labour went into creating the displays in this year’s David Jones windows. Claris, The Chicest Mouse in Paris designed by international fashion illustrator Megan Hess is packed with cleverly hidden surprises so take some time to find them all when you visit.
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 3 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 Stand 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 Light 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.
Christmas Carols
Many of the annual carols shows we love with be moving online this year. We will update the details on these shortly.
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