Celebrate a quintessential Sydney Christmas. A summer Christmas means seafood, barbeques, carols sung by the beach, t-shirts, shorts and sunshine.
Sydney is a lively city in the lead up to, and on Christmas. There are many things to do and see in this busy city, soak up the warmth and relax as you enjoy a non-traditional Christmas in Sydney!
Things to Do and See in Sydney at Christmas
Food:
- Enjoy a Christmas Day lunch cruise with Sydney Showboats,Vagabond Cruises or Captain Cook Cruises.
- Eveleigh Christmas Market entices 70 authentic producer stands, street performers, indigenous food stalls and Indigenous and Farmers' brunches, plus a visit from 'Farmer Christmas'.
- Sydney Fish Market is always exciting, but during all-night trading hours just before Christmas that excitement rises to another level. Join the pilgrimage for fresh oysters and prawns, and soak up the atmosphere.
Christmas Trees:
- See the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Darling Harbour Christmas Concert. Santa will make an appearance and the highlight will be a stunning fireworks display, 28 November.
- Carols by the tree continues at Darling Harbour every night from Thursday to Sunday until Christmas Eve.
- Celebrate the beginning of Christmas celebrations with a children's concert and lighting of the city's largest tree in Martin Place on 26 November.
- Enjoy more relaxed viewing with the kids on the lawn of Hyde Park North on 26 November from 6pm to 8.30pm.
- In the Queen Victoria Building you'll see a stunning tree, sparkling with 40,000 lights and 15,000 Swarovski crystals. Enjoy free gift wrapping and music at various shopping spots around the city centre such as The Strand Arcade and MLC centre.
Christmas Carols
Almost every suburb hosts carols by candlelight, but here are some of Sydney's highlights.
- Carols in the Domain is Australia's largest Christmas concert it is held on the 19th December and is an excellent night for children & adults alike - bring the whole family!
- Carols By The Sea on Bondi Beach offers children's entertainment and traditional carols, 9 December.
Other Festivities:
- Floats, giant balloons and a plethora of colourful characters march down George Street during the Sydney Christmas Parade. Afterwards Santa's Village at Tumbalong Park will play host to a full day's entertainment, 29 November.
- Santa (and his envoys) can be found in shopping centres across Sydney, but two of the biggest in-store Christmas kingdoms can be found at David Jones and Myer in central Sydney. Excited children also press their noses to David Jones' famous Christmas window displays throughout December.
- Every year there is a light projection of traditional Australia Christmas images onto Sydney Town Hall this runs from November the 6th to December the 25th.
- Bondi Beach Pavilion comes alive to the Bondi Summer of Fun on Christmas Day. National and international DJs spin the decks for the party crowd.
- Pack a rug and picnic to enjoy Christmas carols, kids' performances and santa at a Village Family Christmas Concert around Sydney - in Elizabeth Bay, Roseberry, Alexandria and Surry Hills.
If an escape to the warmth is needed, Sydney is certainly a destination to consider when planning a Christmas holiday. Imagine shedding the winter coats and heading to the beach on Christmas day.
Copyright Graeme Hay. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Graeme Hay - Graeme Hay is a university graduate with a Bachelor of Communications with a major in Media Arts Production from the University of Western ...
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