The City of Adelaide Christmas Festival will see the city and North Adelaide filled with Christmas cheer and festivities from 14 November.
The City of Adelaide's Christmas Incentive Scheme has proven very popular with almost $225,000 provided to more than 60 businesses, artists, makers, community groups and event organisers to support a series of community-led events and activities. These include makers markets, artistic window displays, festivals, outdoor performances and live music.
The city and North Adelaide precincts will be bursting with Christmas activities including the Makers and Shakers market at 88 O'Connell, the Grote Street Wishing Grove and the Fire Festival in Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga.
Decorations and lighting will bring Christmas spirit to the city's streets and buildings. The façade of Adelaide Town Hall will be dressed with Christmas garlands, an over-sized bow and coloured lighting, while other city buildings will be brought to life with lit balcony bows.
Red and green up-lighting will be installed in Council owned infrastructure at Gawler Place, Bank Street, Leigh Street, the Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga fountain, Adelaide Bridge underpass, Elder Park Rotunda and Whitmore Square's centre path.
Christmas themed plantings, potted petunia Christmas trees and key lighting pieces will adorn city footpaths and garden beds, while Christmas banners will line the city's main streets to celebrate the festive season.
Live performances including carollers, city bands, and multicultural performances will be popping up around the city and North Adelaide to bring live music to the streets and precincts.
The much-loved Christmas Tree in Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga will light up from 14 November. The tree will be accompanied by a program of pre-recorded Christmas music, recorded in Adelaide as part of Voices of Christmas, which will be broadcast Sunday to Thursday nights when the tree lights up.
There will also be live music at the Christmas Tree in the seven weeks leading up to Christmas between 7.30-9pm on selected Friday and Saturday nights and on Christmas Eve, and the nativity scene will make a return under the tree. The Square will feature free community events, family-friendly entertainment and makers markets throughout the Christmas Festival.
There will not be a public Christmas Tree lighting event this year due to COVID safety requirements.
The festival season's largest signature event, the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant, will be held on 14 November at Adelaide Oval.
The Pageant magic continues at the Adelaide Town Hall and City Library, where the 'Treasure of Pageants Past Exhibition' will be presented in partnership with the South Australian Tourism Commission, including a treasure hunt walking tour between the two sites.
The Adelaide Town Hall will also be host to a Christmas organ concert, the Lord Mayor's Christmas Gala Concert, a charity gift giving tree and the ringing of the Albert Tower bells on key nights throughout the Christmas Festival.
Rundle Mall will be adorned with stunning Christmas decorations including 10 individually themed window displays that bring the magic of Christmas to life. The windows are complemented with twinkling fairy lights in the trees, window displays, and a magical forest of over 100 Christmas trees. There will also be live music performances and other pop-up entertainment.
The Adelaide Central Market is THE destination for fresh produce for Christmas celebrations, with a huge range of the best fresh produce and house made Christmas goodies including puddings, hams, the freshest seafood and this season's best local cherries.
The Adelaide Central Market will have extended trading hours, with ten consecutive trading days leading up to Christmas from Tuesday 14th December through to Christmas Eve and first hour free parking.
There will also be Sunday trading, live music and other family friendly entertainment to add to the Christmas experience in the Central Market over the festive period and the Market will continue to support community partners including Oz Harvest Tree of Goodness.
And don't forget to visit the popular LEGO sleigh, this year at shop 32 in the Adelaide Central Market Arcade (facing into the Adelaide Central Market).
Lord Mayor of Adelaide Sandy Verschoor said that the city and North Adelaide will provide a range of unique and exciting Christmas experiences this year through a dedicated Christmas Festival.
"The Christmas Pageant signals the start of Christmas in Adelaide and after a difficult year, we're all looking forward to enjoying some Christmas cheer. The city and North Adelaide will come alive with decorations and lights, as well as a variety of festive fun for people of all ages to enjoy.
"Between our city's main streets filled with local stores and artisan products, Rundle Mall and Rundle Street, and the various Christmas markets, finding that perfect gift for loved ones is covered.
"While shopping in Rundle Mall, be sure to check out the Christmas Tree forest and the creative window displays.
"And of course, the Adelaide Central Market will help provide inspiration for those tasty Christmas treats with extended trading hours.
"There is so much to see and do in the city at Christmas, so come in and soak up the Christmas cheer with your friends and family and enjoy this special time of year."
A series of digital maps is available here so people can easily find all the Christmas activities across the city.
