Sydney will come alive with four weeks of Christmas festivities next month – from concerts, trees, choirs and performers to markets, decorations, fireworks and Santa.
Kicking off celebrations will be Christmas in the City, which will return for the first time since the start of the pandemic and run over two days.
The heart of Sydney will be transformed into a festive wonderland on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 November with Martin Place hosting new Christmas markets, roving performers, carollers and decorations.
Saturday's festivities will culminate with the lighting of the Martin Place Christmas tree by Santa and spectacular fireworks from city rooftops.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the event would demonstrate that Sydney is ready to celebrate the festive season in style once again.
"For the last couple of years, we haven't been able to celebrate Christmas the way we'd like to – but this year Christmas will return to the city with a bang," the Lord Mayor said.
"The pandemic had a significant impact on the city, with many working from home, venues closed and travel grinding to a halt. This Christmas we're excited to welcome everyone back to soak up the festive spirit, with a month-long program of free events to festivities celebrating the unique joy of Christmas in the southern hemisphere."
Adding to the Christmas in the City weekend will be choir performances at Martin Place and Pitt Street Mall and outside Town Hall, Wynyard and St James stations.
Choirs will continue to entertain shoppers and visitors in the lead up to Christmas, with daily performances in the city from 1 December to Christmas Eve.
The Martin Place Christmas markets will continue to run every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until Christmas. More than 40 stalls of locally made gifts, food and produce will offer a magical festive shopping experience in the centre of the city.
Six Christmas concerts will take place over two weekends in December at Pyrmont, Surry Hills, Rosebery, Rushcutters Bay, Glebe and Alexandria. The concerts will feature performances by a mix of artists to entertain kids and adults alike.
Green Square will host its third Christmas fair on 3 December with live music and stalls featuring fashion, homewares, food, art and craft.
Complementing the City of Sydney's Christmas program and adding to the festive ambience, fairy lights will hang above the Martin Place Christmas markets, and Pitt Street Mall will sparkle beneath a canopy of 85,000 LEDs and 2m high illuminated stars.
More details on the City of Sydney's Christmas program will be announced soon on whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/programs/sydney-christmas
