Six Christmas concerts, 11 Christmas trees, dozens of performers, thousands of lights, and a visit from Santa are just some of the highlights of the City of Sydney's 2022 Christmas program.
The four-week program kicks off on Saturday 26 November and includes festive celebrations across the city and local villages.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said locals and visitors could once again celebrate the festive season with friends and family in the city.
"After an incredibly challenging three years, I'm excited to welcome everyone back to the city this festive season. We've curated a program that will help bring visitors into the city, while also giving locals opportunities to celebrate the season close to home with their friends, family, and the whole community," the Lord Mayor said.
"With live concerts, beautiful Christmas trees and lights, great shopping, and a special visitor from the North Pole, there's plenty for visitors, shoppers, and locals to enjoy, and I invite everyone to embrace the magic of Christmas in our city."
The Lord Mayor today unveiled details of the program at the Sydney Christmas 2022 launch. Highlights include:
For the first time since 2019, Christmas in the City will make a comeback and take place on 26 and 27 November. Martin Place will become a festive wonderland with new Christmas markets set up in the pedestrian boulevard, and roving performers and carollers entertaining visitors over the weekend.
Saturday's festivities will culminate with the arrival of the Lord Mayor and Santa in his sleigh to switch on the Martin Place Christmas tree.
Sydney Christmas concerts
Six Christmas concerts will take place over two weekends in December:
- Pirrama Park, Pyrmont - 2 December
- Prince Alfred Park, Surry Hills - 3 December
- Turruwul Park, Rosebery - 4 December
- Reg Bartley Oval, Rushcutters Bay - 9 December
- Bicentennial Park, Glebe - 10 December
- Alexandria Park, Alexandria - 11 December
The concerts will feature performances by a mix of artists to entertain kids and adults alike including Justine Clarke, The Beanies, BennyTime, R&B/soul band Brown Sugar and DJ Peter Baecker. There will be craft activities and kids' games, a community barbecue and food trucks including Gelato Messina. Families can have their photo taken with Santa for a $5 donation to the City of Sydney's charity partner, The Kids' Cancer Project.
The state's tallest Christmas tree remains the centre point of Sydney's festive season. Standing 25 metres tall, the tree is made up of 10 layers comprising 800 branches dressed with 15,000 native flowers and 330 glossy baubles.
Atop the tree sits a colour-changing, 3-dimensional, segmented star that measures more than 3.5 metres high. The tree is wrapped in 110,000 LEDs that sparkle and change colour as part of a sound and light show every 15 minutes between 7pm and midnight.
Visitors can view the tree every day from 26 November to 1 January.
The City will also install 10 more large-scale Christmas trees at Sydney Town Hall, Taylor Square, Customs House Square, Union Square Pyrmont, Surry Hills, St Mary's Cathedral Forecourt, Green Square Plaza, Erskineville, Glebe, and Fitzroy Gardens in Kings Cross. The trees will be in place from mid-November to 29 December.
Christmas markets
For the first time, new Christmas markets will bring festive cheer to the heart of Martin Place. 40 stalls will offer all manner of goods including fashion, food, gifts, homewares, candles and festive products.
The markets will run from 11am to 8pm as part of Christmas in the City on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 November, and continue to run every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in December until Christmas Eve.
Green Square will host its third Christmas fair on Saturday 3 December from 6pm to 10pm.
More than 30 stalls will offer locally sourced or made goods from Christmas puddings, organic chocolate and homemade relishes to scented candles, beauty products and festive-themed pet treats.
Visitors can refuel at a selection of food trucks offering vegetarian dishes, German sausages, sweets, coffee and ice cream, and enjoy a drink with friends at the outdoor licensed bar.
Adding to the festive cheer, DJs will entertain the crowds.
Green Square Library will stay open until 10pm, so locals can borrow and stock up for the summer holidays.
Christmas lights and decorations
Pitt Street Mall will glow under a canopy of 85,000 LEDs and 10 stunning two-metre high stars. The canopy of light will be in place until 1 January.
Adding to the festive ambience in Martin Place, more than 4,000 icicle fairy lights and 6 large stars will be suspended above the new Christmas markets, and 14 tree-shaped decorations 2.5 metres high will hang from light poles around the plaza.
At the Druitt Street entrance to the QVB will be a new seven metre artificial tree decorated with thousands of fairy lights and beach ball-style baubles.
Choirs in the City
Choirs will entertain shoppers with festive favourites while they do their Christmas shopping in the city.
Over Christmas in the City weekend, there 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 daily from 1 December to Christmas Eve and include the Australian Girls' Choir, Sydney Philharmonia, Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir and The Jingle Belle Singers.
Christmas at Town Hall
On Monday 19 December, Christmas at Sydney Town Hall guarantees a memorable night for the whole family. Kicking off at 8pm, the concert features the story of Christmas told through music and readings complemented with the magnificent grand organ in Centennial Hall.
Christmas shopping
Retailers in the city will have a variety of Christmas offerings to get shoppers in the festive spirit including in-store decorations and gift wrapping to store offers, photos with Santa and personalised gifts.
Take in the renowned Christmas windows at David Jones, stop by the QVB to see its brand-new Christmas tree with a special Indigenous collaboration, and wander through Myer's Giftorium and Santaland filled with gift ideas, decorations and the opportunity for photos with Santa.
For unique gifts and bespoke fashion, shoppers can pop into their local village retailers and boutiques, each with its own style and local treasures.
Darling Harbour will be decked out with a giant multi-coloured bauble and floating baubles on the water. A Christmas festival at Tumbalong Park on the weekends of 10 and 11, and 17 and 18 December will feature festive entertainment and live music. There will also be fireworks on Friday and Saturday evenings during December until Christmas Eve.
Head to The Rocks to explore enchanted laneways and Christmas markets, and experience festive dining, free movies, and live entertainment.
