Specific dates
December 21
- Carriageworks Christmas Market, a one-day holiday market featuring over 100 vendors, including regular Farmers Market sellers and special guests. The event offers Christmas gifts, food items, hamper supplies, crafts, and ready-to-eat options, accompanied by DJ holiday music.
Multiple dates
Darling Harbour Fireworks | December 7, 14, 21, 28 at 9pm
Fireworks displays at Darling Harbour. Viewers can watch the show from various waterfront locations, including restaurants and bars along Cockle Bay Wharf, King Street Wharf, and Barangaroo. Check social media for weather updates.
Le Jolly Market | December 13-22
Le Jolly Market is a French-European style Christmas market in Sydney’s Belmore Park. The event features wooden market stalls, artificial snow, Christmas decorations, and Santa Claus photo opportunities. Visitors can shop for gifts, enjoy gourmet food (including oysters, melted cheese, and crepes), and drink premium wines. The market includes live jazz music performances of Christmas classics each evening from 7 PM. The event evolved from the 2021 Bastille Festival Christmas edition and aims to combine French-European Christmas market traditions with local Australian vendors and artisans.
Christmas Festival at Tumbalong Park | December 14-15
The Christmas Festival features free entertainment over two nights in December. The event will include live performances by Samantha Jade, Anthony Callea, and The Quokkas, with TikTok star Jayden Rodrigues as MC. The festival will also feature roving performers, sing-alongs, and an appearance by Santa Claus.
Christmas decorations in The Rocks | December 21-25
Christmas decorations in The Rocks is an Australian-themed celebration for 2024. The decorations include locally made pieces by Australian artists, with a special Christmas tree designed by First Nations artist Shelby Rae and decorated with native flowers. The display includes wreaths and garlands with native florals throughout the laneways, plus village scenes by Nico Nicoson depicting typical Australian Christmas traditions like beach days and backyard cricket.
All December
Pedal boat rentals at Cockle Bay Harbor
For $45 per 30-minute session, groups of up to four people (two adults and two children) can rent a pedal boat to explore the harbor waters. The activity is suggested for various occasions like dates, friend meetups, or family outings, with dining options available nearby. Tickets can be purchased at a booth near the ICC Forecourt marina.
Free-kin Weekends
“Free-kin Weekends is a free outdoor music program at the Factory Theatre in Sydney, running every Saturday and Sunday from 1-7 PM through March 2025. The events feature live music, DJs, food from Island Boys food truck, and drinks from Hawke’s Brewing. It’s pet-friendly and open to all, though attendees need to register on the Factory website.
Summer Sunday Sesh
Jointly hosted by Maiz (a Mexican restaurant in Newtown) and Yulli’s Brews (in Alexandria). Taking place every Sunday in December, the event features special tacos, custom drinks including a collaborative corn beer, and live entertainment with DJs at Maiz (12-4pm) followed by live music at Yulli’s (from 5pm). Walk-in only.
Christmas Lights Spectacular
Christmas Lights Spectacular at Hunter Valley Gardens in Pokolbin runs until January 26, 2025. It’s Australia’s largest Christmas lights display featuring over 4 million lights across 8 acres. The event includes attractions like a Venetian carousel, Ferris wheel, giant Christmas trees, and various themed zones. Visitors can meet Santa, enjoy live entertainment, and access food stalls. Tickets are priced from 40 for adults, or $122 for families.
The Best Christmas Lights In The Sydney CBD
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Martin Place - featuring NSW’s largest Christmas tree (24m tall) with 110,000 LED lights, Australian native flower decorations, and daily Santa photo sessions until December 24th. Nightly carol performances and light shows are scheduled throughout December.
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Queen Victoria Building (QVB) - showcasing NSW’s largest indoor Christmas tree, decorated with First Nations artwork and featuring augmented reality light shows and choir performances.
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The Strand Arcade - displaying an Australian-themed installation with native flora, featuring golden gumnuts and red flowers, complemented by 27,500 Christmas lights.
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Pitt Street Mall - presenting a Christmas Canopy with 80,000 LED lights and ten large stars, featuring new color-changing effects for 2024.