The Best Kid Friendly Christmas Events In Sydney 2016

Oh, Sydney- you really do come alive in the festive season. We’ve complied a complete guide for Sydney families to get the most out of Christmas in Sydney. It includes the best christmas concerts, light shows and FREE events too that are bound to get you in the spirit. Have fun!

Surry Hills Village Family Concert

When: Sunday 11 December 2016; 6.30-8.30pm
Where: Prince Alfred Park, Chalmers Street, Surry Hills
Cost: Free

Experience some Christmas magic at this FREE family friendly concert. There will be Santa’s Kiddo Disco for little ones to boogie down, kids craft activities and table tennis, just to name a few. A special guest appearance all the way from the North Pole is sure to warm a few hearts…

Sydney Hills Christmas Sky Show

When: Saturday 3 December to 26 December 2016 (excl. Christmas Day); 8.30-9.15pm & 9.30-10.15pm
Where: Main Street, Castle Hill, Sydney
Cost: Free

Come see this FREE family friendly Christmas Sky Show! Designed with the whole family in mind, you will see two animated light stories displayed on a 40 metre long LED banner stretching along Castle Hill Main Street. Each festive story will be accompanied by light and sound effects, and of course snow! Sing & dance the night away in this unmissable family event.

Kids Christmas Concert In Alexandria

When: Saturday 10 December 2016; 6.30-8.30pm
Where: Alexandria Park, Buckland St, Alexandria
Cost: Free

This family friendly concert and visit from Santa will delight Sydney families this December. A similar line-up to to the Surry Hills family concert- there will be a kids disco, craft activities, table tennis, $5 jam packed Santa stockings, and a glittering fireworks display.

Christmas In the Sky At Sydney Tower Eye

When: Saturday 3 December to Friday 23 December 2016; 9am-10pm daily
Where: Sydney Tower Eye, 100 Market St, Sydney
Cost: Adults: $26.50, Children (4-15yrs): $17

Experience magic of the North Pole in the heart of Sydney! The Observation deck will transform into Santa’s Highest Grotto complete with fireplace, music and a Christmas tree. Pose in a custom sleigh complete with reindeer for your FREE Santa photo! This is a truly special Christmas event, and one of a kind. 

LEGO Christmas Sleigh

When: Saturday 26 November: 5pm – 9pm & Thursday
1 December – Sunday 18 December: Thursday 5–9pm, Friday 5-9pm, Saturday 4-9pm, Sunday 12-4pm
Monday 19 December- Friday 23 December: Everyday 5-9pm
Where: Martin Place, Sydney CBD
Cost: Free

Families can jump into a life sized sleigh- made out of LEGO! Get a Christmas selfie with Sydney Christmas Tree sparkling in the background, or jump into the driver’s seat and feel like Santa himself! Made by LEGO Certified Professional, Ryan McNaught out of over 10,000 bricks. LEGO lovers’ Christmas dream come true.

SantaLand

When:  7 – 24 December 2016; 10am – 9pm
Where: Entertainment Quarter, The Showring, 122 Lang Rd, Moore Park
Cost: Tickets from $39.95 + booking fee; Kids under 2yrs FREE

Visit SantaLand this December and experience the enchantment of a white Christmas wonderland at EQ, Moore Park. Dazzling lights, festive carnival rides , Christmas cheer and a touch of Christmas magic will have you and your family drifting off to a wonderous winter wonderland here in the heart of Sydney.

Swarovski Christmas Tree Display, QVB

When: 27 October 2016 to 8 January 2017; Mon-Weds & Fri 9am-6pm, Thurs 9am-9pm, Sat 10am-4pm & Sun 11am-4pm
Where: Queen Victoria Building, 455 George St, Sydney
Cost: Free

You can’t miss the QVB’s grandiose but amazingly enchanting 24 metre tall Swarovski Christmas Tree display. With over 82,000 sparkling Swarovski crystals and 65,000 twinkling lights – all that sparkle and glitter will be a spectacle to behold! Topped with a 2.2m wide gold star!

Sydney Town Hall Organ Recitals

When: 30 December; 12.30-1.30pm
Where: 483 George Street, Sydney
Cost: Free

Enjoy two free lunchtime concerts in the heart of the city and witness one of the world’s grandest organs. The organ recitals are a relaxing and traditional way to enjoy Christmas, and it’s a spectacular sight to behold with its 126 speaking stops, 9,000 pipes and a unique 64 foot pedal stop.

The Ultimate Santa Experience

When:  1–24 December 2016; Daily appearances 11am-12.30pm & 1-2pm
Where: Luna Park Sydney, 1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point
Cost: $29.95

Have your family photo taken with the man himself in front of Sydney’s most stunning Harbour backdrop!
It’s the ultimate Christmas photo experience for everyone – family friends, work Christmas photos and a ‘must do’ for travellers to send home these holidays. 

David Jones Christmas Windows

When: Friday 4 November- Christmas day 2016; all day
Where: David Jones, Elizabeth St Sydney CBD

Every year without fail, David Jones unveils a fun and spectacular Christmas window display which awes the young and old. They’re back in 2016 better than ever, and worth a trip into the city. in 2016, Santa ordered polar bears to help out with loading presents onto the sleigh this year- watch them go in this enchanting Christmas tradition.

Christmas Lights: Martin Place & St Mary’s Cathedral

When: Martin Place- Saturday 26 November to Saturday 24 December 2016; all day
St Mary’s Cathedral - Thursday 8 December to Sunday 25 December 2016; 7.30pm-12am

If you’re not heading up to the Martin Place or Hyde Park Christmas Concerts, pick another weeknight or weekday, start the evening with a low key family dinner at Pitt St Mall or Circular Quay and plan a stroll to enjoy the Christmas lights around the city.

Martin Place: After the official lighting of the tree on 26 November, you can watch it sparkle nightly. Make your mark on the 20m high tree by texting a message to 048 SYD XMAS and watching it light up the sky. There will be choirs to serenade you as you watch on.

St Mary’s Cathedral:  The theme for the 2016 event is ‘Joy to the World’ and will feature an extraordinary animation of the timeless Christmas tale, the Nutcracker Suite along with a pictorial journey of Christmas decorations throughout the ages. This is a spectacular light and sound show where you will see a glorious selection of Madonna and Child images painted by some of the great Masters. Each night will begin with a choir performance.  Best of all, it’s FREE!

Source: City of Sydney

Boulevard of Light, Sydney CBD

When:  Saturday 26 November to Sunday 25 December 2016; daily from 8.30pm-1am
Where: Pitt Street Mall, Pitt St, Sydney
Cost: Free

Discover a Christmas wonderland right in the heart of Sydney as you stroll along Pitt Street Mall underneath a canopy of suspended Christmas trees. Featuring thousands of LED lights, our Christmas Light Forest installation will make your late night shopping sparkle.

Carols in the Domain

When: Sunday 18 December 2016; 12-11pm
Where: The Domain is adjacent to the Royal Botanic Gardens, between Art Gallery Road and Hospital Road, Sydney
Cost: Free

Australia’s largest Christmas concert, Carols in the Domain is an iconic Sydney Christmas event. With a carnival, pre-show entertainment and not to mention an always stunning cast of entertainers, this is not to be missed! Bring your picnic blanket for one the most beloved traditions on the Sydney Christmas calendar.

FREE Santa Photos At HomeHQ Artarmon

When: Saturday 10 & 17; Sunday 11 & 18 December 2016; 10am-3pm
Where: HomeHQ Artarmon; Cnr of Frederick St and Reserve Rd, Artarmon (next to Bunnings)
Cost: FREE (one per family)

Families and PETS of the furry and feathery kind are invited to come and get their free digital family snapshot with Santa.