What❜s On This Christmas At Darling Harbour

After spending over 100 days in lockdown, Sydney has some lost time to make up for, and rest assured the harbour city is coming back with a vengeance! Vibrant events are popping up everywhere and the streets are alive again enticing us out of hibernation.

In the nick of time for the party season, Darling Harbour is breathing new life into our favourite waterside playground with light, colour and energy. Their summer schedule is teeming with outdoor activities so you can reclaim your social life and embrace the festive spirit.

As Sydney’s largest fully pedestrianised waterfront precinct, the entertainment hub is the perfect urban oasis for covid-safe family fun.

What’s happening at Sydney’s Darling Harbour this Christmas

Sky Castle

For the first time ever in Sydney, the Sky Castle by ENESS will bring a dreamy, immersive installation to Tumbalong Park. Illuminating the public space with a cluster of inflatable, incandescent arches, the kaleidoscopic symphony invites visitors to move through the arches, influencing the melodic xylophone soundscape.

Created as an expression of post-lockdown freedom, light, colour and music collide bringing the joyful anticipation a rainbow brings after every storm. The angelic orchestral serenade changes every night as it responds to the flow and fluctuations of the unique interactive crowds.

Boats and Baubles at Cockle Bay

Nothing says Christmas quite like a giant, oversized decoration and Darling Harbour’s epic Giant Bauble installation will adorn Cockle Bay for the ultimate selfies! At a whopping 6 metres tall, it promises to light up your night.

Cockle Bay's famous Pedal Boats will also be back this year. Hire a boat and pedal through the giant floating Christmas bauble installation. There’s no better way to cool off on a hot summer's day and soak up all the buzz.

Decking the Harbour

As well as the giant bauble, Darling Harbour will be a hive of multi-sensory as it decks the whole harbour to rejoice in this bright and beautiful time of year. Lifesize Christmas presents, interactive chalk art, festive lights and decorations will create a Christmas wonderland all around the bay.

At Darling Square, a whimsical golden tunnel of fairy lights will greet you along the tail of The Exchange building where you can make a wish for a golden year to come and kick back to the ambience of ‘Sounds in the Square’.

Darling Harbour Christmas Festival

The Darling Harbour Christmas Festival will transform Tumbalong Park will be transformed into a festival dreamworld with two huge weekends of yuletide celebrations leading up to the big day.

Tumbalong Park will come alive with Christmas fun for all the family to enjoy, with a concert featuring live music performances, plus a special supergroup of musicians, supported by performers from the Australian Institute of Music, a special MC from Playschool, as well as Destructive Dance Steps dancers and Santa himself arriving to be part of the entertainment. Plus, the 104.1 2DayFM’s Black Thunder crew will be on the ground on the weekends with prizes and freebies.

Watch the kids be spellbound by the magical festival vibe with games, face painting & bubble machines, then grab dinner from the market stalls and chow down in the vibrant covered picnic area.

The free event is happening on Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th December and Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th December from 4pm - 9pm.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry

Darling Harbour is a mecca for foodies and offers a smorgasbord of cuisine to satisfy even the fussiest of little palettes!

There are festive eats galore including a unique and unforgettable underwater dining experience at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium.

Find all the best festive family-friendly dining in Darling Harbour.

Get Social and WIN

Darling Harbour has a mega prize package to give away including Tickets to Guy Sebastian's concert with Member's Lounge access and champagne, plus two nights stay at the Sofitel, annual membership for the Chinese Garden of Friendship, hundreds of dollars worth of dining vouchers and so much more.

There are lots of ways to enter, so look out for the stickers on the ground around Darling Harbour and scan the QR codes, follow them on Facebook or Instagram, or enter online at darlingharbour.com for a chance to win! 

Tis’ the season to be jolly at Darling Harbour from 12 November to 26 December 2021.

More Christmas Merriment

Where to Buy Real Christmas Trees in Sydney
The Top 50 Christmas Gifts for Kids 2021
The Best Christmas Gifts That Give Back in 2021

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