Sydney Christmas: City of Sydney❜s Magical Festive Events

See Sydney sparkle in spectacular style this Christmas as the City Of Sydney delivers a series of magical events throughout the holiday season. There’s so much to see and explore!

It's Christmas Time in the City

Sydney Christmas Opening Weekend

The Christmas in the City festivities will come alive over two big days on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 November

Martin Place will become a festive wonderland with over 40 stalls at the delightful Christmas Markets on the pedestrian boulevard, photo opportunities with Santa and roving performers and carollers entertaining visitors throughout the opening weekend.

Pitt Street Mall will also be aglow with its glistening Canopy of Light installation, consisting of 80,000 LEDs and ten stunning two-metre-high stars to light up your night. There will also be Christmas gift inspo, a Christmas-inspired photo booth, Christmas treats to sample, and some delicious gelato!

Martin Place Christmas Tree

One of the highlights of Sydney's yuletide calendar is the Martin Place Christmas Tree. Soak up the magic of Sydney Christmas under a canopy of 8,000 white icicle fairy lights and marvel at the state’s tallest Christmas tree!

From Saturday 25 November to Wednesday 27 December, the Martin Place Christmas Tree will be the centre point of the city's festive celebrations.

Standing 25 metres tall, the tree is decorated with more than 110,000 LED lights, a 3.4-metre colour-changing star, 330 specially created glossy baubles and uniquely decorated with 15,000 flowers representing 9 different kinds of Australian flowers: banksia, waratah, bottlebrush, wattle, eucalyptus gum flower, kangaroo paw, flannel flower, pink wax flower and white wax flower.

Martin Place will be abuzz throughout the festival with a kaleidoscope of colours and decorative lights every 15 minutes to midnight, roving entertainment and delicious food from the markets.

Santa’s Sydney Sleigh Ride

Head down to Circular Quay on the evening of Thursday 30 November, listen out for the sleigh bells and keep your eyes peeled for a very special visitor! Santa Claus will be travelling directly from the North Pole through the city to turn on the spectacular Martin Place Christmas tree.

Santa will ride along Pitt Street on his sleigh accompanied by a 65-piece marching band and elves on reindeer tricycles. Walk alongside the sleigh and enjoy the show.

Choirs in the City

Several Choirs will be spreading Christmas cheer and entertaining shoppers with festive favourites while they do their shopping in the city. Choirs include the Australian Girls Choir, The Jingle Belle Singers, The Merry Minstrels, the Sydney Street Choir, and the Sydney Philharmonia Choir.

A different choir will be performing carols under the Martin Place Christmas tree every evening from 6 pm to 8 pm from Friday 1 December to Christmas Eve. and a kaleidoscope of colours and decorative lights illuminate the precinct every 15 minutes from 8 pm to midnight.

Community Christmas Concerts

A series of free community concerts will bring the joyful spirit of the season to Sydney's vibrant inner-city neighbourhoods over two weekends in December.

Featuring a bumper line-up of family-friendly performances including The Listies, Tiptoe Giants, Endeavour Harmony, The Beanies, The Octanauts Christmas Show, Justine Clarke and Lah Lah's Big Live Band, pack your picnic rug and enjoy an unforgettable evening of entertainment under the stars.

There will also be craft activities, table tennis, giant Jenga and kids’ games, pus a community barbecue and food trucks including Gelato Messina.

The City of Sydney Community Christmas Concert schedule:

• Pirrama Park, Pyrmont – 1 December 
• Prince Alfred Park, Surry Hills – 2 December 
• Turruwul Park, Rosebery – 3 December
• Reg Bartley Oval, Rushcutters Bay – 8 December
• Bicentennial Park, Glebe – 9 December 
• Alexandria Park, Alexandria – 10 December

Where:   Martin Place, Pitt St Mall and throughout the City of Sydney local area
When:    25 November to 24 December 2023
Cost:      General admission is  FREE

Find out more and check out the full City of Sydney Christmas Program.

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