The excitement is building and decorations are springing up in public places – Christmas is coming! In fact, it is exactly 4 weeks away today…
Here are a few of the free celebrations from around the country – feel free to tell us about others in the comments below 🙂 And why not share your experiences at some of these events?
Christmas in Melbourne
The big events seem to be centred around Federation Square this year, with the southern hemisphere’s largest Lego Christmas tree being unveiled today! The tree will be nearly 10m tall and made from 500,000 Lego bricks, and will have a daily light show accompanied by Christmas songs.
Fed Square also has a tree lighting ceremony tonight and launches their Christmas celebration today – there will be entertainment and activities of all sorts for the next month.
Also starting tonight, the Melbourne Town Hall turns into a magical moving Christmas show through projected lights. Various other buildings around the CBD and Docklands will also light up for Christmas.
Santa can be found in the City Square from tomorrow until Christmas Day, alongside a live Christmas tree and an ‘interactive Christmas activation’ (you’ll have to visit to find out what that means!)
As Melbourne is known for great food, we can’t forget the Gingerbread Village by Epicure! Based at the Town Hall from 1 December, the village is open between 10 am and 8:30pm and all proceeds (entry is by donation) will go to Make-A-Wish Australia. The pastry chefs have been busy creating Melbourne landmarks and I can’t wait to see them all! I wonder if we get to taste Melbourne while we’re there…
Of course, Carols by Candlelight will be on Christmas Eve – at the Myer Music Bowl for some, on TV for the rest of the country 🙂 And the Myer windows have already opened…
Sydney celebrations
Listen to carols every Thursday evening with Choirs in the City at the Pitt St Mall from 26 November. And in the week of Christmas, walk the Pitt St Mall Boulevard of light…
See the tree in Martin Place – it apparently has 60,000 lights and 22 interactive stars on it! The official lighting was last night, with Santa arriving by sleigh to help, and lights will be on every night now until Christmas.
From 12 December, look for the illuminations and projections at the Town Hall.
Between 28 November and 6 December, join in the fun at a series of family concerts (culminating with fireworks!) at Rushcutters Bay, Alexandria, Rosebery and Surry Hills – see the Sydney Christmas page for details.
Experience Christmas in Perth
Perth’s Christmas tree has been on display since 13 November and will stay until 6 January, alongside the Council House Nativity scene in Forrest Place.
For something completely different, why not check out Scuba Santa at the WA Aquarium on Christmas Eve in the shipwreck coast? {To be fair, this is only free if you pay to get into the aquarium, but it still sounds like fun!}
From next Thursday (3 December), the GPO building will be alight with animated Christmas scenes featuring Queenie the Quokka. Going on photos from previous years, this is bound to be beautiful.
This weekend, and again on the 12-13 December weekend, the Perth City Christmas Carnival will make Forrest Place come alive with fun, laughter and music. It includes free rides and a visit from Santa, so if you’re in Perth, why not join the fun?
And the RAC Christmas pageant will move through the Perth streets from 7:30pm on Saturday 5 December.
But one of the most tempting celebrations for me is the two days when Forrest place becomes Christmas Place! It includes Santa workshops, photos with reindeer statues, falling snow – and some of Santa’s Elves are rumoured to be attending, too (but not his letter writing elves I’m afraid!)
Having fun in Hobart
Hobart’s Christmas pageant was last weekend for a celebration of Hobart and the different cultures that make up the city.
The City of Hobart Christmas Decorations program ensures plenty of beautiful decorations to see in Hobart this Christmas…
- the traditional Christmas tree in Wellington Court
- the ’12 Days of Christmas’ at the Liverpool St entrance to the Elizabeth St mall (there’s a tongue twister in the making!)
- toy soldier models in the Elizabeth St mall – apparently very popular for photos!
- a Christmas tree and magical lights will be on display at Salamanca Square
And for a different touch, Hobart’s Youth Arts and Recreation Centre is showcasing young artists with a gallery of ‘what Christmas means to me’ artworks displayed on Mathers Lane.
Darwin at Christmas
If you’re not participating in the Variety Santa Fun Run on Sunday at the Darwin waterfront, why not go along and watch and cheer them on? Lots of Santas at the beach is a very Aussie Christmas event!
Every night in December, the main entrance of the Darwin Waterfront hosts a Christmas lights and snow display between 7pm and 10pm.
The City of Darwin Libraries offers a series of Christmas carols performances at branches from 12 December to 19 December.
Or just enjoy one of the many opportunities to sing along to some carols including tomorrow at Palmerston, Carols by Candlelight (Sunday 6 December) at George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens, at Leanyer (Sunday 13 December) or at the Goyder Christmas Tree lighting, also on 13 December.
Christmas in Adelaide
Check out the Christmas lights on the Town Hall and Victoria Square between sunset and midnight every night of the week. They were lit up on 14 November and will stay until 1 January.
One highlight of the TeamKids Christmas Festival will be the giant Christmas tree lighting in Victoria Square from 7:30pm on Friday 4 December. The tree will then light up every evening at sunset until 6 January. TeamKids Christmas Festival will also run 4-6 December in Victoria Square. A family friendly event, not surprisingly, with Santa, entertainment, videos from the Adelaide Crows, wreath making, gingerbread biscuit decorating, and open air cinema and more. I love the community aspect of this festival with a Christmas mural being painted and the Wishing Tree’s presence.
There will also be a giant light display along Grote Street, right through until Christmas, as businesses and the Hampshire Cider House light up windows.
Carolers will be singing on Hutt St over the weekend of 4-6 December.
A special evening is also planned for the Lighting of The Loving Tree in front of the Mary Potter Hospice in Strangeways Terrace on 2 December, including carols and a concert by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. The Loving Tree celebrates loved ones in and affected by the hospice. Merry Christmas to them all.
Brisbane celebrates
Brisbane’s Christmas tree in King George Square was turned on last night so it’s all set for you to enjoy until Christmas Eve. The City Hall Light Spectacular will be on between 11 December and 24 December with a new and magical light show.
The Myer Christmas parade will run daily at 6:30 pm from 11 December to 20 December. It starts at Edward St and works its way along the Queen St mall, followed by a pantomime in King George Square. The pantomime features Mrs Claus trying to save Santa from being sent to sleep on Christmas Eve!
