- Christmas events Sydney locals and visitors cherish this year are back on the cards as Santa prepares a packed itinerary.
- Christmas markets, Christmas carols and Christmas lights have transformed Sydney into a festive wonderland this month.
- Santa is ditching his sleigh for jet skis and steam trains as he spread joy around Sydney.
Santa, the egg-shaped bastion of festive benevolence, must have heard about Sydney’s new lease on life. While the busiest man in the world is currently making his lists and checking them thrice, it appears the bearded ball of joy is planning his most action-packed Sydney itinerary to date.
When he does arrive in the dynamic Harbour City, Santa’s planning a sojourn that’ll top King Charles and Queen Camilla’s recent whirlwind visit.
While the Royals visited churches, memorials, libraries and even Parramatta Park, Santa will be making the most of this year’s Sydney visit by switching his sleigh for jet skis and vintage steam trains, helping spread joy atop Sydney Harbour Bridge, visiting our best Christmas markets, and running around to a few festivals in an attempt to keep the festive cheer alive.
Like any good international visitor that comes to the Harbour City, Santa isn’t satisfied with spending time just in Sydney CBD. While he’ll be dancing around the iconic Martin Place Christmas Tree, the smooth operator will also be making a play for the acclaimed NSW Rail Museum in Thirlmere and the Valley Heights Rail Museum in the Blue Mountains.
First, he’ll jump on a jet ski
You won’t see even a trace of snow in Sydney this month. Christmas in the Harbour City is all about the sand and sea, and Santa is nodding to the occasion by ditching the sleigh, giving the reindeer long-service leave, and going all out by taking a jet ski out onto Sydney Harbour.
Head down to Cockle Bay Wharf at Darling Harbour on Friday, December 6 to see Santa make a splash with a special jet ski show running fluffy white rings around Sydney’s first-ever floating Christmas tree. The 10-metre tall tree is now bobbing just off the wharf and is a striking image at sunset.
Then he’ll ride our vintage trains
Mr. Joy has surely heard about the profound infrastructural changes spurred by the Sydney Metro and we have little doubt he’ll be admiring all the dazzling site-specific artworks installed at new stations like Crows Nest and Barangaroo. But he clearly values the romanticism of vintage trains much more. Anyone can join Santa on a festive 40-minute steam ride inside a studiously restored carriage from Thirlmere Station to Buxton (and return).
Buy a ticket ($35 for adults, $15 for kids) to board the steam train with Santa on Saturday December 7 or Sunday, December 8 and you’ll also get access to the NSW Rail Museum as well as its holiday celebrations including stations where kids can write letters to Santa, sit down for story time, get involved with performances and singalongs and paint their face with festive glow.
If you’d rather start in the city, you can also buy a ticket ($30 for adults, $15 for kids) to board Santa’s vintage electric train leaving from Central Station on a 60-minute ride through Sydney’s inner west to Rhodes and back again. That opportunity is also only available on Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8.
But Santa’s joy rides won’t stop there. Head along to the Valley Heights Rail Museum in Blue Mountains where the man will also be stopping. Both on the same weekend and on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15. Here he’ll also be riding around the Blue Mountains on steam trains, with multiple sessions each day and cheap tickets ($18 for adults, $12 for kids).
There’s also a third chance as well to ride trains with Santa in the Blue Mountains. On both December 7 and 8, Santa will be pulling triple duty by boarding the Zig Zag Railway for 45-minute trips between 10:30am and 2:30pm. The heritage railway in Clarence will be making an occasion of it, putting on a festive balloon display to the kids with the option to take photos with Santa with custom face painting. This ones a bit more expensive with $50 for adults and $32.50 for kids.
You can also find Santa hiding atop Sydney Harbour Bridge
Bridge Climb is a bucketlist experience any day of the year. Anyone can scale one of the world’s most iconic bridges and peek around at the spectacular views of both the harbour and the city. But it’ll be different if you head up on a Sunday morning this month, however, since Santa will be recovering from all that relentless transit by hiding on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for unique photo opportunities.
He’ll be up at the summit, 134 metres above Sydney Harbour, waiting to sing some festive tunes with you and snap sky-high photos that surely beat the standard supermarket photo you, your kids and Santa himself are tired of.
Just make sure you book into a bridge climb on a Sunday before 11am and before December 22. You’ll even get your own Santa hat!
We have little doubt Santa will also be popping up at other places throughout the month. Maybe he’ll visit Ramsgate Beach and gleam inspiration from the epic Harry Potters Christmas lights? Or perhaps he’ll join the rest of Sydney and head along to Davidson for the neighbourhood’s block party-esque Christmas displays.
No wonder he only works once per year.
Christmas Events Sydney locals love
The Christmas events Sydney locals know and love are all back, plus there are a few new and exciting additions to add to the schedule. Most of these are for parents looking for things to do with kids this month, but many of these events also make for great date ideas or fun things to do with friends like the epic Sydney Santa Spectacular at Blacktown Showgrounds, an exquisite performance of The Nutcracker by The Australian Chamber Orchestra, and Sydney’s Christmas Spectacular at State Theatre.
1. David Jones Christmas windows
If you’ve had enough of ticketed events and just wanted something fun and free that’s also kid-friendly in Sydney, go to David Jones. The long-standing department store at Pitt St Mall has worked up a firm Christmas tradition with extravagant Christmas displays in its large picture windows.
For 2024, the David Jones Christmas displays bring to life the story of A Very Wombat Christmas by Lachlan Creagh with more than 50 motorised puppets and narration by a David Jones staffer.
The best time to head along and see the display is between December 11 and Christmas Eve, when David Jones also host a choir inside the store each day.
Where: 86/108 Castlereagh St, Sydney NSW 2000
2. Wundrful World of Christmas
Luna Park isn’t the only Sydney staple leaning heavily on cutting-edge technology to curate immersive animated experiences. Wundr Store is getting involved this year by creating a themed mixed-reality experience that the whole family will love.
You start by taking a big festive step through the Wundr Door before being ferried to the North Pole by your trusty elf pilot.
This narrated experience features reindeer hanging out in paddocks, elves busy at work at Santa’s Workshop, and Mrs. Claus preparing a special Christmas lunch (which, unfortunately, is entirely digital).
Where: 31 Market St, Sydney NSW 2000
When: Until Tuesday, December 24
Price: $39 per adult, $29 per child
3. Sugarplum Christmas at The Grounds
The world’s most instagrammable cafe, The Grounds of Alexandria, has built itself a global reputation for dazzling, immersive themed displays to add a bit of whimsy and dynamism to the breakfast and brunch institution. For Christmas 2024, The Grounds’ imaginative design team has worked up a Sugarplum Christmas.
The Nutcracker’s most infamous ballet, Sugar Plum Fairy, has been reimagined as a visual adventure for the kids with giant ballet Christmas trees, friendly snowmen, themed decor and playful laneways that light up at night with different shades of pink. The kitchen has prepared a festive menu to match so take the little ones over to Alexandria for one of the most unique things to do in Sydney this Christmas.
Where: 7a/2 Huntley St, Alexandria NSW 2015
When: Until early January 2025
Price: Free
4. Sydney Santa Spectacular
5. Taronga Christmas Concert
Set up with a picnic on the beautiful rolling hills at Taronga Zoo, one of the world’s most picturesque zoos. The vista overlooking Sydney Harbour is perfect for a one-night-only carols by candlelight concert, with a full evening of family-friendly entertainment. Most Sydneysiders make a day of it by visiting the zoo, which just welcome new penguin chicks and a baby hippo, and then ending up on the great lawn just in time for the concert at 6pm.
Where: Taronga Zoo; Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman NSW 2088
When: December 14; from 6pm
Price: $29 (adults), $24 (children aged 4-15), free (children under 4)
6. The Australian Chamber Orchestra presents The Nutcracker
Mix a bit of culture with Christmas this year and head along to Dawes Point to see The Australian Chamber Orchestra performing The Nutcracker. The time-honoured Christmas musical has been worked up with David McAllister to offer guests a mix of live classical music and ballet, offering something a bit different to do in Sydney for Xmas.
Where: Suite 3, 13A Hickson Road, Dawes Point
When: December 14-22
Price: $39
7. Woolworths Carols in the Domain
The 42nd annual Woolworths Carols in the Domain are the most popular “carols by candlelight” events in Sydney. Thousands of families pack into the massive park each year to watch Australia’s most illustrious stars lead massive singalongs to classic Christmas songs. Part of the fun has just been seeing which stars show up each year, right alongside the requisite appearance from Santa and a spectacular fireworks display alongside a Christmas lights display.
Where: The Domain, Art Gallery Road
When: Saturday, December 21; 1pm – 11pm
Price: Free (seated tickets start at $155.90)
8. Sydney’s Christmas Spectacular
The State Theatre’s annual Christmas Spectacular show once again takes over the heritage venue in the week leading up to Christmas Day. The whimsical 90-minute production plays as a Christmas themed variety show, stringing songs, dances and world-class performers like The Voice finalist Prinnie Stevens and Australia’s Got Talent illusionist Michael Boyd.
The State Theatre spectacular is one of the most anticipated Christmas event Sydney locals anticipate every time December rolls around.
Where: The State Theatre; 49 Market St, Sydney NSW 2000
When: December 20-22
Price: $59 – $79
9. Sydney Santa Spectacular
Head out to Blacktown and enter a fantastical 300-tree forest with no less than 30,000 baubles and 30,000 Santa lights. It’s an extravagant, immersive display for the Sydney Santa Spectacular, which is returning as Western Sydney’s biggest Christmas festival after a five-year hiatus.
Set at Blacktown Showgrounds, the festival runs from December 12 to 26, channelling the magic of the North Pole and framed that with Christmas themed food trucks, Australia’s only double-decker carousel, petting zoos, live circus shows and more entertainment. With three hours of unlimited carnival rides, it’s the perfect Christmas festival for families.
Where: Blacktown Showgrounds, Blacktown, NSW 2148
When: December 12 – 26
Price: $45
Read More
- The best Christmas markets in Sydney
- The best Christmas lights in Sydney
- What’s open on Christmas day? Here’s where to have your Christmas lunch
- Sydney Christmas traditions that bring to city to life
- Where to hear Christmas carols in Sydney
- Best places to see the NYE fireworks in Sydney
