Festive playground launches Christmas in Sydney

The City of Sydney is launching a brand new Christmas festival that will transform the centre of Sydney into a festive playground for the first time.

Taking over the streets from 6.30pm to 9.30pm on Saturday 24 November 'Christmas in the City' will mark the start of more than 30 days of festivities.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the new festival would allow even more people to enjoy Sydney's Christmas celebrations.

"Our Christmas celebrations have grown in popularity every year so this year we're adding extra stages and roving performers to open the festivities up for everyone," the Lord Mayor said.

"Christmas in the City will include popular children's entertainers including Justine Clarke and Jimmy Giggle as well as choirs on stages at George, King and Pitt streets and Martin Place. Roving magicians, elves on reindeers and roller-skating baubles will delight crowds in between.

"As is tradition, I'll be joining Santa as he rides his sleigh through the city, from Circular Quay along George Street, before we light the Martin Place Christmas Tree at 8.30pm.

"If you can't join us for Christmas in the City, our Christmas in the Village program will take place throughout the rest of November and December."

Pitt Street Mall will sparkle under a canopy of 80,000 lights and dotted along the streets will be popcorn and coffee carts, and food trucks offering everything from Mexican, Yum Cha and pasta to burgers, vegetarian treats and gelato.

There will also be activities to keep little ones busy, including gingerbread icing, decoration making and writing letters to Santa.

Standing pride of place in the centre of Martin Place, the Christmas tree will be illuminated in sync with a fireworks display that will light up the sky above the city.

The Lord Mayor said the City was investing $3.1million on this year's Christmas celebrations.

"Our new festival program celebrates the magic of Christmas in the southern hemisphere," the Lord Mayor said.

"It starts with our new Christmas in the City festival and will continue through to Christmas Day with ongoing events, choirs, lights and shopping in the city centre and our villages."

The City's Christmas charity partner, Variety - The Children's Charity, will offer $5 showbags packed with goodies and KIIS FM's Thunderbirds will be on hand with giveaways and fun activities like bowling and a photobooth.

Following Christmas in the City, festivities will continue through to Christmas, with events and attractions spreading Christmas cheer across the city and villages:

Prince Alfred Park will host the City's first Sydney Christmas Children's Concert from 6.30pm-8.30pm, featuring top children's entertainers, festive activities, showbags, fireworks and a visit from Santa.

For the first time, Green Square will be transformed into a wonderland of Christmas fun for all the family from 6.30pm-8.30pm.

Family friendly concerts will take place in Alexandria (Friday 7 December), Rushcutters Bay (Saturday 8 December) and Rosebery (Sunday 9 December), each featuring a variety of children's entertainers, a visit from Santa and fireworks finales.

The city will be filled with the sounds of the season with choirs performing in Pitt Street Mall on Thursday evenings and weekends and at the Martin Place Christmas Tree each evening from 24 November until Christmas Eve.

Full details on the Sydney Christmas program will soon be available at sydneychristmas.com.au

For media inquiries or images, contact Elaine Kelly. Phone 0477 362 550 or email [email protected]

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Julia Lenton. Phone 0410 748 039 or email [email protected]