Christmas cheer to brighten Sydney

Sydney will sparkle and buzz this Christmas, with pop-up musical performances in local neighbourhoods, light displays, decorations, roving performers and more Christmas trees than ever.

“While life is a little different this year, we’re still creating a festive atmosphere in the city centre and across our inner Sydney villages,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

“We encourage everyone to safely return to the city over the holiday period. Once you’ve finished your Christmas shopping, dine al fresco on city streets, marvel at the outdoor decorations and lighting displays, and experience the joy of a Covid-safe Christmas!

“Join us in celebrating Christmas in the city – be it downtown or in your local neighbourhood – with festive lighting displays, decorations and roving performers bringing Christmas cheer to all.”

The City of Sydney’s Christmas program features a shimmering canopy of 85,000 lights and 10 two-metre tall stars in Pitt Street Mall, rows of twinkling lights in Martin Place and Christmas trees in 11 locations, including the much-loved Christmas tree in Martin Place and a tree in Glebe for the first time.

New this year is a 20-metre sparkling mesh screen on the landmark Woolworths building facades on George and Park streets. There will also be new star installations on smartpoles along George Street to transform the pedestrian-friendly boulevard for the festive season.

Musical performances will pop up at lunchtime and early evening from 4 to 24 December in different village locations each day including:

Live performers, including musicians and stilt walkers, will move through the city centre entertaining local workers and Christmas shoppers until Christmas Eve.

The city from Saturday 28 November until Friday 1 January with a kaleidoscope of colours and decorative lights every 15 minutes from 7pm to midnight.

The tree is decorated with more than 110,000 LED lights, a 3.4-metre colour-changing star and 330 specially created glossy baubles.

The tree’s 800 branches are dressed 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.

Nine-metre trees featuring 170 hand-made baubles, 224 native floral decorations and topped with a star are at Dr H J Foley Rest Park in Glebe, Town Hall, Customs House, Fitzroy Gardens in Kings Cross, Taylor Square, Union Square in Pyrmont, St Mary’s Cathedral, next to Surry Hills Library and Erskineville in Green Ban Park. Green Square locals can enjoy a 12-metre tree with 290 hand-made baubles and 400 native flowers in the plaza.

The City has also developed a self-guided walking tour of Christmas lights, trees and shopping destinations across the local area.

Starting at the delightful Customs House Christmas tree, walkers can wind their way through Sydney’s historic The Rocks precinct, before travelling up through Martin Place, Pitt Street Mall and Town Hall.

The walk is free and designed for the whole family. Download the walk at sydneyculturewalksapp.com

The Sydney Christmas charity partner this year is OzHarvest. The City will be encouraging those who can afford to do so to make a donation to its important work at feedsydney.com

“After a year that has been tough for so many, it is great to be able to come together and enjoy the holiday season,” OzHarvest NSW State Manager, Richard Watson, said.

“We are so grateful to be collaborating with the City of Sydney to make sure we get good food to those who need it most across Sydney, especially at this time of year.”

To ensure the safety of the community during the global Covid-19 pandemic and to comply with the latest NSW Health advice, the annual Christmas in the City event and Christmas concert program will not take place this year.

In planning our events, we follow the latest NSW Government public health orders.

These are continuously updated to address the local impact of the pandemic.

For more information about Christmas in the City visit sydneychristmas.com

Footage and images of the City lit up at night are available here - https://fx.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/?ShareToken=0E77DFDF82EFE9E529ADCE0881B9F19ED7001F7B

For media enquiries or images, contact Roxanne Macara on 0438 554 640 or email [email protected]

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore contact Jack Begbie Phone 0481 759 580 or email [email protected]