Yarra lights up with something for everyone this Christmas

This Christmas, Yarra will come alive with various exciting, pop-up events designed to appeal to the entire community this festive season.

We have lots of free, family-friendly Christmas events taking place across Yarra, while lighting installations, festive projections and Christmas decorations will adorn our three town halls.

Friday 17 December, 5-8pm

Get your Christmas shopping done at Queens Parade in North Fitzroy. There will be music, food, great gift buying opportunities and even a special visit from Santa!

Projections, lighting and new public artwork can be found across Yarra during the festive season.

Head down to Richmond Town Hall, Collingwood Town Hall and Fitzroy Town Hall to discover the magic.

Projection Teknik by Nick Azidis 

NICK AZIDIS is a new media artist and projection illusionist specialising in large-scale projections in both digital and analogue mediums. Beginning as a painter in the late ‘80s to late ‘90s, Azidis turned to projection art as a way to create "leave no trace artworks", which he has been making for 30 years. There is a direct link with the content Azidis creates in his projections and his painted works, yet it could be argued the impermanent nature of projecting art only adds to its ephemeral beauty. He has compiled a diverse body of work over three decades as a producer, content developer/creator and technician. Azidis is interested in storytelling and creating eternal memories and aesthetically beautiful pieces that transform a viewer’s perception of their surroundings with a blanket of luminescent designs.

Dates: Friday 10 December to Sunday 26 December, after dark

Find the projection work at Richmond Town Hall.

Celebration Banner by Anthony Romagnano

‘Celebration Banner’ is a festive inspired artwork created by Anthony Romagnano, an emerging artist from Arts Project Australia gallery now located at Collingwood Yards. Consisting of figures with strong outlines and blocks of vivid colour, the banners recognise the holiday period as a time of spreading joy and cheer by gathering with loved ones and friends. Romagnano’s artwork reflects the vibrancy of the season and is sure to brighten up Yarra during this festive time.

Dates: Thursday 2 December to late January

Find 'Celebration Banner' at Collingwood Town Hall.

Fitzroy Town Hall Lighting Display

Fitzroy Town Hall's Classical Victorian design dating back to 1873 is a statement of the aspirations and burgeoning wealth Melbourne was experiencing during the gold rush era. For the festive season, we are lighting Fitzroy Town Hall’s façade to bring the festive spirit to Yarra. Find the work after dark between Friday 10 December and Monday 20 December.

Dates: Friday 10 December to Monday 20 December, after dark

Find the lighting work at Fitzroy Town Hall.

This year there will be a special focus on Garrawang, one of the seven seasons of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung. Garrawang marks the time when the kangaroo apples flower, the wedge-tailed eagles breed, the days are long, and the nights are short.

Carols in the Rotunda Thursday 9 December, 5pm Yarra’s Garrawang Festive Program kicks off with special guest Casey Bennetto who will MC the concert. He will be joined by The Yarra Voices Choir accompanied with performances from some of our wonderful schools across the municipality.

Edinburgh Gardens, North Fitzroy

Koorie Kristmas Saturday 11 December, 5pm All are welcome at this concert in the heart of Collingwood. The event will start with a ‘Welcome to Country’ by Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Colin Hunter followed by some deadly music and storytelling from Songman Uncle Bart Willoughby, Lauren Ruby, Deniece Hudson and Uncle Dave Arden. There will also be a free barbeque and visit from Santa.

Peel Street Park, Collingwood

Songs in the Square  Sunday12 December, 2pm Rebetiko Trio with Con Kalamaras, Wayne Simmons and Miltos Photopoulos will join the Macedonian Women's Choir and Fred Leone to perform in this green sanctuary along bustling Rathdowne Street.

Curtain Square, North Carlton

Sparkly Barkly Sunday 12 December, 4.30pm Tripod and Eddie Perfect bring their comic and musical mastery to Richmond’s vibrant Barkly Gardens to add extra silliness to the season. With a performance from the mesmerising Soul Singer Bumpy a proud Noongar female artist, plus Richmond Primary School.

Barkly Gardens, Richmond

The Huxleys' Love Boat Sunday 12 December, 11am to 2pm Go for a wander by the Yarra river and you might find yourself experiencing something strange and fabulous, courtesy of performance duo The Huxleys. ‘The Huxleys’ Love Boat' will be a roaming, waterborne performance throughout the Yarra Bend area. Both fantastic and ephemeral, be sure to bring a picnic to your favourite riverside perch and enjoy the show! Various viewing locations up and down the Yarra between Dights Falls and Chandler Highway, with a great vantage point from the Fairfield Boathouse or the Fairfield Amphitheatre.

Yarra River, Between Dights Falls and Chandler Highway.

Singers on the Steps Tuesday 21 December, 6pm Bring your Christmas spirit and join us for an evening of acapella music featuring Makepisi, Key Tones, Living Out Loud and more.

Fitzroy Town Hall steps.

This Christmas, Yarra will come alive with various exciting, pop-up events designed to appeal to the entire community this festive season.

We have lots of free, family-friendly Christmas events taking place across Yarra, while lighting installations, festive projections and Christmas decorations will adorn our three town halls.

Friday 17 December, 5-8pm

Get your Christmas shopping done at Queens Parade in North Fitzroy. There will be music, food, great gift buying opportunities and even a special visit from Santa!

Projections, lighting and new public artwork can be found across Yarra during the festive season.

Head down to Richmond Town Hall, Collingwood Town Hall and Fitzroy Town Hall to discover the magic.

Projection Teknik by Nick Azidis 

NICK AZIDIS is a new media artist and projection illusionist specialising in large-scale projections in both digital and analogue mediums. Beginning as a painter in the late ‘80s to late ‘90s, Azidis turned to projection art as a way to create "leave no trace artworks", which he has been making for 30 years. There is a direct link with the content Azidis creates in his projections and his painted works, yet it could be argued the impermanent nature of projecting art only adds to its ephemeral beauty. He has compiled a diverse body of work over three decades as a producer, content developer/creator and technician. Azidis is interested in storytelling and creating eternal memories and aesthetically beautiful pieces that transform a viewer’s perception of their surroundings with a blanket of luminescent designs.

Dates: Friday 10 December to Sunday 26 December, after dark

Find the projection work at Richmond Town Hall.

Celebration Banner by Anthony Romagnano

‘Celebration Banner’ is a festive inspired artwork created by Anthony Romagnano, an emerging artist from Arts Project Australia gallery now located at Collingwood Yards. Consisting of figures with strong outlines and blocks of vivid colour, the banners recognise the holiday period as a time of spreading joy and cheer by gathering with loved ones and friends. Romagnano’s artwork reflects the vibrancy of the season and is sure to brighten up Yarra during this festive time.

Dates: Thursday 2 December to late January

Find 'Celebration Banner' at Collingwood Town Hall.

Fitzroy Town Hall Lighting Display

Fitzroy Town Hall's Classical Victorian design dating back to 1873 is a statement of the aspirations and burgeoning wealth Melbourne was experiencing during the gold rush era. For the festive season, we are lighting Fitzroy Town Hall’s façade to bring the festive spirit to Yarra. Find the work after dark between Friday 10 December and Monday 20 December.

Dates: Friday 10 December to Monday 20 December, after dark

Find the lighting work at Fitzroy Town Hall.

This year there will be a special focus on Garrawang, one of the seven seasons of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung. Garrawang marks the time when the kangaroo apples flower, the wedge-tailed eagles breed, the days are long, and the nights are short.

Carols in the Rotunda Thursday 9 December, 5pm Yarra’s Garrawang Festive Program kicks off with special guest Casey Bennetto who will MC the concert. He will be joined by The Yarra Voices Choir accompanied with performances from some of our wonderful schools across the municipality.

Edinburgh Gardens, North Fitzroy

Koorie Kristmas Saturday 11 December, 5pm All are welcome at this concert in the heart of Collingwood. The event will start with a ‘Welcome to Country’ by Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Colin Hunter followed by some deadly music and storytelling from Songman Uncle Bart Willoughby, Lauren Ruby, Deniece Hudson and Uncle Dave Arden. There will also be a free barbeque and visit from Santa.

Peel Street Park, Collingwood

Songs in the Square  Sunday12 December, 2pm Rebetiko Trio with Con Kalamaras, Wayne Simmons and Miltos Photopoulos will join the Macedonian Women's Choir and Fred Leone to perform in this green sanctuary along bustling Rathdowne Street.

Curtain Square, North Carlton

Sparkly Barkly Sunday 12 December, 4.30pm Tripod and Eddie Perfect bring their comic and musical mastery to Richmond’s vibrant Barkly Gardens to add extra silliness to the season. With a performance from the mesmerising Soul Singer Bumpy a proud Noongar female artist, plus Richmond Primary School.

Barkly Gardens, Richmond

The Huxleys' Love Boat Sunday 12 December, 11am to 2pm Go for a wander by the Yarra river and you might find yourself experiencing something strange and fabulous, courtesy of performance duo The Huxleys. ‘The Huxleys’ Love Boat' will be a roaming, waterborne performance throughout the Yarra Bend area. Both fantastic and ephemeral, be sure to bring a picnic to your favourite riverside perch and enjoy the show! Various viewing locations up and down the Yarra between Dights Falls and Chandler Highway, with a great vantage point from the Fairfield Boathouse or the Fairfield Amphitheatre.

Yarra River, Between Dights Falls and Chandler Highway.

Singers on the Steps Tuesday 21 December, 6pm Bring your Christmas spirit and join us for an evening of acapella music featuring Makepisi, Key Tones, Living Out Loud and more.

Fitzroy Town Hall steps.