{"id":35934,"date":"2025-11-10T19:17:17","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T08:17:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=35934"},"modified":"2025-11-10T19:17:17","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T08:17:17","slug":"yule-have-a-great-time-in-sydney-this-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2025\/11\/10\/yule-have-a-great-time-in-sydney-this-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"Yule have a great time in Sydney this Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Minns Labor Government is unveiling its largest Christmas celebrations yet with the Harbour city set to launch the 2025 Festive Season and a range of new and expanded events, cementing Sydney as the ultimate Summer Christmas and New Year\u2019s destination. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Locals and visitors alike will be invited to experience the city\u2019s unique, vibrant summer holiday spirit, with Sydney set to sparkle with a packed calendar of dazzling events,\u202fcultural showcases,\u202fand community celebrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2025 Sydney Festive Season will deliver the city\u2019s largest Christmas celebrations with an expanded program of major events and activations across the city that will officially begin on 27 November with Santa\u2019s Sydney Sleigh Ride and the lighting of the Martin Place Christmas Tree, presented by the City of Sydney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tumbalong Park at Darling Harbour will play host to a major expanded Christmas Festival for 2025 with an even bigger free family concert, expanded children\u2019s entertainment zones and the return of Santa\u2019s grand arrival. Expect a larger main stage program featuring combined school choirs alongside headline performers. Schools can submit their interest in performing on the big stage here www.darlingharbour.com\/competitions\/call-for-choirs-perform-at-the-darling-harbour-chr<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Christmas at the Cathedral will be more than double the size in 2025. The nightly forecourt market will\u202ffeature exciting new food and gift stall options, new lighting and projection installations will bring the Cathedral fa\u00e7ade to life, and an expanded program of choirs and live performances. Visitors can gather for nine nights of food, music and community celebration in the lead-up to Christmas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Rocks Markets: Christmas Edition returns with additional festive night trading sessions and more stallholders specialising in handmade gifts, local design and seasonal treats. The precinct will also be buzzing with an enhanced summer music program and relaxed picnic-style spaces overlooking the harbour.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The inaugural Cockle Bay Christmas Spectacular will launch with a water performance featuring stunt elements plus a pre-show program of live music and roving performers. \u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A White Bay Christmas will transform the White Bay Power Station, offering festive orchestral concerts and an expanded artisan market in the Boiler House and Turbine Hall. Visitors can explore stalls featuring local makers and enjoy performances by the Sydney Youth Orchestra in one of Sydney\u2019s most atmospheric heritage settings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Importantly for families, all events are free to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sydney\u2019s unique festive period is a key,\u202fhigh-profile holiday season that the city is known for\u202foffering a warm, Australian twist on traditional celebrations. Barangaroo and The Rocks will be getting a Christmas makeover, with wreaths, bells and Christmas trees set to fill the public domains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These new and improved events will be supported by Christmas classics including The Salvation Army\u2019s Carols in the Domain, and the Martin Place Tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A bumper Christmas crowd will be followed by a summer of major events, ensuring Sydney remains the place to be throughout the holiday season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Key NSW Government-supported events include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Back to the Future: The Musical \u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sydney International Art Series \u2013 Data Dreams: Art in the Age of AI at the Museum of Contemporary Art (21 Nov 2025 \u2013 26 Apr 2026) and Ron Mueck at the Art Gallery of NSW (6 Dec 2025 \u2013 12 Apr 2026)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>United Cup (3\u201311 Jan\u00a02026)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sydney New Year\u2019s Test Match (4\u20138 Jan 2026)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sydney Festival (8\u201325 Jan 2026)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSydney\u2019s Christmas celebrations just keep getting bigger and better. This year we\u2019re unwrapping our most exciting festive season yet with more events, more lights, and more free ways for families to celebrate together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOnly in Sydney can you celebrate Christmas under the stars, by the harbour, and on the beach. Our expanded summer program captures that unique spirit while driving even more visitors into our city.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo one does Christmas quite like Australia, and there is no better place to experience a classic Aussie Christmas than Sydney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are bringing back the festive spirit to make sure our Christmas celebrations are bigger and better than years before. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe want to see our city humming with local and international visitors and to do that we need to give them a reason to travel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said: &nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s beginning to look a lot like Christmas as our iconic Harbour precincts prepare to put on a bumper schedule of events filled with plenty of free festive cheer. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhether you\u2019re looking for free family fun like live entertainment or to find unique Christmas gifts to put under the tree we\u2019ve got you covered. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI look forward to seeing merrymakers coming together this holiday season to enjoy our great open spaces and the free Christmas bonanza.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CBD &amp; Darling Harbour<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sydney Christmas and Martin Place Tree Lighting &#8211; Martin Place &#8211; 27 November<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Floating Christmas Tree &#8211; 21 November<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cockle Bay Christmas Spectacular &#8211; 6 December<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Christmas Festival at Tumbalong Park, featuring the combined school choir &#8211; 13 December<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Christmas Fireworks &#8211; 6, 13 and 20 December \u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Christmas at the Cathedral Markets \u2013 17 \u2013 25 December<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Salvation Army&#8217;s Carols in the Domain &#8211; The Domain &#8211; 20 December<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Rocks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Homegrown Concerts &#8211; Tallawoladah Lawn, The Rocks &#8211; 6\u20137 December<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Rocks Markets: Christmas Edition every weekend from 6 to 21 December<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Laneway Cinema on 3, 10 and 17 December<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Barangaroo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Pier Social (Festive Season Sessions) &#8211; Pier Pavilion, Barangaroo &#8211; From 21 November<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Barangaroo Markets &#8211; Third Friday of each month from 21 November to February<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Movin\u2019 Bed Cinema \u2013 from 28 November<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Balmain\/White Bay Power Station<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Christmas in Balmain with Free Santa Photos &#8211; Balmain village &#8211; 3 November\u201325 December<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sydney Youth Orchestra: Lied Der Nacht &#8211; White Bay Power Station &#8211; 6 December<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sydney Youth Orchestra: White Bay Christmas Concert &#8211; White Bay Power Station &#8211; 7 December<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Balmain Village Markets &#8211; 7 December<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Makers and Shakers Christmas Gift Market &#8211; White Bay Cruise Terminal &#8211; 13\u201314 December<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Opportunities are also available for community choirs to perform and share their festive spirit in Darling Harbour \u2013 submission information can be found at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.darlingharbour.com\/venue-hire\/christmas-community-performances\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Darling Harbour Community Christmas Performances<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Minns Labor Government is unveiling its largest Christmas celebrations yet with the Harbour city set to launch the 2025 Festive Season and a range of new and expanded events, cementing Sydney as the ultimate Summer Christmas and New Year\u2019s destination. &nbsp; Locals and visitors alike will be invited to experience the city\u2019s unique, vibrant &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2025\/11\/10\/yule-have-a-great-time-in-sydney-this-christmas\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Yule have a great time in Sydney this Christmas&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35934","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nswnews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35934","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35934"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35934\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35935,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35934\/revisions\/35935"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35934"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35934"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35934"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}