Best 2022 Christmas Events in Sydney

Celebrate the holiday season with family-friendly Christmas events in Sydney. If you feel like heading to Sydney for 2022 Christmas events and activities, here’s the list for you. There are loads of Christmas events to enjoy with your family in Sydney including Christmas lights, Christmas concerts, Christmas movies and festivals. We’ve selected a mix of Christmas events to enjoy with kids as well as events for grown-ups too. Some Christmas events are free while others require paid tickets.

Christmas in Darling Harbour

Darling Harbour comes alive for Christmas this year.  As well as a giant 6m Christmas bauble, there will be floating baubles, Christmas movies, a Ferris Wheel, pedal boats and Pixar Putt mini golf. Tumbalong Park will also host two weekends of Christmas festivities including live music and dance, kid’s entertainment, delicious food and holiday treats. On Friday and Saturday nights in December, end the night with a bang by heading over to Cockle Bay to watch the sky above the harbour light up with spectacular bursts of fireworks.

Dates: 21 November – 26 December 2022
Location: Darling Harbour, Sydney
Cost: Mix of free and paid activities
Website: Darling Harbour

Christmas in the City

Martin Place will be transformed into a Christmas wonderland with markets, roving performers, carollers and decorations on Saturday 26 November and Sunday 27 November 2022. More than 40 stalls of locally made gifts, food and produce will offer a magical shopping experience.

Saturday’s festivities will culminate with the arrival of Santa and his reindeer bicycle-powered sleigh. And while you’re in the city take a stroll along Pitt Street Mall where the Canopy of Light adds sparkle to your Christmas shopping or wander through the laneways in The Rocks to experience festive dining and artisan shopping.

Date: Saturday 26 November & Sunday 27 November 2022
Time: 12pm – 9pm (Saturday) and 12pm – 6pm (Sunday)
Location: Martin Place, Sydney
Cost: Free
Website: City of Sydney

Canopy of Light

Discover a Christmas wonderland right in the heart of Sydney as you stroll along Pitt Street Mall underneath a canopy of suspended lights. Featuring 85,000 LEDs and ten stunning two metre high stars this Christmas light installation will bring sparkle to your night. While you are in the city take a minute to see the Martin Place Christmas tree.

Date: Saturday 26 November to Sunday 1 January
Time: Every night
Location: Pitt Street, between Market and King Streets, Sydney
Cost: Free
Website: City of Sydney

‘Santa’s Secret Garden’ at Macquarie Centre

Not your average Christmas experience, the award-winning Santa’s Secret Garden at Macquarie Centre will run until 24 December, inviting shoppers on an exploration of quintessential Australian Christmas landscapes.

A one-of-a-kind living, breathing Christmas set, the garden is created from native and drought-tolerant plants from beach to the bush, encompassing lush greenery with tropical plants and coastal pathways. Shoppers are invited to journey through iconic Australian scenery – including a boardwalk and glow worm cave – on their way to meet Santa. Spreading extra good will this festive season, Macquarie Centre will donate the native trees and plants to Mount Wilga Rehab Hospital in Hornsby on 26 December, for patients to enjoy.

Centre stage at Santa’s Secret Garden will be Santa Photography, Sensitive Santa and Pet Photos. As well as Santa’s Secret Garden, there’s lots of exciting activities happening throughout the centre for customers to enjoy in the lead up to Christmas, including wreath making workshops and a FREE gingerbread decorating workshop.

There will also be several festive retailer activities for shoppers to pre-book, including Christmas Storytime with Harry Hartog and Christmas Build-a-Bear workshop sessions.

The centre has also installed its iconic giant 8 Christmas animal decorations throughout the centre, which have had a glow-up this year, with living plants installed at the base. Shoppers can explore the nearly 8m high Giraffe, 3.5m high Elephant and the 2m high Lion, each decked out with eye-catching festive décor.

Dates: Until 24 December 2022
Location: Macquarie Centre, Macquarie Park
Cost: Free
Website: Macquarie Centre

Noël Sydney

Set festive spirits soaring at Noël Sydney, a new and truly magical Christmas celebration. From 9-24 December, this free event will open at 6pm each night, inviting friends and families to discover enchanting Christmas markets, light installations and nightly entertainment

Discover the wonder of Christmas with Noël Sydney, a magical, free Christmas festival. This Christmas storybook experience is set in Macquarie Street and the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and has two magical chapters, full of nostalgia with a modern twist.

Follow the Noël Light Trail on Macquarie Street, leading through the majestic Christmas colonnade to the Conservatorium Gates and enter the Digital Christmas Forest where you will feel the magic of Christmas come alive right in the heart of Sydney.

Dates: Friday 9 December to 24 December 2022
Time: Open from 6pm
Location: Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and Macquarie Street
Cost: Free
Website: Noël Sydney

The Muppet Christmas Carol Concert

It’s not Christmas without The Muppet Christmas Carol! Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol will be presented live in concert this Christmas featuring its musical score performed live to the film. The Muppet Christmas Carol sees The Muppets perform the classic Charles Dickens holiday tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine). Gonzo, as Dickens, narrates the story with the help of Rizzo the Rat. The film also features Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit, Gonzo as the narrator Charles Dickens, Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig and Robin the Frog as Tiny Tim.

Date: Saturday 10 December 2022
Time: 4pm
Location: Darling Harbour Theatre, International Conference Centre, Sydney
Cost: From $100.85
Website: The Muppet Christmas Carol

Christmas Movies at Moonlight Cinema

Enjoy your favourite Christmas movies at Moonlight Cinema. All the holiday classics are being screened including Die Hard, The Holiday, Love Actually, Home Alone, How The Grinch Stole Christmas and ELF.

Date: Saturday 10 December to Thursday 22 December
Time: 8:30pm
Location: Belvedere Amphitheatre, Centennial Park, Sydney
Cost: From $22
Website: Moonlight Cinema

Human Nature’s “A Christmas Celebration”

Human Nature’s “A Christmas Celebration” will have you embracing your inner festive spirit , singing and dancing your way into the 2022 holiday season. Australia’s superstar vocal group Human Nature are back with an exclusive Christmas Celebration concert for one night only.

Sing along to all the Christmas and holiday classics from their chart-topping Christmas album – including Let It Snow, White Christmas, O Holy Night, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer intertwined with the some of the group’s most loved and requested songs from their stellar 30 year career … this year, Santa Claus really is comin’ to town! Joining Human Nature for one night only as a very special guest is the sublime Bella Taylor Smith, be mesmerised by the melding of their 5 voices.

Date: Friday 16 December 2022
Time: 8pm
Location: The State Theatre, Sydney
Cost: From $84
Website: State Theatre

Taronga Zoo Christmas Concert

Get into the festive spirit at Taronga’s annual Christmas Concert! Set amongst the delightful surrounds of Taronga Zoo Sydney, this family-friendly event features an all-star lineup of performers, singers, musicians and of course, Santa with special guest Mrs Claus! 

Created specifically for Taronga Zoo, the Christmas Concert is the pinnacle of family-friendly entertainment and is one not to miss! Bring the whole family and enjoy an amazing summer evening set against the iconic backdrop of Sydney Harbour.

A variety of food and beverage options will be available to purchase on the night or you can pack a picnic to enjoy with the family.

Date: Saturday 17 December 2022
Time: 7pm – 8.30pm (Gates open 6pm)
Location: Taronga Zoo, Sydney
Cost: $29 adults, $24 children aged 4-15
Website: Taronga Zoo

Carols in the Domain

Woolworths Carols in the Domain turns 40 this year and you’re invited to Australia’s Biggest Christmas Party. Gather up your family and friends and head to The Domain in Sydney on Saturday 17 December.

Announced so far, the incredible line-up includes The Wiggles, the world’s most popular children’s entertainment group; much loved Grammy award-winning artist with a career spanning five decades, Leo Sayer; one of Australia’s most popular tenors and past winner of Australia’s Got Talent Mark Vincent; and acclaimed vocal artist and actress, Rachael Beck.

This year, The Festive Lawn is a huge, free and non-ticketed area where you can enjoy the show. Bring your picnic along and get in early to secure your spot and enjoy the pre-show entertainment and fun-filled activities from 1pm. The main program starts at 8pm. If you prefer to know that you have a seat waiting for you, there is limited reserved seating available to purchase through Ticketbooth.

Date: Saturday 17 December 2022
Time: Main program 8pm (Gates open1pm for pre-show entertainment)
Location: The Domain, Art Gallery Road, Sydney
Cost: Free for The Festive Lawn. From $69 for Reserved Seat
Website: Carols in the Domain

The Wiggles Holiday Party Big Show

Celebrate Christmas with The Wiggles in Sydney. Experience the magic of The Wiggles brand-new The Wiggles Holiday Party Big Show tour at Sydney Olympic Park.

Come along and join in the fun of this festive season, in what will be The Wiggles most exciting show yet! You’ll see The Wiggles, their Wiggly friends and dancers, Santa Claus, dancing reindeers and it will even snow on stage!

Dates: Saturday 17 December 2022
Location: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park
Cost: From $39
Website: The Wiggles

Love Actually In Concert

Following sold-out performances last year, Love Actually in Concert featuring a live orchestra will be bringing the magic to Sydney this year just in time for Christmas. Featuring an all-star cast, the film has become an all-time festive favourite. The live orchestra will perform the evocative hit soundtrack live with the film being projected onto a huge screen.

Join the fun as stories of love around Christmas unfold. Come dressed in your favourite Christmas outfit and make Billy Mack proud. You’ll laugh, sing, and maybe even shed a tear as you experience the emotion of the ultimate romantic comedy Love Actually in Concert.

Date: Saturday 17 December 2022
Time: 4pm or 8pm
Location: Darling Harbour Theatre, International Conference Centre, Sydney
Cost: From $131.40
Website: Love Actually in Concert

Human Nature’s “A Christmas Celebration”

Come and experience the most magical holiday event of the season! The Christmas Spectacular is an extravaganza of music, circus, dance and magic that celebrates the joy and excitement of Christmas. Let your senses ignite with a kaleidoscope of Christmas songs, dances and world-class variety performers as they light up the stage in a show that pays tribute to the Radio City Rockets, The Nutcracker and much more.

Join The Voice finalist and Musical Theatre sensation Prinnie Stevens, as she takes you on a musical journey of Christmas classics from traditional songs to Mariah Carey favourites all performed with Prinnie’s unique style and the voice of an angel.

The show features acclaimed illusionist and Australia’s Got Talent finalist Michael Boyd who will perform some of his greatest illusions, mind-boggling disappearances and incredible magic (with a Christmas twist) that will keep the audience entranced.

Date: Thursday 22 & Friday 23 December 2022
Time: 6:30pm
Location: The State Theatre, Sydney
Cost: From $49
Website: State Theatre

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