Sydney Christmas – Sydney Spectaculars

City Of Sydney Approves New Major Event Charity Partners

The City Of Sydney has approved the appointment of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Settlement Services International Limited & the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation as the charity partners for Sydney New Year’s Eve, Sydney Lunar Festival & Sydney Christmas respectively.

Details about each charity are at the end of this article.

The approval was made following an Expression Of Interest (EOI) process in accordance with the City’s Support For Charities policy & is for the next edition of each event with the option to extend to the edition after that.

17 organisations applied to be an official charity partner of at least 1 event.

For Sydney Christmas, 2 extra criteria were added after the EOI closed, which was in early May 2023:

cash handling policy and,
point of sale infrastructure & floats for interactive activations

The applications were then assessed & then recommended to the Cultural & Creative Committee by:

Producer, Major Events and Festivals;
Audience Manager, Major Events and Festivals; &
Social Programs Officer (LGBTIQA+), Social City.

The Cultural & Creative Committee meeting, held on Monday the 19th of June 2023, then recommended the appointments to Council, who approved the recommendations on Monday the 26th of June 2023.

Now the Council has approved the appointments, the signing of Charity Participation Agreements are next & were due by mid-July 2023.

National Breast Cancer Foundation

National Breast Cancer Foundation is a leading not-for-profit organisation funding world-class breast cancer research. Since their inception in 1994, they have been involved in more than 600 world-class research projects across Australia & continue to fund further research to create a greater impact and help reach their vision of 0 deaths from breast cancer.

Settlement Services International Limited (SSI)

SSI is a not-for-profit organisation established over 20 years ago who provide life-changing human & social services. Their purpose is to empower individuals, children, families & communities from diverse backgrounds & identities to fully participate in the economic, social, civic & diverse cultural life of Australia. SSI’s mission is to create a more equitable, resilient, enriched & inclusive society.

Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation

Sydney Children’s Hospital is one of the largest children’s health charities in the country. Since 1986, they have been delivering on their vision of a world where every child has access to the best healthcare when & where they need it. Each year, they raise vital funds for 5 of their key entities including Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Bear Cottage, Kids Research & Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service, to enable powerful change for children’s health care.

City Of Sydney To Allow Additional Charities To Become Official Major Event Charity Partners In Event Of Humanitarian Crisis

The City Of Sydney has been looking for new charity partners as part of an Expression Of Interest (EOI) process for the next edition of Sydney New Year’s Eve (NYE), Sydney Lunar Festival & Sydney Christmas with the option of the following edition after that too.

Charity partners use the respective events to promote and raise funds for their cause including through the event’s media & marketing campaigns. For Sydney Lunar Festival, they will also get speech & networking opportunities while for Sydney Christmas, they will get a merchandise stall.

The EOI revealed Sydney Christmas this year will have at their concerts interactive paid activations.

Aside from charities applying, throughout the EOI process, the City Of Sydney may also approach potential candidates.

The EOI process opened in late April & closed in early May. An evaluation panel will review applications with the successful charities:

being an official registered charity or public benevolent institution,
not being associated with religion,
undertaking work which produces significant community benefits,
aligned with the City of Sydney’s values,
values’ being important for the respective event &,
holding reasonably required insurances.
demonstrated previous experience in successful online fundraising (does not apply to Sydney Christmas)
providing & managing a minimum of 2 employees or volunteers to operate an interactive paid activation at each concert (Sydney Christmas only)

A recommendation will be sent to Council & once Council approves the recommendation, which should be by September 2023, the City Of Sydney will prepare letters of agreement.

For the 1st time, charity partners are not promised exclusivity with the City Of Sydney stating that in the event of a humanitarian crisis they “may also support an additional specified charity”. This follows the Red Cross becoming a last-minute co-charity partner for NYE2019 during the devastating Black Summer bushfires. In conjunction with the City Of Sydney, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) turned their Sydney NYE concert into a charity concert for the Red Cross to help bushfire victims. It ended up raising around $26 million (that’s about 90c per Australian) including $13 million from NYE alone. The original charity partner for NYE2019 was the Refugee Council Of Australia.

The ABC unilaterally (that is, not in conjunction with the City Of Sydney) tried to repeat the success of the NYE2019 charity concert for NYE2020 by replacing the Red Cross with Lifeline & Kids Helpline as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it was not as great a success as NYE2019 despite the massive effects of the pandemic on mental health though it did raise about $700,000 on NYE alone (that’s about 5 cents per Australian).

Also interesting, the City Of Sydney specifically mentioned for the EOi that they reserve the right to not choose a charity partner, which is a very rare thing to do, and also to not hold the events, which is understandable, as we’ve seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, it is good to see the City Of Sydney being proactive rather than reactive after the massive pressure they faced in the lead-up to NYE2019.

City Of Sydney Looking For Big Creative Ideas For Their Events From Anyone!

Is the City Of Sydney about to bring back some creativity into Sydney New Year’s Eve (NYE)?

The City Of Sydney has announced they want to hear ‘fresh concepts’ & ‘innovative ideas with capacity to broaden the creative contribution’ of their events as part of a Big Creative Ideas process.

And they want to hear from anyone!

It’s not just Sydney NYE that want concepts & ideas for but any of their events including Sydney Christmas & Sydney Lunar Festival.

Proposals can be just 1 small thing to redesigning a whole event but they should be adaptable, sustainable proposals with “improved environmental performance”. Where applicable, they should be experienced by a live & broadcast audience. For a live audience, it should be accessible to a large-scale audience.

Proposals should also reflect the event’s traditions & objectives.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said proposals should be similar in scale, timing and impact to their respective events.

We want to explore new technologies & ideas that may be included in our major events to showcase Sydney’s creative innovation to the world – this could include drones, light shows & projections – but the sky’s the limit.

Our aim is to build on Sydney’s status of producing cutting-edge, dynamic & extraordinary events that push the boundaries of innovation & leave a lasting impact on attendees and audiences.
City Of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore

All Proposals Criteria

Creative concept including curatorial vision and detail, concept presentation, reference images & collaborating artists’ experience and calibre.
Relevant production experience including in carrying out services of a similar scale and nature.
Technical production ability
Feasibility
Risk

Sydney NYE Proposals Extra Criteria

Fireworks engagement reflection
Fireworks integration reflection
Sydney Harbour exclusion zone & its’ airspace focus (see map below)
8pm-12am activation (note: sunset is around 8:10pm & fireworks are held at 9pm-9:08pm and 12am-12:12am)
Clearly visible to a live audience about 650 metres away
Positioned to be filmed by Sydney Opera House television cameras
Global appeal
Meet major international event standards

Sydney New Year’s Eve 2022 – *Pride* Maritime Map
Image: New South Wales Government

How To Apply

While applications close at 11am AEDT on Thursday the 26th of October 2023, there is an optional 1-hour briefing session to be held at Town Hall House, 456 Kent Street, Sydney on Thursday the 28th of September 2023 at 2:15pm AEST. This briefing session will also be held online. If you want to register for the optional 1-hour briefing session, e-mail crivilloosborne@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au .

For more information on the Big Creative Ideas process, click here.

To apply, click here.

Successful applications will be notified in January 2024.

If you are successful, you may either make a shortlist to work with the City Of Sydney to develop the ideas or participate in a tender process or both.

Dressing Up For A Very Surry Hills Christmas

Surry Hills is set to celebrate all things Christmas with decoration workshops, free gift wrapping services, a live disc jockey (DJ), kids’ entertainment & photos with Santa.

The village’s 1st Christmas festival, A Very Surry Hills Christmas, will bring together retailers, local businesses & the community to celebrate the festive season.

Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said the event was part of the City Of Sydney’s efforts to attract more shoppers to the area & support local businesses and the community.

very surry hills_xmas workshop

“Local retailers are part of what makes Surry Hills special & unique. This event is about boosting our support for those local businesses, residents & visitors who spend time in the area” Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said.

“We have worked closely with Sydney artist, Jeff McCann, to create a range of unique works for our Christmas event including wrapping paper, wreaths & spectacular Christmas trees that will decorate Shannon Reserve.

“A Very Surry Hills Christmas will light up and energise the village & I hope as many residents and businesses as possible come together for this celebration”

Surry Hils, Sydney - Sunday December 8, 2013: City of Sydney Christmas Concert, Prince Alfred Park (Photo by Jamie Williams/City of Sydney)

Gifts purchased from local retailers can be gift wrapped, free of charge, in distinctive McCann-designed paper created specifically for the event.

Visitors can take part in free workshops & learn to make their own Christmas decorations from floral wreaths & screen-printed coasters to personalised edible gingerbread gifts.

A live DJ will entertain crowds throughout the day & there will be face painting, free entertainment and photos with Santa for the kids.

Surry Hills xmas trees

A Very Surry Hills Christmas will be held from 9am–5pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time on Saturday the 16th of December at Shannon Reserve, Surry Hills.

For more details, visit sydneychristmas.com.au.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

The Sounds Of Christmas Are Coming To The City

Shoppers, visitors, residents & workers can soak up the spirit of the festive season as the sounds of Christmas fill the air across Sydney.

Traditional Christmas carollers, including the Jingle Belles Singers, The Cleftomaniacs, Soulfood & Endeavour Harmony Chorus, will entertain passersby with favourite holiday tunes in Pitt Street Mall every Thursday, Saturday & Sunday night from the 25th of November.

In Martin Place, choirs, including the Australian Girls’ Choir, Sydney Philharmonia Choir, Circular Keys & The Salvation Army Band And Choir, will perform under the branches of the interactive Christmas Tree every evening from the 26th of November until Christmas Eve.

Sydneysiders can also enjoy a night of carol singing, festive music & readings at the annual Christmas At Sydney Town Hall concert on Tuesday the 19th of December. The magnificent grand organ & stunning sandstone surroundings make this very festive affair a memorable night for the whole family.

The City’s 2017 charity partner’s choir, Variety – The Children’s Charity Choir, will also perform as part of the Choirs In The City program. The lively, fun group of Aussie celebrities & kids, led by The Voice alumni, Darren Percival, will perform in Pitt Street Mall on the 14th of December & in Martin Place on the 20th of December.

“There is nothing quite like Christmas in the city. We are going to get everyone into the Christmas spirit with our Choirs In The City program, making Sydney as festive & fun as possible” Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said.

“The sound of carollers & choirs will ring through Pitt Street Mall & Martin Place, creating an exciting, festive atmosphere in Sydney’s main retail precincts”

Pitt Street Mall program – from 6pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT):

Leichhardt Espresso Chorus – 25th of November
The Cleftomaniacs – 30th of November
Northern Beaches Chorus – 30th of November
United Nesian Movement – 2nd of December
Australian Girls’ Choir – 3rd of December
Soulfood – 7th of December
Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir – 7th of December
Australian Girls’ Choir – 9th of December
Circular Keys Chorus – 10th of December
Variety – The Children’s Charity Choir – 14th of December
Australian Girls’ Choir – 14th of December
Endeavour Harmony Chorus – 16th of December
Jingle Belles Singers – 17th of December
Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir – 21st of December
Northern Beaches Chorus – 21st of December

Martin Place program – from 6pm AEDT on weekdays & 7pm AEDT on weekends:

Circular Keys – 26th of November
NuSom – 27th of November
Sydney Sings (With One Voice) – 28th of November
Australian Girls’ Choir – 29th of November
Erskineville Public School – 30th of November
SISTA! Quartet – 1st of December
United Nesian Movement – 2nd of December
Australian Girls’ Choir – 3rd of December
Jingle Belles Singers – 4th of December
Bondi Sings – 5th of December
Endeavour Harmony Chorus – 6th of December
Campbelltown District Marching Band – 7th of December
NuSom – 8th of December
Australian Girls’ Choir – 9th of December
Circular Keys – 10th of December
Jingle Belles Singers – 11th of December
Honeybees – 12th of December
Endeavour Harmony Chorus – 13th of December
Darlington Public School – 14th of December
Circular Keys – 14th of December
Circular Keys – 15th of December
Endeavour Harmony Chorus – 16th of December
Jingle Belles Singers – 17th of December
Sydney Philharmonia Choir – 18th of December
Sydney Philharmonia Choir – 19th of December
Variety – The Children’s Charity Choir – 20th of December
Sydney Philharmonia Choir – 21st of December
The Salvation Army Band And Choir – 22nd to the 24th of December

For all dates & details, visit sydneychristmas.com.au.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

Concerts Bring Festive Cheer To Sydney’s Villages

Sydneysiders are invited to pack a picnic for a night of entertainment in some of the City’s best-loved parks as part of the City Of Sydney’s annual Christmas program.

The village Christmas concerts in December will feature live entertainment, carols, kids’ activities, tasty treats & a special visit from Santa.

Concerts at Alexandria Park in Alexandria, Prince Alfred Park in Surry Hills, Reg Bartley Oval in Rushcutters Bay & Turruwul Park in Rosebery will delight children and adults alike & bring the community together to celebrate the festive season.

“Christmas is a time to enjoy with friends & family so we are inviting everyone to bring a picnic blanket & settle in for a fun evening of entertainment, music & food at our village concerts” Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said.

Each of the concerts will run from 6:30pm to 8:30pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time & include a sausage sizzle, gelato and a glittering fireworks finale.

Santa stockings jam-packed with goodies will also be on sale for AUD$5 with all proceeds going to the City’s charity partner, Variety – The Children’s Charity.

Alexandria, Saturday the 2nd of December
Hosted by Jimmy Giggle & featuring children’s favourites Nay Nay Let’s Play, The Listies and The Australian Girls’ Choir along with Caravana Sun.

Surry Hills, Sunday the 3rd of December
Hosted by Jimmy Giggle & featuring Justine Clarke, Bananas In Pyjamas, The Listies and Brown Sugar.

Rushcutters Bay, Saturday the 9th of December
Featuring Master Of Ceremonies (MC), Emma Palmer from Play School & entertainment by Bananas In Pyjamas, Splashdance, The 7 Sopranos, Son Veneno and children’s entertainment legend, Peter Combe.

Rosebery, Sunday the 10th of December
MC Jay Laga’aia will introduce performances by Bananas In Pyjamas, Justine Clarke, The Australian Girls’ Choir & El Orqueston.

For all the dates & details, visit sydneychristmas.com.au.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

Sleighbells Ring In Our Aussie Christmas

Sydney is set to celebrate Christmas like no other city, with a program of uniquely Aussie festivities & tradition with a twist.

Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, today launched the 2017 Sydney Christmas program at Martin Place, which features 30 days of events, light projections, concerts & choir performances across the city & its villages.

Artists including Kate Miller-Heidke, Justice Crew, Christine Anu, All Our Exes Live In Texas, The Australian Girls’ Choir & Jimmy Giggle will perform at 2 city concerts that kick off Sydney’s festive season this weekend.

“With a fantastic program of celebrations for all ages, this is a great time for people to bring their families to the city & celebrate the festive season” Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said.

“From live concerts & colourful projections, to great shopping & the opportunity for the kids to meet Santa, there is plenty for visitors, shoppers & locals to enjoy”

“It will be a wonderful Sydney Christmas,with sunshine, lively streets & long evenings, it is the perfect time for exploring our city with family & friends”

Sydney Christmas 2017 Program Highlights:

Martin Place Christmas Concert & Tree Lighting – Saturday the 25th of November, 6:30pm–8:30pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT)

Hosted by Channel 7’s Mark Ferguson & Angie Asimus, the free Martin Place Christmas Concert & Tree Lighting is packed with entertainment the whole family will love.

The concert features live performances by Kate Miller-Heidke, Justice Crew, All Our Exes Live In Texas, Christine Anu, Australian Girls’ Choir & children’s entertainer, Jay Laga’aia.

The Lord Mayor & Santa will arrive by cycle-drawn sleigh to light the Christmas Tree & start the fireworks finale.

There will be pre–show entertainment from 5:45pm AEDT & Santa stockings packed with goodies on sale for AUD$5, with all proceeds going to the City’s Christmas charity partner, Variety – The Children’s Charity.

The Mutual Life And Citizens Centre & General Post Office restaurants, bars & a pop-up dessert bar with festive gelato, sweets and cakes will open during the concert.

Christmas On The Green at Hyde Park – Saturday the 25th of November, 6:30pm–8:30pm AEDT

Jimmy Giggle, Bananas In Pyjamas, The Listies, The Fairies & children’s entertainment legend, Peter Combe, will perform at the free concert in Palm Grove in Hyde Park North.

Christmas On The Green will be a lively, festive night perfect for families with entertainment suitable for all ages.

Concert goers can enjoy kids’ activities, food trucks, a gelato bar & AUD$5 Santa stockings. Santa will stop by for a visit & a fireworks finale will light up the sky.

Martin Place Christmas Tree

The interactive Christmas Tree in Martin Place provides a visual spectacle that invites visitors to share in the spirit of Christmas. Visitors can send a Christmas message to the 20 metre high Tree via sydxmastree.com.au & watch the words light up the interactive ribbon.

The city’s most-loved Christmas tree is decorated with 60,000 lights, 300 baubles and a 1.5 metre treetop star & will be lit every day from the 25th of November to the 26th of December.

Lights & projections

The Boulevard Of Light – an overhead canopy of 80,000 lights in Pitt Street Mall – will make late-night shopping trips sparkle.

From the 25th of November to the 25th of December, family-friendly projections at Customs House Square & Martin Place will transform the ground into a summer Christmas wonderland.

The Lights Of Christmas at Saint Mary’s Cathedral will capture the imagination of audiences with a spectacular light & sound show. Performances run each evening from the 6th–25th of December, starting at 7:30pm AEDT with a choir performance.

Village Christmas concerts

Free, family-friendly concerts at Alexandria (2nd of December), Surry Hills (3rd of December), Rushcutters Bay (9th of December) & Rosebery (10th of December) are always a big hit with the kids & packed with children’s entertainment, live music, fireworks & a visit from Santa.

There will be performances from children’s favourites including Jimmy Giggle, Justine Clarke, The Listies, Bananas In Pyjamas & Splashdance.

Carollers & choirs

Carollers in Pitt Street Mall will entertain shoppers with festive favourites while they do their Christmas shopping. Different groups will perform every Thursday, Saturday & Sunday nights from the 25th of November to the 21st of December including Variety – The Children’s Charity Choir, Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir, Australian Girls’ Choir & The Cleftomaniacs.

Choirs will perform under the branches of the Martin Place Christmas Tree every night from the 25th of November until Christmas Eve. Groups include Jingle Belles Singers, Circular Keys, Sydney Philharmonia Choir & The Salvation Army Band And Choir.

A Very Surry Hills Christmas

Sydneysiders & locals are invited to A Very Surry Hills Christmas on Saturday the 16th of December.

Visitors can make their own personalised Christmas decorations at Santa’s Workshop & take advantage of the complimentary gift wrapping service for purchases from local retailers.

A live disc jockey will entertain crowds throughout the day & there will be face painting, free entertainment and photos with Santa for the kids.

The event will run from 9am to 5pm AEDT at Shannon Reserve, Surry Hills.

Rediscover George Street walks

Free seasonal walking tours will encourage Sydneysiders to explore their city on foot & rediscover George Street. The foodie walk will explore hidden laneway cafes & chocolate shops while a family-friendly Christmas lights walk will tour Sydney’s most Instagram-able window displays & illuminations. An evening architecture walk will reveal the city in a new light, highlighting the best buildings on George Street & their surprising history.

‘KIIS under the mistletoe’

KIIS 106.5 is inviting visitors to Christmas On The Green in Hyde Park to ‘KIIS under the mistletoe’ for a chance to win a AUD$500 shopping spree. Visitors snapped ‘KIISing their Christmas favourite’ under the giant mistletoe can use the #SYDXMAS hashtag to enter the draw. Little ones can also post their letters to Santa at the North Pole at the special Christmas post box.

Variety – The Children’s Charity

The City Of Sydney’s charity partner for Sydney Christmas 2017, Variety – The Children’s Charity, will sell merchandise & Santa showbags at the city and village concerts. The national charity provides funding & support to individuals, organisations & hospitals to improve the lives of children with disabilities & special needs.

Variety will also host a Xmas Walk at Pyrmont Bay Park on Sunday the 3rd of December.

For all dates & details, visit sydneychristmas.com.au.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

Glittering Line-Up For Christmas In The City

Sydney’s festive season officially arrives on Saturday the 25th of November with 2 free concerts in the city centre featuring leading musicians and children’s entertainers, Christmas lights and projections, Santa Claus & fireworks.

The City’s annual Christmas program, including a Christmas concert and the official lighting of the Martin Place Christmas Tree & a family concert in Hyde Park, attracts thousands of families to the city for an evening of live music, carols & Christmas cheer.

Children will get their 1st glimpse of Santa on his new sleigh as he travels from Town Hall to the Hyde Park Christmas On The Green concert before arriving at the Martin Place concert.

Sydney - Thursday November 28, 2013: City of Sydney Christmas Concert, Martin Place, Sydney (Photo by Jamie Williams/City of Sydney)

“Sydney does Christmas better than anyone else & our events have something for all the family” Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said.

“As well as our city concerts, Sydneysiders & visitors can look forward to an exciting program of events in the city centre & our villages with Christmas lights, projections, carollers & choirs”

The concerts at Martin Place & Hyde Park will run simultaneously from 6:30pm to 8:30pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time, ending with a powerful fireworks display.

ALL OUR EXES LIVE IN TEXAS

Mark Ferguson & Angie Asimus will ‘MC’ the Martin Place concert that includes live performances by Kate Miller-Heidke, Justice Crew, Christine Anu, All Our Exes Live In Texas, The Australian Girls’ Choir & Jay Laga’aia.

Santa & the Lord Mayor will arrive on the sleigh with children from Variety – The Children’s Charity, who will light the 21-metre interactive Christmas Tree when the concert finishes.

Justice Crew

Christmas On The Green in Hyde Park will be a more relaxed atmosphere for families. Master Of Ceremonies (‘MC’), Jimmy Giggle, will lead an evening of performances by Bananas In Pyjamas, The Fairies, The Listies & children’s entertainment legend, Peter Combe.

Over the coming weeks, there will be village concerts in Alexandria, Surry Hills, Rushcutters Bay & Rosebery featuring live entertainment, carols, kids craft activities, fireworks & a special visit from Santa.

As part of the Sydney Christmas program, family-friendly ground projections will light up Customs House Square & Martin Place; 80,000 lights will twinkle overhead in Pitt Street Mall’s Boulevard Of Light & shoppers will be entertained by choir performances in Pitt Street Mall and by the Martin Place Christmas Tree.

For all the dates & details, visit sydneychristmas.com.au.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

Countdown Is On For ‘Sydney Christmas’

2 city centre concerts featuring top Australian performers will herald the start of a month-long program of Christmas festivities in Sydney.

The simultaneous concerts in Martin Place & Hyde Park on Saturday the 25th of November at 6:30pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) will feature performances by Christine Anu, a range of surprise artists & children’s entertainment from Jimmy Giggle, Bananas In Pyjamas and Peter Combe.

The concerts kick-off 30 days of festivities including concerts, light projections & carols to celebrate the Christmas season in the city.

“Christmas is a special time for welcoming everyone to our city, bringing together our diverse community & spreading joy throughout the season” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

“From the angelic sounds of choirs in Pitt Street Mall & free concerts in our City’s villages to Sydney’s biggest Christmas tree in Martin Place, there is something for everyone in the city this Christmas”

“Sydney sparkles with sunshine at this time of year & with dozens of events in the city and its villages, it is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to enjoy the festive season with friends, neighbours & family”

Sydney Christmas 2017 Highlights:

City Concerts – Saturday The 25th Of November

2 simultaneous concerts in the city will launch the City’s Sydney Christmas celebrations from 6:30pm to 8:30pm AEDT.

Martin Place will feature live performances by Jay Laga’aia, Christine Anu, the Australian Girls’ Choir & other surprise guests. The concert culminates with the arrival of the sleigh bringing Santa & the Lord Mayor to light the tree & start the fireworks finale.

Christmas On The Green at Hyde Park will be packed with free entertainment for the whole family. Performers include Jimmy Giggle, The Listies, Bananas In Pyjamas, The Fairies & children’s entertainment legend, Peter Combe. Stockings filled with goodies will be on offer, Santa will stop by for a visit & fireworks will light up the sky.

Martin Place Christmas Tree

For 46 years, the centrepiece of the City’s Christmas celebrations has been the Martin Place Christmas Tree. Standing more than 21 metres tall, the Tree will be adorned with 60,000 tree lights, 300 baubles of up to half a metre in diameter & an illuminated 1.5 metre treetop star. Visitors can also share a festive message on the Tree for everyone to see.

The General Post Office Dessert Bar next to the Tree will offer festive, mouth-watering gelato, sweets & cakes each day until Christmas Eve.

Lights & Projections

The Boulevard Of Light will immerse Pitt Street Mall in the joy of the season as nearly 80,000 lights twinkle overhead every evening until the 2nd of January.

Family-friendly ground projections will light up Customs House Square & Martin Place from the 25th of November to the 25th of December.

Village Christmas Concerts

The village Christmas concerts at Alexandria (2nd of December), Surry Hills (3rd of December), Rushcutters Bay (9th of December) & Roseberry (10th of December) will be packed with children’s entertainment, live music, fireworks & a visit from Santa.

There will be performances from children’s favourites including Jimmy Giggle, Justine Clarke, The Listies, Bananas In Pyjamas, Play School’s Emma Palmer & Splashdance.

Carols & Choirs

The city will swell with the sounds of the festive season with the Choirs In The City program entertaining visitors & shoppers. Carollers will perform every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday evenings in Pitt Street Mall & every evening at the Martin Place Christmas Tree from the 25th of November to the 21st of December. The Salvation Army Band & Choir will perform at the Martin Place Christmas Tree from the 22nd to the 24th of December.

The renowned Christmas At Sydney Town Hall concert on Tuesday the 19th of December will be a memorable night for the whole family. Enjoy traditional carol singing, festive music and readings & the sounds of the magnificent Grand Organ in Centennial Hall.

KIIS Under The Mistletoe

KIIS 106.5 is inviting visitors to the Hyde Park & village concerts to ‘KIIS under the mistletoe’ for a chance to win a AUD$500 shopping spree. Visitors snapped ‘KIISing their Christmas favourite’ under the giant mistletoe can use the #SYDXMAS hashtag to enter the draw. Little ones can also post their letters to Santa at the North Pole at the special Christmas post box.

Variety – The Children’s Charity

The City’s charity partner for Christmas, Variety – The Children’s Charity, will sell merchandise & Santa showbags at all 6 Christmas concerts. The national charity provides funding & support to individuals, organisations & hospitals to improve the lives of children with disabilities & special needs.

Variety will also host the Xmas Walk (3rd of December) at Pyrmont Bay Park.

For all the dates & details, visit sydneychristmas.com.au.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

Charity Partners Benefit From Sydney’s Biggest Events

The City Of Sydney will partner with 3 major charities for its biggest annual events to help raise funds to improve the lives of children with special needs and disabilities, advocate for children’s rights & provide services for the vision impaired.

The official charity partners are: Variety, The Children’s Charity for Sydney Christmas; United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Australia for Sydney New Year’s Eve & Guide Dogs New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory (NSW/ACT) for Chinese New Year.

The partnerships will provide the charities with opportunities to promote their causes through activities such as media exposure, donation collections, event activations, speaking opportunities & social media.

For the past 14 years, the City’s events have supported dozens of charities & helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for a variety of causes including fighting children’s cancer, music education for children, treating people with visual impairment, helping children with disability, state emergency services, animal protection, alleviating global poverty & boosting humanitarian aid.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the enormous publicity generated for 3 of Australia’s biggest events would help communicate the great work of this year’s chosen charities to audiences worldwide.

“We are delighted to partner with these charities & support the incredible work they do for those less fortunate” the Lord Mayor said.

“More than 3 million people attend these major events & more than a billion people see or read about them across the world”

“By partnering with us on some of Australia’s largest events, these charities will have excellent opportunities to promote their cause on the national & international stage”

Variety, The Children’s Charity will partner with the City for its Sydney Christmas 2017 program. The national charity provides funding & support to individuals, organisations & hospitals to improve the lives of children with disabilities & special needs. Variety will coordinate a program of child-friendly activities that will feature as part of the City’s 6 outdoor concerts, choir program & associated Christmas events.

One of the world’s leading advocates for children’s rights, UNICEF Australia, will partner with the City for Sydney New Year’s Eve. UNICEF Australia campaigns for Australian children’s rights & supports UNICEF’s global mission to improve the lives of the world’s most disadvantaged & excluded children. The partnership will provide the charity with a platform to promote its cause to more than a billion people around the world.

The City’s Chinese New Year partner, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, aims to enhance the quality of life & mobility of the blind or vision impaired. The charity helps more than 4,000 people each year & provides all of its services free of charge.

Media Release: City Of Sydney