By Hope 103.2Wednesday 1 Dec 2021ChristmasReading Time: 4 minutes
12 Things to Get Out and Do In Sydney…
1. Taronga Zoo Sydney: In mid-August they welcomed a litter of five African Lion Cubs and you can now visit the adorable and growing five lion cubs at Taronga Zoo Sydney’s African Savannah exhibit! Make your trip extra Christmassy and enjoy the Christmas Concert at Taronga Zoo Sydney.
2. Christmas Wreath Making: Find a class near you and enjoy crafting a little Christmas décor for your home. Make it extra special with one of these classes that double as a fundraiser for some great causes. Like the Everlasting Christmas Wreath Workshop in Redfern or the Santa’s Christmas Workshop: Wonderful Christmas Wreaths at the Fairfield City Museum & Gallery, which is perfect for kids.
3. A Day at the Water Park: Raging Waters is the prefect day out relaxing before the chaos of Christmas. Slide into Raging Waters Sydney, opening for summer fun from December 18.
4. Christmas Lights: Spend a night out in Darling Harbour with the interactive light installations, a live music festival, building-sized decorations and guaranteed holiday cheer.
5. Christmas Choirs: Enjoy the Choirs in the City at Martin Place throughout this month. With different choirs performing every day between 6pm and 8pm in front of the Martin Place Christmas Tree and a kaleidoscope of colours and decorative lights every 15 minutes from 7pm to midnight – it’s sure to be a festive night out.
6. Christmas Markets: Shop local for Christmas at one of the wonderful Christmas Markets around Sydney.
Here are just a few that are on this December:
- Bastille French Christmas Market is an authentic French Christmas market at Customs House Forecourt, from Friday 17 December to Monday 20 December, and perfect for the cheese and wine connoisseur
- The Rocks Christmas Markets runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in December, offering unique finds, elves on stilts, lit-up angels, live music and delicious holiday-themed, gourmet street food
- Makers Frontyard Market Trail is part market, part treasure hunt. Join the trail of handmade businesses who will be selling in their front yards throughout the inner west and truly shop local.
- UNSEEN: Christmas Markets at Circular Quay runs Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 December. Throughout 2021, the participants of the UNSEEN Project who have presented their unique artworks will be offering their works for sale to raise money for women who have experienced homelessness who are trying to re-establish their lives.
7. Christmas Movies Under the Stars: Hope 103.2 listener Holly reminded us that you can’t get better than catching some Christmas movies this time of year, especially watching them together under the stars. So, sprinkle a little Christmas cheer on your night out at the movies at one of these outdoor cinemas showing a range of Christmas films:
- Moonlight Cinemas, Centennial Park is showing some of the best. From Romcom staples like The Holiday and Love Actually to family favourites like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Elf and Home Alone, and even the Christmas action film Die Hard.
- Christmas Movies On The Rooftop. Greenwood Plaza Rooftop has partnered with North Sydney for two screenings of classic Christmas movies under the stars this December. Wednesday 8 December will show family favourite The Santa Clause then the Christmas comedy Elf on Thursday 9 December. Although free, you will need to book tickets beforehand.
- Skyline Drive In Blacktown will be showing both new and classic Christmas movies in the week leading up to Christmas. From the new magical film A Boy Called Christmas to classics like The Grinch, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Home Alone.
- Laneway Cinema at The Rocks will be showing Christmas Movies each Wednesday till Christmas. Among golden sandstone buildings and cobbled lanes, you’ll find a giant screen surrounded by cosy bean bags and comfy deck chairs where you can watch your favourite movie under the stars for free. Starting with Elf from 7.30pm tonight, the schedule also includes The Holiday and Love Actually.
- Festive Flicks Christmas Outdoor Cinema is a free outdoor cinema session this Sunday night, December 5, at Carss Bush Park, Carwar Ave, Carss Park. The inaugural event will feature food trucks and the screening of two Christmas classics, The Polar Express and Elf.
8. Sydney Christmas Fair: This family-friendly extravaganza will have carnival rides, games, a gingerbread house party, elf workshops, Christmas show and more. Plus, you can get a photo with Santa. The Sydney Christmas Fair will run over three weekends leading up to Christmas, with December 5 also featuring a special Market Day, hosting more than 200 market stalls.
9. Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Exhibit: Immerse yourself in nature to regroup this Christmas season. This free exhibit at the Australian Museum will run every day until January 30.
10. Pick a Christmas Tree at The Flour Mill, Summer Hill: Open until December 13, you can pick out a real Christmas tree and know that 100 per cent profits from tree sales are going directly to the Addi Road Food Pantry. Pre-order and then head down to enjoy the festive atmosphere.
11. Tinseltown in Wonderland Bar, Potts Point: Take date night/friends night out up a notch this Christmas season at Tinseltown, Wonderland Bar. You can expect bar elves, Christmas games, Christmas songs on repeat and a fully festive cocktail/ mocktail menu! Plus, there are prizes for the best dressed and ugliest Christmas jumper each session.
12. Santa Photos at the Summit of the Sydney Harbour Bridge: For a truly unique Christmas photo and an experience like no other, the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb on one of the next three Sundays – 5, 12 or 19 December – will have Santa at the summit for a photo op. At 134 metres above sea level and with the iconic Sydney Opera House as your backdrop, it will be one iconic kind of Australian Christmas photo.