Mince pies are in the supermarket, Christmas decorations are adorning shop fronts and Christmas trees will soon be erected in lounge rooms across the Central Coast.
If you love the merriment of the silly season, Playing in Puddles has you covered with festivities across the Central Coast, Sydney and the Hunter Valley. This year promises to deliver a ton of festive fun with a whole bunch of exciting Christmas events for families to enjoy – from carols and markets to Santa meets and nativity performances!
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Plus, we’ve teamed up with Hunter Valley Gardens to run a giveaway. Enter our competition below for the chance to WIN one of two family passes to the Christmas Lights Spectacular! It’s our early Christmas gift to you! Scroll down to enter.
Christmas Lights Spectacular, Hunter Valley Gardens
If you’re looking for a truly special way to celebrate Christmas, we can’t think of a more beautiful event than Hunter Valley Gardens’ Christmas Lights Spectacular. It was already the BIGGEST Christmas lights display in the southern hemisphere, but last year they well and truly secured that gong by upping their tally from 3 to 4 million lights! How lucky are we that this stunning event is just a hop, skip, jump from the Central Coast!
This year, the Christmas Lights Spectacular welcomes several new additions including a 13-metre tall Christmas tree, a 5m teddy bear seat and a new giant Mr & Mrs Claus standing over the much-photographed Big Red Chair. Photos with Santa will be available right up to Christmas Eve and kids can write a letter for Santa and post it in the special letterbox for express delivery to the North Pole!
Kids’ stage shows have made a return and the Gardens’ famous rides will be open every night throughout the event. There is an epic 35-metre-long Super Slide, an incredible Ferris Wheel for those who want to take it easy and take in the view, swing chairs, a traditional Venetian Carousel, and spinning teacups! For families wanting to visit on New Year’s Eve, there’ll be a fabulous fireworks display lighting up the sky at 9pm.
A visit to The Christmas Lights Spectacular is an annual tradition for our Playing in Puddles family. We absolutely love the beauty and magic of this event, and we just know that you’ll love it too.
When: Friday 1 November 2024 – Sunday 26 January 2025 (closed 25 December 2024).
Gardens open daily 9am-5pm; lights open 5.30pm-10.30pm (last entry 9.30pm). Rides are open from 6pm until 10pm.
Location: The Hunter Valley Gardens, 2090 Broke Road, Pokolbin.
Tickets and more info: Click here.
Price: Adult $40; Child (4-15 yrs) $30; Children 3 and under Free; Family Pass (2 Adults + 1 Child) $99; Family Pass (2 Adults + 2 Children) $122; Family Pass (1 Adult + 2 Children) $93; Extra Child on Family Pass (4-15 yrs) $27. Ride passes are an additional cost and are available at the Hunter Valley Gardens.
WIN a Family Pass to the Christmas Lights Spectacular!
Want to win a family pass to the Christmas LIghts Spectacular? Of course you do!
To be in with a chance to win, simply subscribe to our free newsletter by entering your details below*. Already a subscriber? Just add your details below so we know you want to enter this fabulous comp.
*COMPETITION TERMS & CONDITIONS
PRIZE: We are giving away two family passes to the Hunter Valley Gardens’ Christmas LIghts Spectacular. We will choose two winners and each will win a family pass. The Family Pass is valid for 2 Adults + 2 Children and is valued at $122.
COMPETITION OPENS: 7am 11 November 2024.
COMPETITION CLOSES: Midnight 12 December 2024.
ENTRY TERMS: By entering, we’ll email future issues of Playing in Puddles’ weekly newsletter free to your inbox (you may unsubscribe at any time). This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, Instagram or Facebook. Click here for extended terms.
PRIZE TERMS: This prize is valid for the 2024-2025 Hunter Valley Gardens’ Christmas LIghts Spectacular. The winner will be notified by email. The Winner has 3 days to reply to redeem their prize. If the winner does not reply in that time, Playing in Puddles reserves the right to choose another winner. Prize is not redeemable for cash and not transferable. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram or Facebook. Click here for extended terms.
Little Leaders Christmas Fun Day Out, Kincumber
Bring your Little Leaders to a holiday celebration full of festive games, holiday cheer, Christmas crafts and joyful activities. At Little Leaders’ Christmas Day Out, kids will dive into team challenges, creative crafts and holiday fun – all while developing skills in teamwork, resistance, mindfulness and gratitude. Plus, the man in the red suit – yep Santa himself – will be stopping by for a visit.
This holiday camp is the perfect way to get your kids in the Christmas spirit… and the perfect way for parents to get last-minute gift shopping done and Christmas lunch prepped; gotta love them apples.
This camp is for one day only and there are limited tickets, so don’t delay booking: this one always sells out!
PLUS if you have a little one who is due to start kindy in 2025, they can come too!
Inclusions: Lunch is provided.
When: Monday 23 December, 8:30am till 3:30pm.
Age Group: Kindy to Year 6, plus kids. If you have a little one who is due to start kindy in 2025, they can come too!
Where: Kincumber High School.
Cost: $85 +GST. Creative Kids vouchers and Active Kids vouchers accepted.
Central Coast Road to Bethlehem, Erina
The Road to Bethlehem pageant is a drama tour portraying the story of the first Christmas. You’ll see winged angels, the Three Wise Men bearing gifts, and Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in the stable. It’s a really special way to share the true meaning of Christmas with your kids and to remind us all why we celebrate this day.
The tour starts inside the Jerusalem Market where you’ll find a haven of entertainment including artisan market stalls, live music, a petting zoo, kids’ Christmas craft activities, camel rides, a woodwork tent, face painting, and more!
There’ll be a huge range of food options at family-friendly prices including burgers, curry, Mexican, hot chips, pancakes, donuts, and more. You can visit for the tour, you can visit for the markets, or you can do both!
When: Monday 16, Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 December 2024. The gates open from 6.15pm each night. The drama tour sessions leave every 10 minutes from 6.20pm and you need to register for a (free) ticket to attend these. Be sure to arrive early to pick up your tickets and enjoy the food, entertainment, markets, and children’s activities while you wait for your tour!
Location: Central Coast Adventist School, enter via Karalta Lane, Erina.
Tickets: Online bookings for the performance will be available from 1 December 2024 or you can get tickets at the gate (be mindful these are limited to 800/night). To book online, visit the Road to Bethlehem website. Tickets are required for anyone over 2 years of age to go on the drama tour.
Tip: Parking available at Harvey Norman.
Price: FREE
Christmas Under the Stars, Mingara
The Coast’s most popular carols event – Mingara’s Christmas Under the Stars – will be back again in 2024 with another fab line-up of entertainment for the whole family! And it wouldn’t be Christmas Under the Stars without a visit from Santa to keep the kids well amused!
You’re welcome to BYO picnic or grab dinner from one of the many food trucks that will be on-site throughout the evening.
We’ll add more details as they’re announced.
When: Sunday 22 December 2024, gates open at 4.30pm with entertainment starting at 5.30pm.
Location: Mingara Regional Athletics Centre, 12-14 Mingara Drive, Tumbi Umbi.
Cost: Tickets go on sale on 2 December 2024.
Pearl Beach Twilight Carols, Pearl Beach
Families, friends and locals are invited to the Pearl Beach Twilight Carols for a singalong with the Pearl Beach Singers and to meet Santa! The event is being put on by The Pearl Beach Progress Association. Bring a picnic and enjoy the evening.
When: Monday 23rd December 2024 from 5:30pm.
Where: Pearl Beach Arboretum (access via Tourmaline & Tennis Courts).
Choose Your Own Christmas Tree
There’s something very special and ceremonious about bringing home a real Christmas tree. The smell of the fresh pine needles, the excitement of decorating it, and the anticipation of what Santa might leave beneath it are guaranteed to spark joy among all members of the family. Yet decorating the tree with tinsel and baubles is only half the fun; the first and most thrilling task for little kids – and big ones too – is choosing the tree!
For locations across the Central Coast where you can buy a real Christmas tree – and forever trees too – check out our feature.
Where to find the Central Coast’s best Christmas lights
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, spending an evening slowly driving around the neighbourhood to spot the most colourful and quirky Christmas lights display is a ritual for many Central Coast families. To make it that much easier for you to plan your route, we’ve written a feature that includes a map of all the best-decorated homes up and down the Central Coast! We are currently updating this feature with the 2024 lineup of the best Christmas Lights on the Central Coast so stay tuned to see the best-decorated homes this year!
Are you planning on decorating your home this year? We’d love to include you on our 2024 Central Coast Christmas Lights map! Please email your address, light-up date, and a few photos to [email protected].
Sydney City’s Christmas Lights and Festivities
In the weeks before Christmas, a wander through Sydney’s CBD is a beautiful way to celebrate the festive season. We recommend you spend a night touring the city’s lights.
Here’s our recommendation for a walking tour you can follow to see Sydney City’s main Christmas Light sites:
1) Start at Town Hall. Get to the street level and see the QVB projections.
2) Cross over to the QVB and walk through the QVB.
3) Walk up George Street to The Strand Arcade – walk through the arcade to Pitt Street Mall.
4) Walk down Pitt Street Mall to Market Street.
5) Walk up Market Street to David Jones – look at their Christmas windows and do a walk through the ground level to see their performances and pianist.
6) Cut through Hyde Park to St Mary’s Cathedral to watch the projections.
7) Walk up Elizabeth Street to Martin Place to view the Christmas Tree.
Christmas at the Cathedral, St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney
We’re very excited to share that the St Mary’s Cathedral Christmas projections are back in 2024! Held each evening in the days leading up to Christmas, a visit here is a very cherished annual tradition for many families. This year there will be food stalls, Christmas gift stalls and live Christmas performances every night on the Cathedral steps.
Pack a picnic or enjoy Thai noodles, paella, pizza from Rosso Pepe, gelato from Gelatissimo and more.
When: 12-25 December 2024. 5:30pm till 10:30pm every night.
Martin Place Christmas tree and fairy lights
The Martin Place Christmas Tree takes the prize for being the tallest Christmas tree in New South Wales and it’s quite the sight to behold. Its 800 branches are decorated in more than 110,000 LED lights, a 3.4-metre colour-changing star, 330 specially created glossy baubles and 15000 flowers! There are nine Australian flowers featured – banksia, waratah, bottlebrush, wattle, eucalyptus gum flower, kangaroo paw, flannel flower, pink wax flower and white wax flower: see if you can spy them all.
As well as the tree, there are 8000 icicle fairy lights and 6 large stars spanning Martin Place.
Dates: Thursday 28 November 2024 to Friday 3 January 2025. Decorative light show every 15 minutes from 8pm to midnight.
Martin Place Christmas Markets
Experience global food, live music, visits from Santa, and market stalls that sell everything from fashion and Christmas goods to candles and jewellery.
Dates: 28th, 29th, 30th November. 1, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 December. 11am-9pm.
Choirs in the City, Martin Place and Customs House
Enjoy live choirs singing Christmas carols such as Jingle Bells, Silent Night, Good King Wenceslas” and more under the Martin Place Christmas Tree and Customs House Christmas Tree in December (6pm to 8pm).
Martin Place Choir schedule:
- Sunday 1 December – Circular Keys Chorus
- Monday 2 December – Glee Bees
- Tuesday 3 December – Australian Girls Choir
- Wednesday 4 December – Sydney Sakura Choir
- Thursday 5 December – Northern Beaches Chorus
- Friday 6 December – With One Voice
- Saturday 7 December – NCE Choir
- Sunday 8 December – The Adult Glee Club
- Monday 9 December – Endeavour Harmony Chorus
- Tuesday 10 December – With One Voice
- Wednesday 11 December – Café of the Gate of Salvation
- Thursday 12 December – Circular Keys Chorus
- Friday 13 December – Australian Girls Choir
- Saturday 14 December – Sydney Street Choir
- Sunday 15 December – Northern Beaches Chorus
- Monday 16 December – Coastal Acapella
- Tuesday 17 December – The Honeybees
- Wednesday 18 December – Sydney Philharmonia
- Thursday 19 December – Northern Beaches Chorus
- Friday 20 December – Aloutte Quartet
- Saturday 21 December – Jingle Belle Singers
- Sunday 22 December – Salvation Army
- Monday 23 December – Salvation Army
- Tuesday 24 December – Salvation Army
Customs House choir schedule:
- Monday 16 December – Circular Keys Chorus
- Tuesday 17 December – Sydney Sakura Choir
- Wednesday 18 December – Australian Girls Choir
- Thursday 19 December – Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir
- Friday 20 December – Leichhardt Espresso Chorus
- Saturday 21 December – Sydney Philharmonia
- Sunday 22 December – Endeavour Harmony Chorus
- Monday 23 December – Sydney Harmony
- Tuesday 24 December – Sydney Sakura Choir
The Strand Arcade’s Christmas Decorations
The Strand Arcade is a stunning shopping precinct to walk through any day of the year, but it reaches next-level grandeur at Christmas. This year they’ve adorned the arcade in a specially commissioned installation of native flowers. The beautiful, oversized, eucalyptus branches and blossoms float from the ornate ceiling and are illuminated in 3500 twinkling lights. This year, the striking centrepieces will also be accompanied by 27,500 individual lights that will adorn the installations themselves and the ornate balustrades.
Where: The Strand Arcade, 412-414 George St, Sydney.
Christmas Light display on the QVB Building and Woolworths Building
We recommend you walk through the QVB building to witness their stunning Christmas decorations and central Christmas Tree. It hasn’t yet been announced for 2024, but in 2023 the Woolworths building across from Sydney Town Hall was draped in a curtain of LED lights and was well worth a visit.
QVB High Tea with Santa
For a truly regal and magical affair, book in for High Tea with Santa at the QVB Tea Room.
More details and tickets can be found here.
David Jones’ Christmas Windows, Elizabeth Street, Sydney
The David Jones Christmas Windows have long been magical to behold, and this year is sure to be no different. The unveiling of the iconic Christmas windows at the Elizabeth Street store launches the magic and joy that is Christmas at David Jones. They’re live and ready for your eyes now.
Christmas Instore Entertainment at David Jones, Elizabeth Street store
Magical Christmas in-store entertainment will return this year in November and December. Visit in-store for your chance to see carollers, toy soldier bands, ballerinas, David Jones Houndstooth Hounds, dancing belles, and more.
Plus, not forgetting, our personal favourite, David Jones’ fabulous pianists! They’re so talented and wonderful.
Pitt Street Mall, Sydney
Pitt Street Mall is being transformed into a canopy of suspended lights, featuring 80,000 LEDs and ten stunning two-metre-high stars.
When: Every day – 8pm to 1am – Thursday 28 November to Wednesday 1 January 2025
Other merriment across the Sydney CBD
Christmas trees will be erected at Barangaroo, Sydney Town Hall, Customs House Square (31 Alfred St, Sydney) and St Mary’s Cathedral Forecourt.
Central Coast Christmas events not running in 2024
Central Coast Carols
Star 104.5’s Central Coast Carols, the much-loved, festive community event usually held at the Central Coast Stadium and in more recent years, on your doorstep through their Ho Ho Home Delivered event, is sadly no longer running.
Central Coast Christmas Fair
The Central Coast Christmas Fair run by Hart Events at Gosford Showground (and formerly Mingara and Mount Penang Gardens) will not be running in 2024. They have said they’ll return say they’ll be back in 2025.
Written By: KATIE STOKES
Founder & Editor
After working in print and online media for more than a decade, Katie launched Playing in Puddles in 2017. A mum of three young boys and local of the Central Coast, Katie loves discovering and sharing all that’s happening in our region.
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