Sydney set to sparkle this Christmas!

Sydney's festive season is officially underway with an action-packed calendar of events that include six free children's concerts, choirs, Christmas markets, decorations, lights and the State's largest Christmas Tree at Martin Place.

"Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year in Sydney as the city sparkles with decorations and lights, the sound of carollers, and free childrens' concerts," Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO said.

"We put on these events so friends and neighbours can come together to spread festive cheer and celebrate the end of the year.

"Santa Claus is taking time from his busy schedule to visit our city throughout the month of December, taking present requests and posing for photographs."

Santa joined the Lord Mayor in Martin Place today as she unveiled details of the City of Sydney's Christmas program. Highlights include:

Neighbourhood Christmas concerts

Six free community concerts will take place over three weekends in November and December.

Jayden Rodrigues, Justine Clarke, The Quokkas and The Listies are among the performers who will wow the crowds. Games and food trucks will be on offer at each event with special guest Santa paying a visit.  

Families can have their photo taken with Santa for a $5 donation to the City of Sydney's charity partner, Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation.

Everyone is welcome, with accessible features including Auslan interpreters, sensory and quiet tents, big screen live captioning, pick-up and drop-off areas, and accessible toilets.

Christmas concert dates: 

• Pyrmont Christmas concert, Pirrama Park, Saturday 30 November, 6pm-8pm
• Surry Hills Christmas concert, Prince Alfred Park, Sunday 1 December, 6pm-8pm
• Rosebery Christmas concert, Turruwul Park, Saturday 7 December, 6pm-8pm
• Rushcutters Bay concert, Reg Bartley Oval, Sunday 8 December, 6pm-8pm
• Glebe Christmas concert, Bicentennial Park, Saturday 14 December, 6pm-8pm
• Alexandria Christmas concert, Alexandria Park, Sunday 15 December, 6pm-8pm

Martin Place Christmas markets

From international cuisine to festive delicacies, the Christmas markets will return to Martin Place for the third year in a row.

More than 58 stallholders will sell gifts, Christmas goodies, clothes, toys, homewares, art and food.

The markets will be open from 11am to 8pm every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 21 December.

Choirs in the City

The Australian Girls Choir, Sydney Philharmonia, With One Voice and the Jingle Belle Singers are among those featured in Sydney Choirs in the City.

Choirs in the City will showcase all the Christmas classics at the Martin Place Christmas tree each evening from 6pm to 8pm, 1 to 24 December.

Carols will also be performed at Customs House Square from 16 to 24 December.

Lights and decorations

Sydney is set to sparkle with 11 Christmas trees up around the city centre and local neighbourhoods.

From the last week of November throughout December, a shimmering canopy of 60,000 suspended lights will illuminate Pitt Street Mall with four different light shows.

Christmas stars will light up each smart pole along George Street, and the Woolworths building opposite Sydney Town Hall will be draped in a curtain of light. A further 8,000 icicle fairy lights will be up in Martin Place.

Full details of the sparkling decorations can be found on the Sydney Culture Walks app, which takes visitors on a tour of the best effects across the city centre.

Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation

The City of Sydney is proud to support Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation (SCHF) this festive season.

SCHF CEO Kristina Keneally welcomed the partnership.

"We are delighted to be joining the City of Sydney at this special time of year and for the City's generous support of SCHF's annual Christmas Appeal. The money raised through this partnership will create new opportunities for treatment and care for the 167,000 sick kids who visit The Children's Hospital at Westmead and Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick each year.

"Each year, thousands of kids across the country will spend Christmas in hospital because of a serious illness or injury. We may not be able to grant all of them a Christmas wish of being at home, but with the support of communities across NSW, we can come together to give them the brightest Christmas possible."

Donate to help provide urgent support, secure the best facilities to care for childhood health conditions, and create environments focused on improving quality of life for sick kids in the short and long term.

Visit Sydney Christmas for full event details.

Image: Kristina Keneally / City of Sydney