The Darling Harbour Santa Fest 2013

The Darling Harbour Santa Fest 2013

Sydney's premier party precinct will be awash with Christmas cheer from Saturday 30th November, when the most spectacular tribute to Santa Claus this side of the North Pole will launch Darling Harbour Santa Fest 2013.

Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority proudly presents the FREE program of BIG-TIME Christmas celebrations unlike any other in Australia, with Santa Fest 2013 operating across Darling Harbour for 25 days from Saturday 30 November – Christmas Eve Tuesday 24 December.

The pinnacle of the Festival on opening-night, 30 November, the Santa Fest 2013 Water Spectacular will see larger-than-life inflatable Santas, sailing Santas, water-skiing Santas, dragon-boating Santas, jumping Santas and musical Santas of all shapes and sizes converge at Darling Harbour for what is sure to be a mesmerising event.

The pre-show festivities will include roving street performers and the angelic voices of caroling children's choirs across Darling Harbour, in addition to daredevil stunts by Sky Ski Santa on Cockle Bay from 7.30pm.

The main-event from 8.00pm will feature a foot parade of jolly St Nicks and other colourful Christmas characters, before a dazzling water spectacle on Cockle Bay with 21 eight metre tall inflatable Santas, an electrifying pyrotechnics show and a fantastic festive soundtrack to bring-in the holiday season at Darling Harbour.

The -real' Santa's main-show grand entrance will be nothing short of spectacular and spirits will be sky-high during the official lighting of the 21 metre tall Darling Harbour Christmas Tree of Light and Laughter. A brilliant display of Harbourside Christmas Fireworks from 9.00pm will cap-off the event and kick-off the rest of Darling Harbour's 25-day countdown to Christmas program.

The very next day, thousands of Santas will swap their boots for their running shoes and reconvene at Darling Harbour's Palm Grove at 9.00am on Sunday 1 December for the 2013 Variety Santa Fun Run – the year's holiest and jolliest 5km fun run and walk to help raise money for sick, disadvantaged and special needs children.

Also at Darling Harbour on 1 December, the Polish Christmas Community Festival at Tumbalong Park will delight Darling Harbour visitors with FREE folkloric dance performances, traditional Polish food, market stalls and more from 11.00am-6.00pm.

Darling Harbour Santa Fest 2013 will also showcase Sydney's finest a capella groups to perform live Carols by the Darling Harbour Christmas Tree of Light and Laughter from 7.00pm-9.00pm every Thursday – Sunday between 5-22 December and on Christmas Eve.

Stunning Harbourside Fireworks from 9.00pm on Saturday 7, 14 and 21 December will also captivate visitors and offer a preview of the magical kaleidoscope of fireworks to explode over Harbourside on Christmas Eve.

More information about Santa Fest 2013 and other Christmas festivities across Darling Harbour will soon be available at darlingharbour.com.