16 ways to celebrate Christmas in Sydney

Throughout December, the city of Sydney sparkles with festive spirit. Yule love what’s in store for you in our city centre and villages!

1. See your name in lights on the Martin Place Christmas Tree. You can text or tweet to have your message displayed on the ribbon.
2. Got kids? Bring them in to see the lighting of the Christmas Tree in Martin Place. Plus, there’s still time for them to win a ride in Santa’s sleigh and light the tree
3. Keep your eyes peeled for our Christmas ambassadors Guy and Jules Sebastian.
4. Check out the incredible light projections on the grand buildings in Martin Place.
5. While you’re there, have a boogie on the interactive dance floor connected to the Martin Place tree.
6. Stay local and head to your Village Christmas concert. They’re happening in Rushcutters Bay, Rosebery, Alexandria and Surry Hills.
7. Prepare for the cutest event ever to hit Martin Place: Guide Dogs Graduation. Includes cuddles with puppies. Mark it in your diary, stat. It’s on 8 December. Grab a cuddle with one of these guys in Martin Place. Pic: Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
8. Make a donation to our Christmas charity partner Guide Dogs NSW/ACT. Did you know that it takes two years and more than $30K to train one Guide Dog?
9. Take home your very own *real* Christmas tree. They’ll be on display in Pitt Street Mall until the week of Christmas, when they’ll be auctioned off, with proceeds going to Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.
10. Listen out for festive carollers at the Martin Place Christmas Tree and in Pitt Street Mall.
11. Go window shopping in the best way possible: Tag your Instagram snaps of Christmas displays in Sydney stores #sydxmas and #bestwindows for your chance to win $2,000.
12. … and then go shopping for real. George Street will host pop-up shops and fashion parades near the special 9m high Christmas tree. And don’t forget old favourites like the QVB, The Strand, Pitt Street Mall and Westfield Sydney.
13. Or get out to the villages for one-of-a-kind finds from boutique retailers in Surry Hills, Paddington, Newtown and Chippendale.
14. Catch the unmissable illuminations on Sydney Town Hall, and the magnificent projections on the Burberry building, the MLC Centre and Martin Place, not to mention St Mary’s Cathedral.
15. Experience the grandeur of Sydney Town Hall’s Grand Organ. It will accompany festive music and readings for the Sydney Town Hall Christmas Concert.
16. Get into the festive spirit with Guy Sebastian’s magical Christmas playlist