27 November 2015

City of Sydney launches Christmas programme

Source: City of Sydney. Lord Mayor Clover Moore launched the Sydney Christmas programme at Martin Place.

The City of Sydney’s Christmas programme has kicked off. The festivities include decorations, carols, light projections, concerts, Christmas trees and retail programmes.

“We welcome thousands of people from across Sydney to the city centre for our Christmas celebrations each year. With live concerts, colourful projections, great shopping and the opportunity for the kids to meet Santa, there’s plenty for visitors, shoppers and locals to enjoy,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

“I invite everyone to embrace the magic of our Sydney Christmas. With sunshine, lively streets and long evenings, it’s the perfect time for exploring our city with family and friends.”

For the first time, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT will host a graduation ceremony in Martin Place on 8 December to celebrate the achievements of some of its amazing work dogs. Each graduate dog has spent two years in intensive training to become a full-time guide dog. It costs over A$35,000 to breed, raise and train each graduate – a process entirely funded by the public.

Passers-by will have the opportunity to watch a live guide dog demonstration and have a cuddle with trainee guide puppies.

“Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is extremely grateful to the City of Sydney for selecting our organisation as its charity partner for this year’s Christmas festivities and the opportunity to raise much-needed funds for our important work,” Dr White said.

Sydney Christmas 2015 highlights:

Martin Place Christmas Tree – till 25 December
Visitors to the city centre can jump on the interactive dance pad at the Christmas Tree and text a message using the #sydxmastree for it to appear on the the tree, for everyone to see.

Standing 20 metres tall, Sydney’s Christmas tree is dressed with 60,000 lights, 120 interactive stars, 200 stainless steel baubles and a 1.5-metre star on top.

Christmas projections and illuminations

Light projections will transform the façades of some of Sydney’s most historic buildings in Martin Place and the Street Light Disco banners will bring sparkle to the area throughout the day and night.

Sydney Town Hall will be illuminated with festive colours from 10 December.

Boulevarde of Light

More than 100 living, potted Christmas trees and an overhead canopy of 62,000 lights will create a festive wonderland in Pitt Street Mall. The trees will be auctioned during the week of Christmas with all proceeds going to Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.

Village Christmas Concert
The free concerts at Rushcutters Bay (28 November), Rosebery (29 November), Alexandria (5 December) and Surry Hills (6 December) are family-friendly and include live music and fireworks.

Carollers and choirs
Choirs will perform in Pitt Street Mall on Thursday evenings in the lead up to Christmas and each night in December until Christmas Eve at the Martin Place Christmas Tree.

The Christmas at Sydney Town Hall concert on 15 December is a traditional affair of festive music accompanied by the magnificent Grand Organ in Centennial Hall.

Christmas shopping
The City is working with Transport for NSW on the George Street Christmas programme to bring visitors into the city over the festive season. As well as a nine-metre-high Christmas tree on George Street and pop-up stores from local retailers, there are free gift wrapping stations, Wi-Fi zones, live entertainment, fashion parades, face painting and digital photo booths.

Local village retailers are offering unique gifts and bespoke fashion. Shoppers can take part in the Best Shop Window Instagram competition by tagging their favourite local shop window #sydxmas #bestwindow on Instagram for a chance to win a A$2,000 shopping voucher.


Hashtag: #bestwindow, #sydxmas, #sydxmastree
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