Local residents are invited to pack a picnic and head to some of Sydney’s favourite local parks for the City of Sydney’s annual Village Christmas concerts.
Featuring live entertainment, carols, craft activities and tasty treats, the concerts in Rushcutters Bay, Roseberry, Alexandria and Surry Hills will delight children and adults alike.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said Christmas was a time to enjoy the company of friends, neighbours and family.
“Our village concerts are a wonderful opportunity for the whole community to come together and celebrate,” the Lord Mayor said.
“So bring your picnic blanket and settle in for a great evening of entertainment, music and food.”
Each of the village concerts will be hosted by children’s entertainer, Sam Moran, and include a sausage sizzle and gelato, a visit from Santa and a glittering fireworks finale.
Santa stockings jam-packed with goodies will also be on offer for a gold coin donation. All proceeds will go to City’s Christmas charity partner Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.
Rushcutters Bay, Saturday 28 November – Reg Bartley Oval from 6.30pm–8.30pm
Featuring kids’ entertainment by Lah Lah’s Big Live Band and Justine Clarke and R&B from Ms Murphy.
Rosebery, Sunday 29 November – Turruwul Park from 6.30pm–8.30pm
Featuring kids’ entertainment by Lah Lah’s Big Live Band and Justine Clarke and soul music by Brown Sugar.
Alexandria, Saturday 5 December – Alexandria Park Oval from 6.30pm–8.30pm
Featuring kids’ entertainment by Jay Laga’aia and Justine Clarke with soul and roots music from Righteous Voodoo.
Surry Hills, Sunday 6 December – Prince Alfred Park from 6.30pm–8.30pm
Featuring music from Jay Laga’aia and Justine Clarke for the kids and jazz from The Soorleys.
The City of Sydney’s Christmas program kicks off this week with a feast of festivities including decorations, carols, light projections, concerts, Christmas trees and retail programs.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore today launched the Sydney Christmas program in front of the much-loved Martin Place Christmas Tree.
She was joined by Sydney Christmas Ambassador Jules Sebastian, Channel Seven’s Mark Ferguson, and Dr Graeme White, CEO of this year’s Christmas Charity Partner, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.
“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 $35,000 to breed, raise and train each graduate – a process entirely funded by the generosity of the public.
Passers-by will have the opportunity to watch a live guide dog demonstration and have a cuddle with some adorable puppies that are soon to become trainee guide dogs.
“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 and Hyde Park concerts – Thursday 26 November, 6pm–8.30pm
The annual Martin Place Christmas Concert and Tree Lighting and Christmas on the Green at Hyde Park North mark the start of Sydney’s festive season.
Head to Martin Place for a night packed with free entertainment for the whole family. Hosted by Channel Seven’s James Tobin, the concert features performances by Hoot & Hootabelle, Sam Moran, Justine Clarke, the cast from The Sound of Music, Sydney Philharmonia Choir and Anthony Callea.
Santa and the Lord Mayor will arrive by sleigh before the tree lighting and the night finishes with a fireworks spectacular.
Christmas on the Green at Hyde Park North will feature Saturday Disney’s Teigan Nash, Candice Dixon and Nathan Morgan as MCs and performances by Blinky Bill, Nay Nay Let’s Play, Australian Girls’ Choir, Lah Lah’s Big Live Band, Sam Moran and a visit from Santa.
Martin Place Christmas Tree – 26 November–25 December
From 26 November until Christmas Day, the centrepiece of the Sydney festive season will be the Martin Place Christmas Tree. Visitors to the city centre can jump on the interactive dance pad at the Christmas Tree and text a message using the #sydxmastree to appear on its branches for everyone to see.
Standing 20 metres tall, Sydney’s much-loved 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
Dramatic 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 and from 10 December. And St Mary’s Cathedral will be illuminated with a free display of sound and light, storytelling the themes of Christmas using 3D projections.
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, family-friendly concerts at Rushcutters Bay (28 November), Rosebery (29 November), Alexandria (5 December) and Surry Hills (6 December) are always a big hit with the kids, and packed with children’s entertainment, live music, fireworks and a visit from Santa.
Carollers and choirs
Christmas shopping in the city promises to be full of festive cheer with choirs performing 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 renowned Christmas at Sydney Town Hall concert on 15 December guarantees a memorable night for the whole family. Nothing will get you into the spirit of Christmas like this very traditional affair of carol singing, festive music and readings accompanied by the magnificent Grand Organ in Centennial Hall.
Christmas shopping
The City is working with Transport for NSW on the George Street Christmas program 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, wifi zones, live entertainment, fashion parades, face painting and digital photo booths.
Local village retailers and boutiques are offering unique gifts and bespoke fashion, each with its own style and local treasures. Shoppers can also 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 $2,000 shopping voucher.
Dust off the rug, pack up some treats and round up your pals – it’s picnic season! Finding a grassy knoll or sandy dune to enjoy a view and graze on a few treats is a great way to reconnect with loved ones and nature.
Here are our top tips on going green for your next picnic.
Cook, bake, brew
Slice up your carrot sticks, whip up those friands and concoct yourself some ale or cordial. You don’t need to be Nigella or Jamie to create little bites of finger food from scratch. And making your drinks means you know exactly what colourings and preservatives won’t be invited to the party. Another bonus – you’ll put less packaging and plastic bottles in the recycling bin or garbage.
Invest in a picnic set
Vintage, brand new or cobbled together with odd plates from a garage sale, a picnic set can save you money, hassle and be kind to the earth. Putting everything you need in one cute basket or carry case means you’re always prepared. You’ll also avoid that last-minute supermarket scurry for that final missing item.
Set your napery free
Forget paper towels and paper napkins. If your crockery and cutlery are reusable, why not your dining cloths? Bringing your own napery turns your casual soiree into something a little more eco-chic.
Pack some reusable containers and a spare carry bag
The containers will keep any leftovers fresh for the journey home. Use the bag to collect any rubbish to take home in case there isn’t a recycling bin around.
Compost what you can
If you’ve prepared too much and the leftover salad sat in the sun for a little too long, why not bring it home and compost it or pop it in your worm farm? You’ll reduce the waste and odour in your own bin.
The City of Sydney has been recognised for international excellence alongside Buenos Aires, Copenhagen and Milan in an international index of the top 100 city responses to climate change.
The Cities100 index is developed by C40, a network of the world’s top cities taking action on climate change, and Scandinavian sustainability think tank, Sustainia.
The City’s climate change adaptation and residential apartments sustainability plans have been acknowledged as significant climate solutions that can be scaled and replicated across the world.
The 100 solutions show real action is happening in cities around the globe and highlight opportunities for change ahead of the COP21 conference, to be held in Paris from November 30 to December 11 this year.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who will represent Sydney at a number of high profile summits and events during the conference, said the City has been getting on with the job of reducing dangerous carbon emissions.
“At the upcoming Paris climate talks, world leaders will work towards an agreement to attempt to slow the pace of global warming,” the Lord Mayor said.
“It is vital that we demonstrate the pivotal role cities play in reducing global emissions. Cities only cover two per cent of the earth’s surface, but over half the world’s population live in cities, even more in Australia, and cities generate 75 to 80 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. That makes our cities crucial to combating climate change.”
“Our work shows that more ambitious targets are possible and compatible with strong economic growth.”
The City’s residential apartment plan outlines a suite of simple measures to reduce the environmental impact of apartment living – applicable to over two thirds of the city’s population.
The City’s climate adaptation strategy was the last in a suite of green infrastructure master plans looking at decentralised energy, water and renewable energy.
The climate plan was prepared with help from major science groups and leading business and property organisations. It contains 39 different actions to help deal with issues ranging from changing rainfall patterns and rising sea levels to more severe heat waves.
C40 Executive Director, Mark Watts, said: “In this urban age, it is simply not possible to tackle climate change without strong and urgent action in cities.
“Mayors have the opportunity to help set the world on a climate safe path. Fortunately, working together, they are up to the challenge.”
The Cities100 publication will be presented at the Sustainia COP21 event on 6 December in Paris.
At the heart of it, you need four main ingredients to make beer. Barley, hops, water and yeast all combine to create the beloved beverage but a Sydney-based brewery is adding one more unusual element.
Thanks to City of Sydney grant funding, Young Henrys Brewery will help community group Pingala purchase and install solar photovoltaic panels at the Young Henrys Brewery site.
Pingala is committed to advancing a renewable energy future for the city and creating a local movement away from fossil fuels.
The group will install solar photovoltaic panels at the Young Henrys Brewery site, which will generate enough electricity from the system to power the entire brewing process. It will also avoid 127 tonnes of carbon emissions a year. We had a chat to Oscar McMahon, co-founder of Young Henrys and delved into what makes Young Henrys work, and what going solar means for the business.
What’s your professional background?
Mainly bar tending and music but a brief sojourn in television post production for food shows. I spent 13 years travelling Australia and parts of the world making music, paying my way for a bit over six years of these years working behind bars.
How was Young Henrys created?
Young Henrys was born out of a beer club that Rich [co-founder] and I used to run together. Through that we saw how much people really wanted to be connected to the beer they were drinking and Young Henrys was born out of that connection. Rich was brewing for another company, and so we decided to give it a go.
(Tom Nockolds from Pingala and Oscar discuss solar panels over a beer at Young Henrys.)
To what degree is eco sustainability of importance to Young Henry’s?
Sustainable practices should always be taken wherever possible, and that’s the opinion of all of us here. We strive really hard to take responsibility for our impact in the world, and we feel like that’s an important value to a lot of our community too. For example, to get our refillable 2 litre growlers up and running, it was far more expensive than to start filling 330ml bottles, but in the long run, the positive environmental impact of that program far outweighs the cost of setting it up. For us we thought people reusing rather than recycling was well worth the expenditure.
We’ve also just gone through a brewery upgrade and installed more efficient measures and equipment. It’s just simple stuff that makes sense to us. We’re not doing anything crazy, we’re just try to do our bit.
What were your first thoughts when approached by Pingala to collaborate?
Initially it sounded like a really cool idea and something our community would really get behind. Although it also sounded like it would be expensive and a lot of work but the guys from Pingala are so professional and passionate, they have really pushed to make the dream a reality.
What we found most exciting about the project was that it puts the power of change toward green energy into the hands of people and businesses. It’s creating a little mini industry in our community of people investing in solar and taking back the control of where their energy comes from. Essentially this program makes it possible for anyone to invest in solar energy, taking the barrier of expense out of the equation. This would have been a lot more difficult to do without the legends at Pingala, and we really hope that more businesses put up their hands and give up their roofs.
It usually happens in the dark – and it happens in every neighbourhood.
Once-loved bulky items are broken up and left in random places in the hope someone else will pick them up.Despite the common belief that dumping an item might be okay because someone else might want it, this is not a form of recycling. Dumping things by the road or kerbside is illegal and you could be up for fines of $500 or more if you’re caught.
The enormous televisions of yesteryear, the mattress that’s seen better days and fridge that’s not keeping its cool – they’ve all got things to offer the world after they’re past their use by date. But best of all they can be picked up free and on a regular basis.
Here are some items you could have taken off your hands by the free, weekly City of Sydney pick-up service.
Matresses and furniture
Will someone really pick up that 10-year-old mattress or couch?
You may have loved them once, but out on the street these items can be a real eyesore. When properly recycled, these bulky pieces can be split into lots of useful parts. Steel springs become scrap metal, furniture foam can become carpet underlay, and fabric and felt pads can be recycled into boxing bags among other things. Some furniture pieces can also be refurbished and donated to charity.
Whitegoods, appliances and barbecues
When taken apart, the metal, screws, bolts and wires in whitegoods can contribute to plenty of other projects. But forget the gas bottles that come with barbecues. And same goes for motor oil, batteries and anything else that might be hazardous (paints, chemicals, poisons). You can consult the Garbage Guru about the best way to dispose of those!
Six low-cost live/work artist studios are up for grabs next year thanks to a popular City of Sydney initiative.
The one-bedroom apartments in William Street, Darlinghurst are part of the City’s Creative Spaces program, which provides subsidised accommodation and workspaces for creative professionals in central Sydney.
Previous occupants include visual artists and curators, fashion and production designers and filmmakers.
“Sydney’s artists struggle to find suitable affordable spaces in the centre of town, so the City’s William Street live/work studios are a practical way we can support our vital creative sector,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
“We’re putting out the call for the next generation of talented artists to live and work in these studios, as the current tenants will graduate to bigger things next year.
“Past William Street residents have won national acclaim and built successful creative enterprises, so the next round of successful applicants will have big shoes to fill.”
The six live/work units at 113-115 William Street in Darlinghurst feature a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and artist-in-residence work space. The rent the artists pay is substantially below established rates for the area.
Current William Street tenant, artist, curator and broadcaster, Frances Barrett, said the Creative Spaces program has provided her with a great opportunity to expand her creative practice.
“As an artist-curator-broadcaster, my practice operates outside of usual hours – the apartment has afforded me a flexibility and grounding to be able to work like this. It is my meeting place, my sanctuary, my thinking space, my work space,” Ms Barrett said.
“The Creative Spaces program enables me to connect with and contribute to the Sydney arts community. It’s been a really positive experience and I would recommend other Sydney artists apply.”
Since moving into her live/work unit in William Street Ms Barrett has presented new work at the 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art and participated in the Kaldor Public Arts Projects’ Australian Artist Residency Program with internationally renowned artist, Marina Abramovic. She is currently working on a number of projects and is a presenter on FBI Radio’s weekly arts program, ‘Canvas’.
Expressions of interest will be assessed by an expert panel who will look not only at the artistic merit of the applicants, but also their potential for collaboration and the benefits to the community that could arise from their work during the tenancy.
More information on how to submit an Expression of Interest for the City’s William Street Creative Spaces, including information about an information session at the Darlinghurst property on 23 November, is available at http://bit.ly/1PdFAiB
The deadline for submissions is midnight on Friday 11 December 2015.
For more information on how the City supports creative businesses, including information on the City’s other Creative Spaces in William Street and Glebe, visit http://bit.ly/1PdFAiB
For media inquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Adviser Liz Stephens.
Phone 02 9265 9106 or email lstephens@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Matt Levinson.
Phone 0499 319 385 or email mlevinson@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Leading Sydney businesses from Glebe, Newtown, Walsh Bay and the city centre will compete with businesses from across the state for the top gong at the 2015 NSW Business Chamber’s Business Awards.
A harbourside function venue, medical centre and a co-working space are among the 11 City of Sydney-based businesses competing for honours at the awards on 27 November.
“These annual awards recognise success in business leadership, ethics, innovation, sustainability, employment and export,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
“It’s good to see Sydney businesses ranking among the finest in the state, and I wish them all the best on awards night.”
The businesses were shortlisted from across the local government area, having competed in the new Sydney City regional awards program in July, and judged and run by the NSW Business Chamber and sponsored by the City.
Judges for the Sydney City Business Awards and the NSW Business Chamber State Business Awards are selected from subject matter experts or practitioners in the area relating to the award category, academics in the field, award category sponsors and NSW Business Chamber representatives.
The City is a proud sponsor of the Excellence in Small Business award segment of the NSW Awards.
The City of Sydney businesses shortlisted for the 2015 NSW Business Chamber’s Business Awards include:
Simmer on the Bay
Business Leader – Simmer on the Bay, Walsh Bay Brigid Kennedy has been Managing Director of Simmer on the Bay, a renowned catering and events space in the Walsh Bay arts precinct, since 2005. She is also a published author and expert chef.
Brigid mentors her staff, helps them work towards their chosen career paths, not just during their time at Simmer on the Bay, but also after they have outgrown the business and are ready to strike out on their own.
She belongs to two business chambers and has the chance to inspire and work first-hand with the younger members of those chambers, sharing advice and advocating for their businesses.
Shepherd Centre
Employer of Choice – The Shepherd Centre, Newtown The Shepherd Centre offers a variety of family-centred critical services under one roof at their head office in Newtown, continuously expands its range of programs and invests in research, technology and innovation. The centre maintains focus on staff retention through flexible working conditions, team building and training.
Excellence in Business – The Shepherd Centre, Newtown Not-for-profit The Shepherd Centre is an organisation teaching children with hearing loss in NSW, ACT and Tasmania to listen and speak. It offers a variety of family-centred critical services under one roof, with the office based in Newtown.
The centre credits clear leadership and vision from the board and executive team for allowing the organisation to expand without losing its focus on staff and the families who need them.
The Shepherd Centre is recognised as a leader in its field, providing world-class services to families.
Sustainable growth in fundraising is key to the organisation, which strives to satisfy the growing demand from families.
D&M Research
Excellence in Business Ethics – D&M Research, city centre D&M Research is a boutique, full service research agency, passionate about research, clients and successful organisations. The company constantly reviews the ethics of its business practices and any relevance implications to projects and clients. D&M Research is also a carbon neutral company that cares about the impact of its activities on the environment.
Australian Institute of Professional Education
Excellence in Export – Australian Institute of Professional Education, city centre Isil Sam is the Chief Finance Officer at the Australian Institute of Professional Education (AIPE), an innovative vocational education provider based in Sydney CBD, offering both on-site and online e-learning.
Ms Sam says she is focused on quality, productivity and standards in the organisation and encourages the next generation of upcoming leaders at AIPE with simple advice: “break down large tasks into simple manageable projects and always keep in mind the objectives of those projects to keep your focus”.
Although she has a wealth of experience in her field, she says she keeps learning and growing her knowledge.
Glebe Family Medical Practice
Excellence in Innovation – Glebe Family Medical Practice, Glebe Glebe Family Medical Practice has delivered medical care to the local community for over 30 years. Its experienced team of doctors offer fully-accredited patient-centred care, including travel vaccination clinic, complex and chronic disease management and women and children’s health care.
The practice also supports the Closing the Gap Indigenous Reform Agenda and works to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and early childhood development in the local community.
The practice has recently introduced a free screening tool for atrial fibrillation (abnormal rhythm of the heart that is associated with a high risk for stroke) for patients aged 65 and over when they attend for their annual flu vaccination. This screening tool allows their doctors to offer preventive treatment to those who need it and it can decreases their risk of stroke.
Firesoft
Excellence in Small Business (City of Sydney sponsored) – FIRESOFT Consulting, city centre FIRESOFT Consulting is a specialist IT recruitment and executive consulting firm based in central Sydney and serving clients Australia-wide. FIRESOFT credits its growth in the last year to “big plans tightly underpinned by a strong vision, mission and set of values that the whole team is passionate about”.
The company purposely works more closely with a restricted number of clients, emphasising strong relationships and winning repeat business.
SMC Conference and Function Centre – UGL Civic Tower
Excellence in Sustainability – SMC Conference and Function Centre, city centre Central Sydney venue, SMC Conference and Function Centre offers a 100 per cent accessible, purpose-built centre which gives its clients a complete conference solution with modern and stylish facilities.
The venue is committed to sustainability and has had a green policy in place since its construction 35 years ago. It orders only fresh, seasonal local produce for their events catering, closely monitors its carbon emissions and uses low-energy, electronic posters to promote the venue.
Glebe Chamber of Commerce
Local Chamber of Commerce – Glebe Chamber of Commerce, Glebe Glebe Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to the revitalisation of Glebe and to helping their members access opportunities for their businesses throughout Sydney and NSW. It organises the annual Glebe Street Fair and other initiatives to engage local businesses with their community.
The Glebe Chamber is trialling a number of innovative programs with local businesses. It has recently launched glebe.com.au providing local businesses with an affordable and easy-to-use platform to find everything they ever wanted to know about Glebe, supporting them to become more productive, connected and sustainable.
Vertical Financial Solutions
Young Business Executive – Daniel Moss, Vertical Financial Solutions, city centre Daniel Moss is co-founder and managing director of Vertical Financial Solutions (VFS), an independent advisory firm specialising in wealth management.
Daniel has hands-on experience in establishing and managing financial services businesses and is passionate about investment markets. He says teamwork and partnerships are key to the company’s success as well as hard work and commitment to its strategy.
Kris Spann
Young Entrepreneur – Kris Spann, The Works, Glebe Building and projects manager Kris Spann runs The Works, a multi-level warehouse space in Glebe offering co-working, studio, accommodation, classroom and retail space for creative practitioners to design, make and exhibit their works.
To build the business, Kris started out thinking about what creative businesses and practitioners would need under the one roof. The spaces he has created, which took three years to realise, are helping and inspiring dynamic, innovative people to produce great work.
An Aboriginal community garden in Glebe is set to grow, with improved landscaping, restored artworks and fresh plantings of traditional bush medicine and food seedlings.
The Nura Nanga Mai garden at Glebe Public School has been a community gathering place for 12 years, and with the support of the City of Sydney will be reinvigorated to continue this important role for years to come.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the restoration project was being undertaken by the Be Centre charity, Glebe TreeHouse community centre, Glebe Public School and Centipede Before and After School Care with the assistance of local Elders.
“The Eora people are the first inhabitants of our area, so it’s important that the next generation of Australians learn about their enduring culture,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Community groups have come together to make a special place for local children to learn about Aboriginal culture, art, food and medicine – it’s a terrific project.”
“Over the past 12 years, the community have gathered in the garden at times of significant celebration and mourning, often lighting a ceremonial fire.”
“With the City’s help, the garden will be expanded to include more native plants.”
Ngara Nanga Mai garden at Glebe Public School Kathryn Dodd Farrawell and Wendy Buchanan with students
The City’s $4,745 funding will also help to introduce a Be Centre play-therapy bus to provide support for any local children who need extra help, are experiencing difficulties, or just need a place to express themselves.
Be Centre Executive Director, Marisa Chilcott, said they would consult with the community and Elders to ensure everyone has some involvement in the restored garden and play-therapy van.
This consultation will include workshops with artist Aunty Kathryn Dodd-Farrawell to develop two new garden artworks and a logo for the play-therapy bus.
“We also plan to install a new section in the garden with traditional plants of medicinal and food value,” Ms Chilcott said.
“It’s important for children for all backgrounds and nationalities to understand the traditional practices and customs of the area and the country.”
Be Centre and Glebe TreeHouse will also contribute financially to the project and the ongoing support and development of the project will be maintained by TreeHouse and the Glebe Public School volunteer gardening community.
The lighting of Sydney’s tallest tree, early visits from Santa, top children’s entertainment and free family concerts will launch the City of Sydney’s much-loved Christmas season of events.
Festivities kick-off on Thursday 26 November with two concerts in the heart of the city packed with free entertainment from 6pm–8.30pm.
The Martin Place Christmas Concert and tree lighting will be hosted by Channel 7 presenter James Tobin and feature performances by Hoot & Hootabelle, Sam Moran, Justine Clarke, the cast from The Sound of Music, Sydney Philharmonia Choir and Anthony Callea.
Santa and the Lord Mayor will arrive by sleigh ahead of the tree lighting and the night will finish with a fireworks spectacular.
Christmas on the Green at Hyde Park North will feature Saturday Disney’s Teigan Nash, Candice Dixon and Nathan Morgan as MCs and performances by Blinky Bill, Nay Nay Let’s Play, Australian Girls’ Choir, Lah Lah’s Big Live Band, Sam Moran and a visit from Santa.
“The City of Sydney has produced the annual Martin Place Christmas Concert and tree lighting for 43 years, attracting thousands of people into the city each year,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
“The Martin Place and Hyde Park concerts are a wonderful opportunity for people to get into the festive spirit in the heart of the city with free live music, carols and Christmas cheer for the whole family.
“I look forward to joining the crowds as we celebrate another wonderful Sydney Christmas.”
During the concerts, the MLC Centre food court will offer a variety of food and beverage options and the GPO Dessert Bar will have a range of mouth-watering gelato, sweets and cakes on offer.
For the first time, the City has teamed up with Nickelodeon to offer two kids the opportunity to turn the lights on Sydney’s biggest Christmas tree. Read more about the tree lighting competition
Sydney’s most-loved Christmas tree will be dressed with 60,000 lights, 120 interactive stars, 200 stainless steel baubles and a 1.5-metre star on top.
Standing 20 metres tall in Martin Place, passers-by can jump on the interactive dance pad at the tree base and text or tweet a message using #sydxmastree and it will appear on the tree’s branches.
The Sydney Christmas program also includes Village Christmas Concerts in Rushcutters Bay, Rosebery, Alexandria and Surry Hills, with live entertainment, carols, kids’ craft activities and special visits from Santa.
Martin Place will light up with projections and Sydney Town Hall will be illuminated in festive colours from dusk each day until Christmas.
From 10 December, the 75-metre façade of St Mary’s Cathedral will be illuminated with a free display of sound and light, storytelling the themes of Christmas using 3D projections.
Choristers will entertain shoppers in Pitt Street Mall and Martin Place throughout the festive season and more than a hundred live Christmas trees will line Pitt Street Mall under a canopy of 62,000 twinkling lights. The trees will be auctioned during the week of Christmas and all proceeds will go to the City’s Sydney Christmas charity partner, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT will host a demonstration and graduation ceremony for its new working dogs in Martin Place on 8 December. Passers-by will also have the opportunity to cuddle some adorable puppies that are soon to become trainee guide dogs.
For more information about the Sydney Christmas celebrations, visit sydneychristmas.com.au
