Wheeler Place & Hunter Street Mall
Get ready to experience Newcastle’s most magical Christmas yet!
Wheeler Place and Hunter Street Mall will transform into vibrant holiday hotspots, all launching with the lighting of our dazzling 12.5m Christmas tree on Friday 29 November.
This year’s activities bring the Newcastle community together to celebrate the holiday season with FREE live music, interactive displays, and special events that support local businesses and spread festive cheer. Sounds like this is a Christmas in the City you won't want to miss…
Fridays 5pm - 7pm & Sundays 4pm - 6pm
Meet Santa!
Over three weekends, starting on 29 November, Santa himself will be at Wheeler Place to meet with families on Fridays from 5pm to 7pm and Sundays from 4pm to 6pm.
Enjoy live music performances by local schools, community groups, and the highlight of the season: the Newcastle Youth Orchestra (NYO) on Friday 13 December.
In what will be an afternoon of youthful orchestral passion and energy, guest conductor Ben Lambert is thrilled to present the concert with the NYO with orchestral classics from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, and a touch of Christmas cheer. Joining the NYO will be Newcastle's own Georgia Dulley, a featured artist in the School Spectacular and Starstruck.
Live Music Schedule
Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| Friday 29 November, 5pm - 7pm | Lighting of the Christmas tree |
| Sunday 1 December, 4pm - 6pm | Novotones |
| Friday 6 December, 5pm - 7pm | Belair Public School Band |
| Sunday 8 December, 4pm - 6pm | Hunter School of Performing Arts Zaya Saltoun |
| Friday 13 December, 5pm - 7pm | Newcastle Youth Orchestra |
| Sunday 15 December, 4pm - 6pm | Newcastle Music Academy |
| Thursday 19 December, 5:30pm | Christmas One Song Sing - How To Make Gravy |
Holiday Fun for Everyone!
Wheeler Place will be transformed into a festive space for the whole community. Snap a photo with Santa in his sleigh in front of the Christmas tree or let your pet take the reins for an adorable holiday paw-trait.
Kids can get creative at the holiday craft table, where they’ll write letters to Santa and drop them into the magical North Pole mailbox - complete with an illuminated light post and reindeer guiding the way!
Encore! One Song Sing - How To Make Gravy
Presented by Civic Theatre Newcastle & The Sum of the Parts, Newcastle's own enormously popular pop-up community choir returns to help us signal the end of the year.
Join us for a special encore One Song Sing rendition of Paul Kelly's How to Make Gravy. Learn the song, in a three-part harmony, in one hour with friends, family and complete strangers. In true Sum of the Parts (music) style, the song lyrics will be mashed up with a good lashing of Christmas cheer. Civic Theatre Bar will be open from 4:30pm for refreshments.
This is a free event that requires registration to receive the song lyrics: Register Here.
Shop Local & Win Big!
Explore Santa’s Shopping List, featuring exclusive deals and holiday hours from participating local businesses.
Santa's Shopping List
Foghorn Brewery
Buy any Foghorn merch item (e.g. t-shirt, hat, growler) and receive a free stubby holder. Open from 11:30am until late Tuesday to Sunday.
Visit Foghorn Brewery.
Banana Blossom Newcastle
Friday night extended opening hours til 8pm use the Santa’s Wishlist code word to receive $5 off your order.
Visit Banana Blossom Newcastle.
Coco Monde
Bespoke handmade chocolate gift boxes (pre-order for Christmas). Open til 9pm weekdays and 10pm Friday and Saturday.
Visit Coco Monde.
Blackbird Corner
Open seven days a week in December 10am - 3pm.
Visit Blackbird Corner.
Cooks Hill Books and Records
Get your Christmas Gift Cards!
Visit Cooks Hill Books and Records.
Ms Mary's Crystalbrook Kingsley
Ms Mary at Crystalbrook Kingsley will be hosting a special ‘Christmas Cheers’ cocktail menu from 28 November through 30 December.
The menu will feature three exclusive festive cocktails — including ‘Santa’s Slushie’ — priced at $22 each, with a special $18 rate available Sunday to Thursday, from 4:30pm to 6:30pm.
Visit Ms Mary's.
The Great Northern Hotel
The People's Pub will be open 10am to late every night leading up to Christmas with food and beverage specials for all.
Congratulations to our Santa's Shopping List winner, Renee Maxwell, who, by shopping locally, has won the ultimate Staycation Package - including a $250 Civic Theatre gift voucher, an overnight stay at Quest Newcastle West, a $100 gift voucher for Ms Mary's and a $50 gift voucher for Banana Blossom Newcastle!
Remember, there's still time to shop local for all your unique Christmas gift ideas!
Discover More in Hunter Street Mall
Giant Present Selfie Spot
From 16 November to 26 December, head to the Market Street steps in Hunter Street Mall and snap the perfect holiday selfie with a giant 2m x 2m, double-sided Christmas present! Wrapped in vibrant artwork and topped with a solar-powered light bow, the wooden structure is crafted from 140-year-old cedar boards salvaged from a historic home in Carrington. With four illuminated panels allowing you to pop your head through for photos, it’s the ultimate way to embrace the holiday spirit.
This magical installation is a collaboration of talented local artists, craftspeople, and producers, including Sawtooth Creations, Fingers Crossed Creative, Canvas Events, and Mitch Revs. Share your festive photos and spread the cheer with family, friends, and on social media!
Santa's Big Newcastle Toy Swap
On Saturday 7 December, NHM Newcastle Hunter Mummas and the Newcastle City Business Improvement Association present Santa’s Big Newcastle Toy Swap!
Santa has been super busy in his workshop this year but wants your help to save the planet. He and Mrs Claus know many children don’t play with toys anymore that other children would cherish and still enjoy, that’s why he’s bringing the children of Newcastle together just in time for Christmas so they can meet him, have a photo with him, give him their Christmas wish list and take home a toy they love that another child has once loved.
Santa also wants to treat hardworking Newcastle Hunter Mumma’s to some extraordinary gifts for caring daily for their beautiful bubs, these include a $1000 cash giveaway and incredible prizes to be won. Plus be treated to coffee, babychinos, face painting and sustainable craft workshops.
Find out more: Santa's Big Newcastle Toy Swap
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