Christmas in Darwin 2021, is well and truly coming alive! There is so much festive fun happening around the place over the next few weeks! It is hard to sometimes find and locate all the different events and Christmas happenings so we have rounded them all up for you in one place. Where to get your Santa photos, Christmas Carols, Christmas light displays and much more! Also don’t forget to stay tuned for our much anticipated School holidays blog which will have some events and places doing Christmas crafts and other activities for the kids! Also check out our Darwin Christmas Gift Guide to support local businesses this Christmas!
Christmas Carols
City of Darwin Carols by Candlelight – Sunday 5th December
City of Darwin Carols by Candlelight is on again Sunday 5th of December at Darwin Amphitheatre , gates open from 4.30pm and concert starts at 6.30pm. Finishing with a firworks show! Entry is $5 for a family of 5. Book your tickets here. This is a family friendly event so it is asked that you leave your smokes and alcohol at home.
Christmas Carols – Saturday 11th December
Carols will be held at outside the Darwin Uniting Memorial Church (78 Smith Street Darwin City) on Saturday 11th from 10am to 12pm
Darwin City Brass Band – Saturday 4th, 11th & 18th December
The Darwin City Brass Band will be performing from 10am till 11am, a variety of Christmas carols and songs in the Mall. This is a free community event.
Leanyer Recreation Park – Saturday 11th December
Leanyer Recreation Park will come alive with Carols on Saturday 11th of December from 5.30pm. A free, family friendly event. There will be kids activities, face painting, sausage sizzle and food vans from 5:30pm. Carols singing from 6:30pm. There’ll be multicultural items, a combined church choir, candles, Christmas lights, as well as the story of the first Christmas told through song. Join family and friends to celebrate the festive season in true Darwin style. Candles available by donation with all proceeds go to Foodbank. Bring your own rug or chair. Proudly presented by the Combined Churches of Darwin. In case of wet weather, the event will be relocated to St James Anglican Church, Sanderson.
Carols at Karama Christmas Tree – Sunday 12th December
Free family event with the Darwin Brass Band Christmas Carols at the Robyn Lesley Park in Karama. From 6pm to 7pm, bring a picnic rug or chairs to enjoy the carols.
Carols by the Sea – Thursday 23rd December
Join City of Darwin Aldermen for a magical night on the Nightcliff foreshore whilst singing along to your favourite carols. The Arafura Wind Ensemble and special guests will bring the spirit of Christmas for an evening of Christmas carols. Bring the family, a picnic rug and your best singing voice for this local community event. Register here
Christmas in Darwin 2021 – Events for families
Tropical Christmas at Darwin Waterfront
The Darwin Waterfront have their magical Christmas lights displays on now. Wander the parklands and take photos of the Waterfronts natural rain tree, grotto and larger than life Christmas decorations.
Catch the Christmas Train at Casuarina Square!
Say choo choo choo. Step aboard the Magical Christmas train and be transported to a holiday wonderland. Running from now till December 14 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday only), from December 17 to December 24, the train will be running daily.
Lighting the Christmas Tree – Friday 3rd December
Smith Street Mall Christmas Tree lighting will be happening on Friday 3rd December at 7.30pm. Join the choir under the canopy of lights for a festive evening for the whole family.
Santa’s Village – Smith Street Mall from Saturday 4th December
Santa’s Village will be happening again in the Mall thanks to City of Darwin from Saturday 4th December till Thursday 23rd December. You will find Santa in the West lane arcade in the mall between 9:30-11am and 11:30-1pm Weekdays and Saturday where you can take your own photo with the Santa and your kids.
There will be many festive activities for the kids to participate in with Fun in the parks team also set up between 9.30am to 1pm daily from the 4th of December (except Sundays.)
Christmas Family Fun Day – Saturday 4th December
Karama Family Fun Fair – Saturday 11th December
Christmas for Kids 2021 – Sunday 12th December
Christmas for Kids 2021 is happening between 9am and 1pm on Sunday 12 December, join in the fun at the Foskey Pavillion Darwin Showgrounds. There will be lots of fun and activities… and of course Santa! This is a free event.
Palmerston Christmas Wonderland from 17th December
City of Palmerston will sparkle again this year with the return of Christmas Wonderland to Goyder Square! Grab your family and friends, don a tinsel scarf and reindeer ears, and head down to Goyder Square for a night of magical fun. Kids and adults alike can enjoy a Christmas feast of activities, and ride on Santa’s train past the spectacular Christmas tree. Plus so much more! Festivities commence on Friday 17 December and run until 24 December 2021, 5pm to 9:30pm. Read more here
Multicultural Christmas Day – Sunday 19th December
Fun Bus Christmas Parties – Monday 13th to Friday 17th December
A Christmas party will be held each morning during the week at all Fun bus indoor venues from 9.30 am till 11.30 am. Santa will arrive at 10 am and please bring a plate of food to share for morning tea. All parents and carers with children up to 5 years are invited.
Fun Bus Indoor locations:
Monday – Bagot Community, Bagot Rd Ludmilla
Tuesday & Wednesday – Malak Community Centre, 13 Malak Cres Malak
Thursday & Friday – Lyons Community Centre, 25 Damabila Drive, Lyons
Christmas Pool Party at Casuarina Pool – Sunday 19th December
Join City of Darwin Elected Members at the very popular annual Casuarina Christmas Pool Party. lots of fun activities for all ages from 10am till 1pm with free entry. Sausage Sizzle, jumping castles, fun bus. DJ slinky D, a visit from Santa and much more fun to be had. Register here
Santa Fun on Wheels – Thursday 23rd December
Join in the fun with Santa fun on Wheels leaving at 5pm from Nightcliff Pool . Bring your bike, scooter, skates, unicycle, or trike for a fun ride along the foreshore to Rapid Creek bridge and back. register online to receive your free goodie bag on the day. Register here
Free entry to Nightcliff Pool to cool off before and after ride and open until 8.30pm
Stay on after the ride for Carols by the Sea with Arafura Wind Ensemble and special guests from 6.30 – 8.00pm
Check out some more Christmas fun activities at the City of Darwin Libraries. From Santa’s STEAM zone, Merry LEGO Christmas, Carols at the libraries, Christmas movies, story times and more. Click here to check out all the events.
Darwin and Palmerston lights – Christmas in Darwin 2021
It is always fun at this time of year to take the kids for a drive around the suburbs and check out houses that have Christmas lights and decorations up. I find this Facebook group is great to find locations and places of light displays.
Christmas in Darwin 2021 – Santa photo locations
Casuarina Square – 247 Trower Rd, Casuarina
The jolly man in red has officially arrived at Casuarina Square. Book Santa Photography, Pet Photos and Sensitive Santa online and explore inside his magical workshop! Click here to book now
Palmerston Shopping Centre – 10 Temple Terrace, Palmerston
Santa’s famous Grotto is set up again in Palmerston Shopping Centre and they are taking photos now! Unique Santa photos that can be animals!
Gateway NT – 1 Roystonea Avenue, Yarrawonga
Capture your Christmas memories and have your photo taken with Santa at Gateway! Santa Photos, Pet Santa Photos and Sensitive Santa Photo, Skip the queue click here to book
Coolalinga Central – 425 Stuart Highway, Coolalinga
Santa’s Village Smith Street Mall
Take your own photo with Santa in Santa’s Village in the Smith Street Mall! Santa will be there Monday to Saturdays (closed Sundays) 9.30 am till 11 am then again 11.30 am till 1 pm.
We hope you enjoyed reading this blog and it helped you plan your Christmas in Darwin 2021 with some festive fun for your family. Please leave a comment if you find any other activities or Christmas happenings!
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