Deck the halls and celebrate Christmas in style
Put up the tree, wrap the presents and string up the lights, ‘cos Santa Claus is coming to town.
And what better way to celebrate this beautiful season than to put full voice to one of our favourite carols as we explore all things Christmas on the Northern Beaches.
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Christmas is certainly the time to decorate the halls, house, town and beyond. And while holly might not be our thing here in Australia, Christmas trees certainly are, and nothing beats the real thing as the centerpiece for your festive decorations.
Starting in 2018, local business Aussie Christmas Trees has been offering a wide selection of real trees with all their beautiful scent, including Blue Spruce, Radiata Pine and Douglas Fir. Royal Far West in Manly serves as our own Christmas tree forest. Simply pre-order and collect or walk in and browse for the perfect tree.
Even more importantly, Aussie Christmas Trees donates a portion of profits to a range of Sydney charities.
‘Tis the season to be jolly
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Join the vibrant Dee Why community for a very jolly Christmas by the Beach at James Meehan Reserve. Pack a picnic, grab a takeaway from one of Dee Why’s many restaurants or choose something delicious from a range of food vendors operating onsite while you enjoy carols and a children’s Christmas show.
The event opens at 4pm with free face painting and Santa photos. The show starts at 5pm and is headlined by ARIA-nominated Australian Children’s band The Vegetable Plot, with Aspara Gus, Sir Paul McCarrotney and Ru Barb serving up a funky-fresh soundtrack.
Northern Beaches Chorus and Northern Beaches Symphonic Wind Ensemble will then lead the way with some wonderful traditional Christmas carols.
Santa photo session times:
- 4-4.30pm
- 45-5.15pm
- 30-6pm
- 15-6.45pm
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Put on your best Christmas gear and mark the moment with a family photo with the big man in the red suit.
On Saturday 9 December Aussie Santa and his trusty Elf will be in The Corso, Manly, for a meet and greet from 10am to 4pm.
For an iconically Australian Santa photo, just add water … and sand and sun.
Santas Downunder will be setting up the studio on Collaroy Beach at Florence Ave, Collaroy, on select dates from 24 November to 23 December. They also offer sessions at Manly Wharf. Jump online and book early.
If you’d prefer to play the Santa role, get into spirit of the global phenomenon known as Surfing Santas and don your own red suit and hat before taking on the waves. If you don’t have your own board, simply hire a stand-up paddleboard, surfboard or kayak from one of our Northern Beaches rental businesses.
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Okay so we had to Google this one. Forget the modern definition of troll, in this case it means to sing a song in full voice. So warm up those vocal cords and celebrate the season with an enchanting evening of carols by the sea. The Northern Beaches hosts several beachside carols events where families gather to sing their favorite festive tunes. Grab a picnic blanket, pack a basket and head to beach-side venues like Manly, Narrabeen or Newport.
Manly gets into the spirit early with the Christmas Choral Concert at Manly Oval on Thursday 7 December. All your favourite carols will be performed by the Northern Beaches Orchestra, the Community Christmas Choir and local artists.
There will be face painting and even a visit from Santa.
This is a free event. Gates will open at 5pm, with the concert commencing at 6.30pm. Food vendors will operate from 5pm to 8.30pm.
Free ID wristbands are available for children at the entry gates or from the information tent.
Carols by the Lake held on Saturday 16 December on Lake Park Rd, North Narrabeen, is a fantastic Christmas community event with traditional carols, a visit from Santa and a spectacular fireworks display over the lake.
Early birds can set up from 4pm, with entertainment starting at 6pm and the main carols event at 7pm.
See the blazing yule before us
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Google again – this is a blazing log. While we certainly don’t need to burn a yule log in the middle of a scorching hot Christmas, nothing says Christmas celebrations like a bit of fire in the sky and homes lit up against the darkness.
For spectacular Christmas Eve fireworks displays, head to Manly, Dee Why, Frenchs Forest or Bayview for 9pm sessions, or to Bayview for a midnight display.
Residents of the Northern Beaches also love to light up the night with their dazzling Christmas displays. Many local neighbourhoods go all out to create spectacular lighting installations, attracting people from all over Sydney to stroll our festive streets, such as Borgnis St in Davidson.
Strike the harp and join the chorus
Fa la la la la, la la la la
There’s no more traditional way to mark Christmas than attending a church service complete with carols and camels.
Each year St Matthews on the Corso in Manly strikes up the chorus with a beautiful carols service topped off with a recreation of the Bible story of the birth of Christ with wise men journeying through the Corso on camels.
This year’s family carols with camels takes place at 3pm and 4.30pm (4.30pm livestreamed), while evening carols will be 7pm, 9pm and 11pm (9pm livestreamed).
Follow me in merry measure
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Get into the Christmas spirit with the annual Manly Santa Sunday Session, formerly known as the Santa Claus Pub Crawl. Dress up as Santa, Rudolf, an elf or any other festive character and join the merry crowd as they crawl through the lively bars and venues of Manly while raising money for local charity Stewart House, which helps disadvantaged children.
Meet at The Hotel Steyne at 12 noon on Sunday 10 December to join the fun.
While I tell of Yule-tide treasure
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Go Christmas treasure hunting at our many vibrant markets. Search out unique gifts and one-of-a-kind decorations or indulge in the delicious food stalls.
Head to the Northern Beaches Christmas Markets 2023 at Lakeside Park, Lake Park Rd, North Narrabeen, on Sunday 3 December from 8am to 2pm.
Grab a bite to eat, enjoy live local music and have a free photo with Santa!
Get your Christmas shopping done while supporting small local businesses at Pittwater Christmas Market in Mona Vale Village Park on Saturday 9 December, 10am-4pm.
St Paul’s College in Manly adds a European flavour to Christmas with the twilight Paris to Manly Xmas Market offering gift shopping, gourmet French food, a wine bar and live music under the stars on Saturday 2 December, 3-8pm.
Hail the new year, lads and lasses
Fa la la la la, la la la la
What better way to see out the old year and herald in the new than by indulging in a festive dining experience with a side dish of stunning ocean panoramas, offered by many Northern Beaches restaurants.
Be sure to book a table in advance to secure your spot.
Heedless of the wind and weather
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Christmas on the Northern Beaches is a truly special experience, offering a combination of sun, sand and festive cheer. From vibrant markets to beachside carols, dazzling light displays, and thrilling water activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Embrace the holiday spirit, create cherished memories and celebrate Christmas in style on the beautiful Northern Beaches in 2023.
Fa la la la la, la la la la