Giant Christmas tree ready to light up City of Adelaide

Father Christmas has arrived at Adelaide Town Hall and Victoria Square/Tartanyangga is about to be turned into a festive wonderland, starting with the lighting of the giant Christmas Tree on Saturday 16 November.

From 5.00 pm to 9. 00 pm, there will be a whole raft of Christmas cheer filling the Square, including free family activities, roving characters and facepainting.

Get into the festive spirit with a night of live music and favourite Christmas carols from the City of Adelaide Pipe Band, Australian Girls Choir, City of Adelaide Concert Band, Charmaine Jones and the Gospo Collective.

Feast from a smorgasbord of food trucks then watch the official lighting of the Christmas Tree at 8.30 pm. And those hoping for something special this Christmas can post their Christmas wish letter to Santa.

The Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Sandy Verschoor, will be joined by special guests, Elsie Purdey and Elsie Huxtable, the youngest two performers from Jones Juniors to flick the switch.

Open from 5pm – 9pm every day from the 13 – 22 December, Christmas Lights, Festive Nights, will see Victoria Square/Tartanyangga transformed into a festive playground, bursting with colour, music, Christmas movies and activities.

The highlight will be the life-sized Santa Sleigh and Rudolph the Reindeer display made with over 130,000 LEGO bricks and created by local LEGO enthusiasts from Southern Bricks Lego User Group Inc. There will also be giant candy canes, elves and North Pole Street signs, all made from Lego. Visitors can hop into Santa’s Sleigh from 5pm each day and get a photo against the backdrop of the beautiful Christmas Tree.

Fridays will see the Square come alive with Christmas movies, and Saturdays and Sundays will feature Christmas markets where people can hunt down that special gift. Free family activities including face-painting, craft workshops, giant games, plus live music, choir performances and roving Christmas entertainment. And don’t forget that the Christmas Tree lights up every night at 8.30 pm.

North Adelaide will get into the Christmas spirit with Twilight Christmas Markets on 7 December from 4p – -8pm and on 15 December from 4pm – 11pm at 88 O’Connell Street. Shoppers can stay for the merry movie put on by the North Adelaide Precinct Association. There will also be Christmas displays, community choir performances, entertainment and more.

The Ebenezer Night Markets is another chance to source gifts for those hard-to-buy-for friends and family. Happening on the 14 and 21 December in Ebenezer Place in the East End, shoppers will find jewellery, clothing, plants, homewares, cards and much, much more.

Lord Mayor of Adelaide Sandy Verschoor said that the city is an activity-filled place to be at Christmas time.

“The Christmas Pageant signals the start of Christmas in Adelaide and the lighting of the giant Christmas Tree has become a much-loved way for families to celebrate this magical time of year.

“The city will come alive with decorations and lights, as well as all sorts of festive fun for people of all ages to enjoy. The life-sized Lego Santa in Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga has become a firm favourite with the young people, and in the evenings bring your picnic rug and settle back and enjoy those feel-good Christmas movies.

“Between the various Christmas markets, our city’s main streets filled with local stores and products, Rundle Mall and Rundle Street, finding that perfect gift for loved ones is covered.

“While shopping in Rundle Mall, be sure to check out the Christmas windows that bring to life the magic of Christmas. Ten windows have been individually themed to celebrate our festive rituals and Christmas in Adelaide.

“And of course, the Adelaide Central Market will help provide inspiration for those tasty Christmas treats with extended trading hours.

“There is so much to see and do in the city at Christmas so come in and soak it all up with your friends and family and enjoy this special time of year.”

Showcasing the beautiful historic surrounds of the Adelaide Town Hall, the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Gala Concert on 8 December will feature performances from some of Adelaide’s best musicians. Entry is free for City of Adelaide residents. Tickets available through BASS.

For more Christmas music, Elder Park will once again come alive with voices young and old at theTorrens Transit Carols by Candlelight on 7 December.

The City of Adelaide collaborates with Rundle Mall and the Adelaide Central Market in presenting the Christmas in the City program.

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