Event details

Experience the magic of the City of Perth Festival of Christmas. Kicking off Friday 11 November with the popular Turning on the Christmas Lights, the Festival includes over six weeks of Christmas activities including roving carolling in the city's streets and Malls, free festive movies at the Northbridge Piazza and the Christmas Nativity concerts in Forrest Place.

City of Perth Christmas Decorations

When: Until Thursday 6 January
Where: In the City

Marvel at Christmas lights and decorations in the City. See the magical Christmas Tree in Forrest Place, giant Christmas Cards in Murray Street Mall, Nativity scene at Council House and the Bethlehem Star and lighting display at The Bell Tower.

Turning on the Christmas Lights

Proudly Sponsored by David Jones
When: Friday 11 November
Where: Forrest Place
Time: 7.00pm (Lights on at 7.30pm)

Enjoy a free family variety show before Santa and the Lord Mayor throw the switch to light up the City of Perth's 100,000 Christmas lights and decorations. Pre-event activities will start from 6.30pm to entertain families who arrive early to secure a seat. Find out more...

12 Days of Christmas Trail

When: Friday 2 to Saturday 24 December
Where: In the City

Pick up your trail brochure from the marquee in Murray Street Mall and wind your way through the City's colourfully decorated malls and laneways to discover Christmas performances, special displays and small gifts. This year, follow the trail to countdown the 12 Days of Christmas in shop windows and tucked away spaces across the city. Find out more...

Twilight Hawkers Market

When: Friday 2, 9 and 16 December
Where: Forrest Place
Time: 5.00pm to 8.00pm

Sample cuisine from around the globe including Indonesian satays, Spanish paella, Turkish gozlemes and Moroccan tagines at these international food markets. As an accompaniment to your meal, enjoy free live music and roving Festive entertainment under a string of paper lanterns in Forrest Place. Find out more...

Friday Night Christmas Entertainment

When: Friday 2, 9 and 16 December
Where: Forrest Place
Time: 5.00pm to 8.00pm

After grabbing a bite to eat at the Twilight Hawkers Market, take a seat in Forrest Place and enjoy carolling groups and bands on the new stage.

Illuminites at the Perth Cultural Centre

When: Friday 9th and 16th December
Where: Perth Cultural Centre
Time: 5.00pm to 10.00pm

The Perth Cultural Centre will be alight with festivity this Christmas. For two Fridays in December, (9 and 16), EPRA and the Department of Culture and the Arts will light up the Perth Cultural Centre with FREE evening celebrations as part of the city-wide Festival of Christmas.

Between 5pm and 10pm each evening, the Perth Cultural Centre will be humming with markets, family activities and live entertainment. The funky designers and retailers of William Street will also showcase a vast range of beautiful designs and Christmas gift ideas. As darkness falls, a stunning new light-based public art installation will light up the area – set to provide a dazzling display! Find out more...

RAC Channel 7 Christmas Pageant with the City of Perth

When: Sunday 4 December
Where: Langley Park
Time: 9.30am

Enjoy all the color and spectacle of the parade, plus a big family carnival. It will start with a Telethon Sizzle at 8am, parade around Langley Park from 9.30am, carnival rides and family entertainment from 10.30am to 2.00pm. Find out more...

Piazzarama Northbridge

When: Sunday 4 December
Where: Northbridge Piazza
Time: 12pm to 8pm

Piazzarama Northbridge is a free event featuring roving characters, kids’ activities and a children’s film. The December event will have a Christmas theme with Santa and carollers making an appearance. Find out more...

Christmas Sunday Bands

When: Sunday 4 and 11 December
Where: Forrest Place
Time: 1pm to 3pm

Enjoy live performances from local Western Australian bands on Sunday afternoons in December.

East Perth Twilight Christmas Picnic in the Park

When: Thursday 8 December
Where: Victoria Gardens
Time: 6.30pm to 9.30pm

The East Perth Crime and Safety Committee present the annual East Perth Twilight Christmas in the Park. The event includes live entertainment, a magician, Santa and his helper and the City of Perth Band. All monies raised are donated to charity. Find out more...

City of Perth Christmas Funfair

When: Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 December
Where: Forrest Place
Time: 11am to 4pm

Bring the family and enjoy this Christmas Funfair right in the heart of the City. The Funfair includes free kids rides, live music performances and even a visit from Santa and his helper! Find out more...

Symphony in the City

When: Saturday 10 December
Where: The Esplanade Reserve
Time: 6.30pm

Join in with 10,000 people on the Esplanade Reserve for this world class performance that features the acclaimed WASO Chorus and the full WASO orchestra. Featuring the Swan Bells and 7 Field Battery of The Australian Army Reserve Artillery, this event is a stunning highlight of the Perth festive calendar. Find out more...

Lunchtime Carolling Performances

When: Monday 12 to Friday 16 December
Where: Forrest Place

Enjoy a lunch break with a difference as carolers from around Perth bring some festive cheer to Forrest Place with renditions of all the much loved Christmas classics.

Festive Flicks

When: Monday 12 December to Saturday 24 December
Where: Northbridge Piazza

Get into the Christmas spirit with a series of feature films revolving around the festive season. Highlights include Muppet’s Christmas Carol, Blizzard, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Love Actually, plus Forrest Place’s Nativity celebrations streamed live to the screen. Find out more...

IGA Carols by Candlelight

When: Sunday 18 December
Where: Supreme Court Gardens
Time: 7.30pm

This annual Christmas variety concert will take place under the stars. Families can bring a rug and a picnic and sing along to their favourite Christmas carols. Children’s activities commence from 6.30pm. Find out more...

Santa Trains

When: Wednesday 21, Thursday 22 and Friday 23 December

Santa is swapping his sleigh for a train this Christmas. Enjoy a magical experience with Santa and his helper on various train lines. Find out more...

Christmas Nativity

When: Wednesday 21, Thursday 22 and Friday 23 December
Where: In the City
Time: 7.30pm

The traditional story of Christmas is brought to life in Forrest Place with hundreds of performers, live animals and Christmas carols. Be sure to bring the whole family to this enchanting annual event. Find out more...

Roving Carollers and Santa

When: Until 24 Dec
Where: In the City

Merry carollers spread the Christmas spirit by singing their way around the City. Santa and his helper will be handing out Christmas goodies and spreading Christmas cheer to shoppers. Find out more...

Retail Trading Hours

City stores are open every day until Christmas! The City has Perth’s biggest array of stores where you can purchase the perfect Christmas gift.