2025 Christmas Events in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & the Hunter

It’s coming up to Christmas time again and Newy with Kids is here to help you make this holiday season extra special with our 2025 guide to Christmas events in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland and the Hunter.

From Christmas carols and markets to shows, concerts and movie events, there are so many ways to celebrate across the region. Whether you love a big community event or a smaller local celebration, you’ll find something magical happening near you.

Keep an eye on this page as we add even more Christmas 2025 events in the weeks ahead. Gather your family and friends, check the dates and start planning your holiday fun.

Look for this icon showing our Featured Christmas Events

To make planning even easier, we’ve also created dedicated local guides:

Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Lights Spectacular

Celebrate the festive season with a family night to remember. Wander through dazzling themed light displays made up of over 4 and a half million of twinkling lights, enjoy amazing amusement rides (extra cost), roving entertainment, hearty food, beverages and so much more! Make memories that will shine bright for years to come.

Date: Friday 7 November 2025 – Monday 26 January 2026
Time: 9.00am – 10.30pm
Location: Hunter Valley Gardens, Broke Road, Pokolbin
Cost: Night Pass: $41 (Adult 16+), Child (4-15) $31.00, FREE (3 and under), Day/Night Passes and Family Passes available
Website

Jingle in the City

Get ready to Jingle in the City as Newcastle’s Christmas season officially begins! Head to Wheeler Place. There will be festive live music, carolling choir, dance performances and more. Then enjoy live music performances by local schools and community groups every Friday and Sunday evening at Wheeler Place (next to Civic Theatre).

Due to extreme heat, Friday 5 December’s Jingle in the City has been cancelled. Jingle in the City will return on Sunday 7 December from 4pm, when temperatures are safer and more comfortable for the community.

Date: Fridays & Sundays from Friday 28 November – Sunday 14 December 2025
Time: 5 – 8pm
Location: Wheeler Place, Newcastle
Cost: Free
Website

Christmas in Wallsend Village

Santa will be roaming Nelson Street and Wallsend Village on Thursday 4, 11 and 18 December between 9.30am and 11.30am giving out vouchers to spend at participating stores and spreading joy and happiness leading up to Christmas.

Date: Thursday 4, 11 & 18 December 2025
Time: 9.30 – 11.30am
Location: Nelson Street and Wallsend Village, Wallsend
Cost: Free
Website

Clyde St Arts Christmas Market

Bringing the community together at this vibrant “one night only” event of open studios, art sales, market stalls with second-hand goods and handmade recycled products, food trucks, live music, DJs and vintage Karaoke bus. Avoid the chaos at the big shopping centres this Christmas and join your community to shop local and support local talent

Date: Friday 12 December 2025
Time: 4:30pm – 9.30pm
Location: 50 Clyde St, Hamilton North (western laneway)
Cost: Free
Website

Christmas Under the Stars at King Edward Park

A local Christmas tradition returns! Newcastle Permanent’s Christmas Under the Stars is back at King Edward Park for another evening of free carols and festive fun. From 5.00pm, enjoy live Christmas carols, tasty food vendors, and free kids’ activities including arts and crafts, face painting, and lawn games. Keep an eye out for Santa before settling in for a magical outdoor screening of Elf (2003, PG) with free popcorn! Don’t forget your picnic blanket when you hop on the free shuttle bus running between Bar Beach Car Park and King Edward Park for the carols event Newcastle families look forward to every year.

Date: Saturday 13 December 2025
Time: From 5.00pm (carols) – movie at sundown
Location: King Edward Park, Newcastle
Cost: Free
Website

Carols by the Lake

Join New Vine Lakes at Thomas H. Halton Park, Croudace Bay for a much-loved evening of carols, community, and festive fun featuring free kids’ activities, live music, and a sing-along. Bring a picnic or enjoy a meal from the food vendors and celebrate the season together by the lake.

Date: Saturday 13 December 2025
Time: From 6pm
Location: Thomas H. Halton Park, Croudace Bay
Cost: Free
Website

HMC Newcastle Christmas Extravaganza 2025

Wander through a wonderland of unique stalls offering handcrafted gifts, festive homewares, gourmet goodies, and locally made treasures. Find something special for everyone on your list while supporting talented local creators. Kid’s Zone with Christmas crafts, face painting, and more festive fun! Keep an eye out for Santa Claus. Pet Zone with treats, accessories, and a paw-some festive pet parade. Plus food trucks, live entertainment and more! Soak in the sounds of the season as you explore, shop, and celebrate.

Date: Sunday 14 December 2025
Time: 9am – 3pm
Location: Hunter Multicultural Communities, Waratah
Cost: Free
Website

Lake Mac Carols

Lake Macquarie City Council is proud to present a spectacular evening of entertainment, as they count down to Christmas at the Lake Mac Carols by Candlelight event at Speers Point Park.

Take your picnic rug, sing along to the live entertainment, enjoy a fun program of family-friendly activities, feast at the onsite food trucks and revel in the joy of season with a special visit from Santa!

Date: Sunday 14 December 2025
Time: 3 – 8.45pm
Location: Speers Point Park
Cost: Free
Website

Maitland Christmas Movie Night

Families can enjoy an evening of fun with kids’ activities, free popcorn and delicious treats, leading to a screening of How the Grinch Stole Christmas under the stars. Enjoy a range of family-friendly activities including kids craft such as create your own Christmas wreath, a visit from Santa and the Lochinvar Fire Brigade, lawn games, free popcorn, and The Grinch on the big screen.

Date: Thursday 18 December 2025
Time: 5 – 9pm
Cost: Free
Location: Maitland Regional Sportsground
Website

Lambton Park Carols

The annual Lambton Park Carols is a family-friendly, community celebration of Christmas organised by Hunter Bible Church. The popular event includes food stalls and a fireworks finale. Get a group together and enjoy a picnic to celebrate Christmas.

Date: Sunday 21 December 2025
Time: 5-9pm
Location: Lambton Park
Cost: Free
Website

One Song Sing – Last Christmas Mash Up

This year’s Christmas One Song Sing is Last Christmas Mashup, a mashup of ‘Last Christmas’ by Wham! and ‘Birds of a Feather’ by Billie Eilish. Newcastle’s own enormously popular pop-up community choir returns to help sing in the end of the year. Join in for a special Christmas One Song Sing in Wheeler Place. Learn the song, in a three-part harmony, in one hour with friends, family and complete strangers.

Date: Monday 22 December 2025
Time: From 5.30pm
Location: Wheeler Place, Civic Theatre, Newcastle
Cost: Free, but registration required
Website

🎄 🎅🏼 Make sure that you don’t miss any of the other fun and family-friendly Christmas events and activities in Newcastle and the Hunter, visit the Newy with Kids Guide to Christmas.