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: Christmas Launch Event

Get ready to Jingle in the City as Newcastle’s Christmas season officially begins! Head to Wheeler Place on Friday 28 November from 5pm – 8pm for the lighting of the Christmas tree with the Deputy Lord Mayor Cr Charlotte McCabe, Santa and the Elves with Bells. Enjoy a festive DJ, live performances, a kids’ craft station, food trucks, and Santa photos – the perfect opportunity to capture magical memories. Even your pets are welcome to join in the fun!

Enjoy an evening full of festive fun, including:

Santa photos and roving performers, the ‘Elves with Bells’
Festive live music, carolling choir and dance performances
Sweet treats from LuLu’s Gelato Co and Doughheads’ Christmas range
Christmas bell craft station and Letters to Santa
A joyful “Jingle Bells” finale with a jazz band, choir and dancers

Date: Friday 28 November 2025
Time: 5pm – 8pm
Location: Wheeler Place (next to Civic Theatre)
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

Cessnock Carols in the Park 2025

The much-loved Cessnock City Council’s Carol in the Park is back! There’ll be food stalls, market stalls, fun activities and entertainment. Of course, the night would not be complete without a visit from the man himself. Gates open at 5pm. Fireworks from 9pm. This is a FREE family event! Please Note: Carols in the Park 2024 is strictly an alcohol-free event. BYO picnic rug or picnic chairs for seating.

Date: Friday 5 December 2025
Time: 5 – 9:30pm
Location: Cessnock Sportsground
Cost: Free
Website

Maitland Christmas Movie Night

This year you can head on down to Maitland Regional Sportsground on Saturday 6 December for the 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. Tickets are just $5 for adults, while children aged 17 and under can attend for free.

Date: Saturday 6 December 2025
Time: 5 – 9pm
Cost: $5 per person
Location: Maitland Regional Sportsground
Website

Carols at the Bay

There’s something special about Christmas by the water. Proudly sponsored by Ray White The Knaggs Group and hosted by the Combined Churches of Tomaree Peninsula, this free community event brings everyone together to celebrate the heart of Christmas with beautiful carols, local performances, and a stunning fireworks finale. Community performances begin at 5.30pm, main concert starts at 7pm, fireworks light up the sky at 9pm. Bring your picnic rug, grab some dinner from local food stalls, and enjoy a night that captures the true spirit of Christmas.

Date: Sunday 7 December 2025
Time: 5.30 – 9pm
Location: Fly Point Park, Nelson Bay
Cost: Free
Website

Bikers for Kids Newcastle Toy Run

The Bikers for Kids Newcastle Toy Run is an extraordinary festive season favourite for both spectators and riders alike. With theme an emphasis on family-friendly activities, the purpose is to unite the community and help bring joy into the lives of countless families in the Hunter Region through fundraising efforts benefiting the Salvos’ local Christmas Appeal. Along with prizes for best-dressed families and bikes there’ll be Santa photos, plentiful food options, markets, motorcycle displays and accessories, amusements, rides and live music.

Date: Sunday 7 December 2025
Time: From 9am (Carrington), from 10am (Stockton)
Location: Connolly Park, Carrington & Ballast Ground, Stockton
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

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

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.