All the ways you can celebrate Christmas in The Rocks

Christmas singalongs, free picnics in the park and long summer nights – this intimate festive concert series ticks all the boxes for an ideal Sydney summer night. Grab your nearest and dearest and head over to The Rocks on Friday, December 15 and Saturday, December 16 for two free nights of soulful Aussie Christmas performances. Artists will have the chance to express what Christmas means to them as they sing special renditions of Christmas classics and original songs. The free concerts kick off at 6pm in First Fleet Park with Dan Sultan and Jack River on Friday night and Josh Pyke and Lisa Mitchell on Saturday night supported by First Nations led choir Barayagal, Babitha and Jem Cassar-Daley.

Before the stars come out and the concert begins, why not indulge in a leisurely meal at one of The Rocks' 50 impressive restaurants and bars? Fancy a tipple? Hickson House Distilling Co distils the essence of Sydney into their local gins. Or perhaps Kangaroo with warrigal greens at Pony Dining whets your appetite? Remember, a bottle of BYO wine from Barrelhouse Cellars pairs perfectly with the concert’s picnic vibe.

The Rocks is bringing back its Laneway Cinema this summer and you can watch unexpected Christmas favourites under the stars for free. Cosy up on a bean bag or comfy deck chair in front of the big screen, as they play crowd-pleasers like Batman Returns (Dec 6), Gremlins (Dec 13) and Scrooged (Dec 20). You can nab a bag of popcorn for $2, with proceeds donated to OzHarvest, or grab a bite to eat or drink beforehand at one of The Rocks’ many fantastic restaurants and bars. Films screen at 7pm every Wednesday night. For the best seats in the house, we recommend you pre-register over here as walk-ups are limited. 

Wander the cobblestone laneways of The Rocks on December weekends and you’ll discover a magical Christmas open-air market packed with crafty creations, handmade gifts and festive eats. It’s the perfect place to tick off your Christmas shopping list and meet local artisans selling hand-crafted jewellery, boutique clothing and accessories, candles, locally designed prints and more. The feel good festivities continue with The Rocks Markets’ DIY Christmas hampers, which you can fill with food and gifts from the markets. All proceeds from sales of the baskets go to OzHarvest. The Rocks Markets are hosted every Saturday in December from 10am to 6pm and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. After wandering through the stalls, head over to Dawes Point Park for a picnic under the bridge. Enjoy all your delicious market goodies with free picnic rugs, cushions and blankets available.

There’s no better place to get in the festive spirit than at Christmas Wonderlanes. You’ll find lots of festive photo opportunities including under The Rocks' towering seven-metre-high Christmas tree. This year, the tree is decorated with an Australian and First Nations aesthetic with native florals and custom-made baubles from First Nations artist Shelby Rae Kschenka (Marara Designs). You can also wander around The Rocks to discover the Christmas Village, with mural artwork created by Sydney-based contemporary artist Nico Nicoson. Each village is a tiny replica of classic Rocks architecture with artwork capturing our favourite elements of a summer Christmas from backyard cricket to family feasts by the pool. Christmas Wonderlanes is free to explore from November 16 to December 26.

Christmas is all about love, joy... and food. For a fancy festive feast head to 6Head where you can cut into some of the city’s finest steaks by the waterfront. If it’s a classic Australian seafood lunch you’re after, then make a family booking at Harbour Seafood Restaurant or Saké Restaurant and Bar. Our resident food and drink fanatic recommends popping into the wine bar at Le Foote for a glass of vino and a top notch snack, while gin lovers can wander up to Hickson House Distilling Co and whisky nerds should check out The Doss House. You can also keep it simple with beer and barbecue at the Tap Rooms, or daily specials on the Glenmore rooftop.

You can do better than soap or silly socks this Christmas. Whether you’re shopping for your parents, partner, long-lost cousin or furry friend, The Rocks is full of boutique shops selling gifts and goodies that’ll really make an impression. You can head to the MCA Store for artsy books and paintings, Dux Collection for handmade candles and self-care gift boxes, Hunt Leather Luggage Co for designer bags, or AHW Studio for industrial steampunk men’s jewellery. The Rocks’ Christmas Market is also a go-to for the most quirky, sustainable and Sydney-centric gifts ranging from geometric suncatchers and leather AirPods cases to grow-your-own-tea kits and adorable Australian animal prints.