Family Christmas Guide: Christmas Markets, Lights, Carols, Meet Santa & Kids Gift Ideas in Illawarra
Searching for magical Christmas lights, local Christmas markets, Santa photo’s, Carols or kid’s gift ideas? Here at Parents Guide Illawarra, we’ve wrapped up the best of Christmas events in Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Illawarra wide! Get inspired for family fun times this season. We’ve included many free Christmas events too.
Pssst, Christmas is amazing, but those long summer holidays are tough. We got you! Read our sanity saving, Illawarra Summer School Holiday Activities & What’s on Guide.
Where to Meet Santa in the Illawarra
- Santa’s Arrival & Parade at Dapto Mall, Saturday 15 November, from 9.30am. Santa will arrive on a Dapto Rural Fire Brigade truck, followed by a festive parade featuring Mrs Claus, Rudolph, Spidey, Olaf & Elsa, a Minion, a brass band, and more. Enjoy free balloon sculptures, face painting, and photo opportunities with your favourite characters. Santa Photos start from 10:20am (bookings essential). More info here
- Santa’s Arrival at Crown Street Mall, Wollongong, Sunday 9 November, 10am – 2pm. Enjoy a special Christmas show, Santa’s Arrival with band and Christmas friends, and a parade through Wollongong Central. Santa’s helpers will be handing out candy canes along the way. More event info here.
- The Fraternity Club’s Festive Fun Day + MEGA Toy Raffle, Saturday 6 December, 11am – 2pm – Celebrate the season at The Frat’s Festive Fun Day with free face painting, a nativity scene with farm animals, live music, a Christmas craft corner, and a photo with Santa.
- Illawarra Light Railway’s Ride the Christmas Train – Sunday 14 December, 10am – 2pm – The museum will be transformed into a Christmas Wonderland for a great fun family day out + photo opportunities with Santa and Mrs Clause.
Illawarra Christmas Markets
- Wollongong Makers Market, Saturday 8 November – Sunday 9 November, 9am – 3pm – Discover unique, handmade Christmas gifts and support local artisans at the UOW Innovation Campus
- Bulli Showground Village Christmas Market, Sunday 14 December, 9am – 2pm – Handmade, local, delicious! A must-visit in December at Bulli Showground.
- Illawarra’s Mega Indoor Christmas Market, Sunday 7 December, 10am – 3pm – Featuring 125 of the best stalls for all your Christmas shopping, plus free Christmas craft activities for the kids. Located at Shellharbour City Stadium.
- Kiama Christmas Market – Saturday 20 December – Sunday 21 December, 11am – 5pm – Boutique gifts, festive nibbles, and local entertainment for the whole family. Located at Black Beach, Kiama Harbour.
Check out our sister website, What’s on in Wollongong’s Ultimate Guide to Illawarra markets
Best Christmas Light Displays in Wollongong & Illawarra
After dinner and sunset, pop the kids in the car and cruise the Illawarra’s best suburbs and streets for Christmas lights. Crank up the Christmas tunes and enjoy the magic of these amazing home displays.
Here are the best Illawarra suburbs for Christmas lights:
- Woonona’s Edgewood Estate
- Farmborough Heights
- Cordeau Heights
- Albion Park & Albion Park Rail
- Figtree
- Horsley
Get more streets and suburbs for the Best Wollongong & Illawarra Christmas Light Displays.
Christmas Carols
Singing is good for the soul! Here’s our best Illawarra Christmas Carols:
- Carols in MacCabe Park, Wollongong, Thursday 11 December, 6.30pm – 8.30pm. Enjoy a magical evening of carols led by the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music, including face painting, food, roving entertainment, and a special visit from Santa. Bring your picnic rug or chair too.
View our What’s On calendar for all Christmas, NYE & School Holiday Activities
Best Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids (Local & Online!)
Support local AND get meaningful gifts:
- Early Start Discovery Space Gift Membership – Perfect for curious little minds!
- Revolution Laser Arena & VR Gift Vouchers – Great for active kids and teens who love the challenge of laser tag and cool virtual reality fun.
- Green Connect Eco-Gift Packs – Sustainable and local + outdoor fun for the whole family.
- Flip Out Albion Park Passes – Active, indoor fun that lasts beyond Christmas Day!
- Hayley Haynes Family & Portrait Photographer – Gift beautiful memories this festive season with a personalised photo shoot.
- A Gift Voucher to Kids Classes – dance, martial arts, coding, art + more! – Give the gift of fun and learning this Christmas with a kids’ class voucher
- Hangdog Indoor Climbing Gym – Give the gift of adventure with a Hangdog Climbing Gym voucher – fun, active, and perfect for all ages!
- Northern Bowl, Bellambi – Strike up some fun this Christmas with a Northern Bowl family voucher
More Kids Christmas Events
Photo c/o The Illawarra Mercury
Looking for even more family-friendly Christmas events happening across Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and the Illawarra? Our top Christmas events are:
- The Fraternity Club’s Festive Fun Day + MEGA Toy Raffle, Saturday 6 December, 11am – 2pm – Celebrate the season at The Frat’s Festive Fun Day with free face painting, a nativity scene with farm animals, live music, a Christmas craft corner, and a photo with Santa.
- Illawarra Light Railway’s Ride the Christmas Train – Sunday 14 December, 10am – 2pm – The museum will be transformed into a Christmas Wonderland for a great fun family day out + photo opportunities with Santa and Mrs Clause.
Explore the full list of Christmas events, markets and what’s on here
Where to buy Christmas Trees (live ones)
- Bunnings (Kembla Grange, Shellharbour & Bellambi) – Potted Christmas-style trees available beginning of December. Cypress pine varieties; reusable year after year
- Leisure Coast Garden Centre – Cut trees in stock from 30 November on a first-in, best-dressed basis. Smaller potted trees also available
- Burnetts On Barney (Kiama) – Trees available from 30 November.
- Santa’s Farm (Tullimbar) – Freshly cut trees available from 1 December, 9am. Open 7 days a week until sold out.
- Christmas World (Albion Park) – Freshly cut USA-style, Australian-grown trees from 1 December
- Bulli Greengrocer – Trees available around the beginning of December. Option to pre-order and get a call when trees arrive
- Tilba Farm Trees (Wentworth Christmas Festival) – 5–9′ tall, beautifully shaped trees grown on Tilba Farm
- The Rose Tree Garden Centre (Berry) – Traditional potted Christmas trees available. Many slow-growing varieties suitable for reuse year after year
Parents Guide Illawarra – More what’s on for kids & family
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Check out these articles below for more ideas on things to do and places to see in Wollongong or the Illawarra (and surrounds):
- 10 BEST Playgrounds in Wollongong, Shellharbour & Shoalhaven areas
- Best Gated Playgrounds in the Illawarra!
- Best Toddler-friendly Playgrounds in Wollongong and the Illawarra
- Best babies, toddlers, school-aged and teen classes / after-school activities
- What to do in Wollongong with a baby. New Parents Guide to The Illawarra
- What to do in Wollongong with toddlers. Illawarra’s best kids’ activities
- Click here for ideas on Illawarra outings you could do with your family to have quality family time
- 10 Family Friendly Cycle Rides in Wollongong. Best Bike Tracks in the Illawarra
- 5 Fantastic Family Adventures in the Illawarra
- Beautiful and free ways for families to enjoy the cooler weather in the Illawarra
- Best gated playgrounds in the Illawarra!
- Best Family Day Trips from the Illawarra. Get Inspired!