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.
Santa’s Arrival Parade – Dapto Mall, Saturday 14 November
Get ready for some Christmas magic as Santa arrives at Dapto Mall on Saturday 14 November, 9.30am–11.30am! Bring the kids along for a FREE festive parade featuring Santa & Mrs Claus, Elsa & Olaf, Spidey, a Minion, Christmas elves, a brass band + more! Enjoy FREE face painting, balloon sculptures, character meet-and-greets and live entertainment. No bookings needed for the free activities. Santa photos are available from 10.20am, with bookings essential. Find out more here.
Where to get Santa Photos:
Santa Photos at Dapto Mall
Santa Photos, Sensitive Santa, Pet Photos + WIN a $10,000 Family Holiday at Dapto Mall! Make magical Christmas memories at Santa’s Enchanted Forest from 14 November to 24 December! Book your family Santa photos, enjoy special discounts of up to $20, explore quieter Sensitive Santa sessions for children with additional needs, or bring your furry friends along for Pet Photos with Santa! PLUS, book and have your Santa photo taken by 4 December for your chance to WIN a $10,000 family holiday! Explore all the festive fun and book your Santa photos here.
Santa Photos at Wollongong Central
Santa Photos at Wollongong Central – PLUS $10 OFF Early Bird Offer! Capture magical Christmas memories at Wollongong Central’s brand-new Santa Set from Sunday 8 November to Christmas Eve! Choose from traditional family Santa photos, special Pet Photo sessions (16 Nov–16 Dec) or quieter, sensory-friendly Sensitive Santa sessions (15 Nov–6 Dec). Plus, enjoy $0 booking fees and $10 OFF Santa photo packages of $40 or more on weekdays from 9–30 November with promo code P26WOLLONGONG10 (excludes Pet & Sensitive Santa sessions). Located on Level 1, outside Peter Alexander. Book your Santa photos here! T&Cs apply.
Christmas Markets
More Christmas Markets:
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:
Carols by Candlelight 2026, Shellharbour
Christmas Carols are coming to Croom! Gather the family and kick off the festive season at Croom Regional Sporting Complex on Friday 4 December, 5pm–9pm. Enjoy Christmas music, festive food, local goodies + plenty of Christmas cheer for the whole family. Grab your Christmas tee, bring your crew and make a night of it!
Carols in McCabe Park, Wollongong
Carols in MacCabe Park – FREE Christmas Family Fun! Bring the family to MacCabe Park, Wollongong on Thursday 10 December, 6.30pm–8.30pm for a magical evening of Christmas carols, live music & festive entertainment! Enjoy performances by Damien Leith, the Wollongong City Brass Band, local choirs & more, plus face painting, food, roving entertainment, exciting stage shows & a special visit from Santa!
View our What’s On calendar for all Christmas, NYE & School Holiday Activities
Best Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids (Local & Online!)
Christmas Shopping, Santa Photos & Festive Family Fun at Wollongong Central
Christmas Shopping, Santa Photos & Festive Family Fun at Wollongong Central! Make a day of it at Wollongong Central and get your Christmas shopping wrapped up early! Discover great-value gifts, stocking fillers, Secret Santa presents, festive fashion, beauty and homewares at favourites including TK Maxx, Target, JB Hi-Fi and The Reject Shop. Plus, enjoy magical Santa photos at the brand-new Santa Set, festive photo opportunities, gift-wrapping options and plenty of Christmas cheer. Everything you need for Christmas, all in one place! Plan your visit to Wollongong Central over the festive season here.
More Christmas Gift Inspo!
Support local AND get meaningful gifts:
- Early Start Discovery Space Gift Membership – Perfect for curious little minds!
- Revolution Laser Arena & Virtual Reality 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
- PLUS – check out our Top 12 Toy Shops in Wollongong Shellharbour and Illawarra guide here
More Kids Christmas Events:
Kids Christmas Craft Workshops at Dapto Mall – 3 Festive Activities!
3 Magical Christmas Craft Workshops for Kids at Dapto Mall! Get the kids into the festive spirit with 3 fun, hands-on Christmas workshops! Create your own sparkling Christmas baubles (Sat 28 Nov), paint & eat a delicious giant Christmas cookie (Sat 5 Dec) or make a magical Christmas snow globe (Sun 6 Dec)! Perfect for kids aged 5+, with sessions from 9.30am. Bookings essential – secure your spots for some festive creative fun!
Kids Christmas Events at Dapto Mall
FREE Christmas Fun at Dapto Mall – Spidey, Wolverine & an Elf Magic Show! Bring the kids along for some festive fun! Meet Illawarra’s Friendly Neighbourhood Spidey & Wolverine on Saturday 12 December, 10.30am–11.30am (Level 1, outside Connor), then enjoy a magical Elf Magic Show on Thursday 17 December, 9.30am–9.50am! No bookings required for the Elf Magic Show – just turn up and enjoy!
Meet The Grinch – Dapto Mall, Sunday 15 November
FREE Grinch Meet & Greet at Dapto Mall – Sunday 15 November! The meanest creature in Whoville is making a rare appearance, and you’re invited to meet him! Bring the kids along for a Grinchtastic photo opportunity with the one and only Grinch. Snap a selfie, share a laugh and see if his heart really is that small! FREE meet & greet sessions run from 10am–4.30pm, with seven 30-minute sessions throughout the day. No bookings required, just turn up for some mischievous Christmas fun!
The Fraternity Club’s Festive Fun Day, MEGA $10K Toy Raffle & New Christmas Gift Market – Saturday 5 December
Christmas Family Fun + a NEW Gift Market at The Frat! Make a day of it on Saturday 5 December with FREE family entertainment, Santa, kids’ activities, live music and a Christmas Gift Market packed with local makers + small businesses. Shop for handmade gifts, homewares, jewellery, fashion, kids’ presents, artwork, crafts + more – a brilliant chance to tick off your Christmas shopping while supporting local! Plus, stick around for the huge $10,000 Mega Toy Raffle. Learn more here.
Breakfast with Santa – Dapto Mall, Thursday 17 December
Breakfast with Santa at Dapto Mall – Festive Family Fun! Treat the kids to a magical morning with Santa on Thursday 17 December from 8am! Enjoy a delicious breakfast, an exclusive Elf Magic Show at 8.30am, balloon sculptures, face painting with Mrs Claus (ages 3+) & temporary tattoos! Proudly supported by Woolworths Dapto. Tickets just $7.99 + GST per child (ages 1–11), under 12 months FREE! Places are limited, so book your Breakfast with Santa here!
Bambini Christmas Disco – The Fraternity Club, Friday 18 December
Get the kids dressed in their festive best for two hours of Christmas music, dancing and family fun from 6pm–8pm at The Frat! Kids’ tickets are just $15 and adults are FREE! Parents can enjoy dinner from La Trattoria or delicious wood-fired pizzas from Il Bene while the kids dance the night away! Children must be supervised, and complimentary adult tickets are required. Book your family’s tickets here and get ready for some festive fun!
Ride the Christmas Train – Illawarra Light Railway Museum, Sunday 13 December
Ride the Christmas Train and then ride the Mini Elf Express into a Christmas wonderland for all to enjoy at the awesome Illawarra Light Railway Museum. Catch up with Santa and Mrs Claus and enjoy the museum whilst celebrating the spirit of Christmas. Learn more now here!
Giving Tree Appeals across Wollongong & Illawara
Wollongong Central – Give for Good Christmas Giving Tree Appeal: Spread some Christmas kindness and help brighten the festive season for local families in need! Get the kids involved in the spirit of giving by supporting the City of Wollongong Giving Tree Appeal. Find out how to give here.
Dapto Mall – Christmas Giving Tree Appeal: Help make Christmas special for a local child or teenager! Donate an unwrapped gift for ages 0–16 by 3pm Friday 11 December at the collection point on Level 1, near Connor and the Santa Photo Set. All gifts will be distributed by St Vincent de Paul to children in need. Find out how to give 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!