Geelong is boasting a huge variety of festive activities this year. Here are some ideas on what to do.
Now that the halls have been decked, stockings have been hung, and trees are glistening, it’s time to get out of the house and explore the winter wonderland that is Christmas in Geelong. From spectacular light shows to colourful craft stations, there is something for the whole family to enjoy this month. Aside from the interactive map and trail of Christmassy activities and sights across the entire Geelong and Bellarine region, here is a small selection of activities and must-see highlights.
Geelong Christmas Windows & Craft Hub
Start your festive adventure at the Christmas craft hub to create your free, magic wand that will allow you you wander around Geelong and magically activate the Christmas windows. Open from 10 am to 1 pm until Christmas Eve, the hub is located at 111-113 Little Malop Street.
Once you have your wand at the ready, prepare to traverse the streets of Geelong and discover the six, interactive windows. Activate the stories with your wand and hear about Santa’s Elves Tingle and Dingle avoiding a Christmas Eve disaster at a Geelong home. The windows are only around until New Year’s Eve, so get exploring!
Floating Christmas Tree
Alike every other year, our metallic beauty is back and shining brighter than ever on the waterfront. Staged nightly from 8:30 pm until midnight, a six-minute light and music performance plays every 15 minutes to awe onlookers. Our shining knight in armour, the tree is just one of many festive sights throughout the city.
Christmas Projections
City Hall, alongside other buildings nearby in Shorts Place, will be lit up once again this year with festive projections to awe onlookers. With three shows on offer, the illustrations are projected nightly in the city or can be viewed online here.
Christmas Festival of Lights
Dubbed a must-see spectacle of Geelong, Adventure Park has returned the Christmas Festival of Lights this year, and it’s bigger and brighter than ever. With over 2.7 million lights sparkling under the Wallington sky, the 2km trail of dazzling glow has been expanded this year with a bunch of new installations and attractions in the light display. With live music and even an appearance from the big man in red himself, the spectacle operates nightly from 6 pm until 10:30 pm right into the new year, and tickets are selling out for the season fast so get yours here.
Roving Christmas Street Entertainment
The elves are out and about again this year, giving away sweet treats and Christmas spirit as you complete your Christmas shopping. Catch the elves from 11 am to 1 pm during the day on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; and again from 6 pm until 8 pm on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Christmas Spend and Win
Speaking of Christmas shopping (don’t remind me, my bank account is crying), head on down to the Love Central Geelong Christmas Caravan in Little Malop Central to receive a free gift, just from doing your shopping. After spending $30 in a single day of shopping, present your receipt to the van to receive a free gift and to go into the weekly prize draw of $500 to help with those Christmas purchases.
Santa’s Summer Club Free Photo Experience
If having a photo with Santa is a tradition in your family, but you don’t want to spend too much money, Corio Village has you covered with a free Santa photobooth experience in the lead-up to Christmas. Located near Kmart, ‘Santa’s Summer Club’ is a partnership between with Corio Village, Fairhaven SLSC and Geelong Mums, offering shoppers free photos with Mr Claus to provide an additional Christmas experience for the centre’s customers. While the Christmas photos are free, customers are encouraged to make a small donation to the charity partners when they are visiting Santa.
Customers can either pre-book their photo with Santa online or simply turn up if there is an available slot, and will receive both printed and digital copies of their photo with Santa. The activation will run at select times up until Christmas Eve.
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School Christmas Trees
Each year the display of Christmas trees made by local students is always the most crafty way to inspire festivities, and this year, thirty-one trees are on display along Little Malop Street and Johnstone Park.
Giant Selfie Trail
Across 22 locations and 17 suburbs is a gigantic selfie trail, where the Insta-worthy backdrops allow for a variety of festive photos; including kiss under the mistletoe, being trapped inside Christmassy snow globes, and becoming a Christmas tree decoration. Check out the full list, locations, and map here.
Barwon Health Fundraising Frenzy & Christmas Gala
In a festive fundraising frenzy this weekend, the Barwon Health Foundation is aiming to raise $250,000 to purchase a fetal ultrasound monitor to assist the care of high-risk pregnancies in the Geelong region. Over 36 hours, the fundraiser is hosting a Gala Christmas Concert this Saturday, December 18, where local talents such as Stella Perry, Imogen Brough, Luke Biscan, Taylor Henderson, and more will be performing. The frenzy will wrap up with a mini telethon live-streamed from the Gala on the Barwon Health Foundation Facebook page, or can also be viewed exclusively at a ticketed showing at Village Cinemas. For more info, head here.
Christmas is ON in Geelong, so head into the city and soak up some pure, Christmas spirit before it’s too late.
