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Free Christmas events in Melbourne the kids are sure to love
The festive season is almost here, and it can be a pretty expensive time for families. The good news is Melbourne is filled with lots of FREE Christmas events for kids to enjoy the magic of the festive season without spending a dollar. Here are our top 15 FREE Christmas events in Melbourne:
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1. Christmas Square
Christmas Square will once again come to life with feel-good fun for the whole family. All your favourite events will be back including Koorie Klaus, Santa’s workshop, movies in the square, Christmas choirs, Christmas in the Wizarding World, giveaways, festive workshops and much more.
And of course, Fed Square will light up its stunning 16 metre-high twinkling Christmas tree as their centrepiece.
Date: –
Time: all-day
Location: Fed Square, Swanston Street and Flinders Street
Price: Free
2. Christmas Projections
Watch stunning projections take over buildings on Flinders Street, opposite Fed Square. The light display features six colourful themes, including Christmas candy, festive decorations, winter wonderland, native flora and more. Melbourne Townhall will also have a Christmas projection display with koalas climbing a candy cane, singing reindeer and penguins, themed flower beds and the famous nutcracker soldiers standing guard as Town Hall is all wrapped up with a festive bow.
Date: 25 November – 25 December 2022
Time: 9 pm – 11 pm
Location: Flinders Street and Melbourne Townhall 90 – 130 Swanston Street.
Price: Free
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3. Row Ho Ho Christmas Installation
See Santa on his 27-metre magical sleigh and enchanted dolphins floating down the Yarra River this Christmas. The installation has been created by Melbourne creative studio A Blanck Canvas.
Date: –
Time: all-day
Location: Northbank between Evan Walker Bridge and Sandridge Bridge
Price: Free
4. Elfie Selfie
Find Merry at Fed Square, Jingles in Bourke Street Mall and Jolly at Queensbridge Square. Kids can take a selfie with an elfie to unlock a magical Christmas world and create an animated augmented reality Christmas card to share with all their friends.
Date: 25 November – 25 December 2022
Elfie selfie locations: Fed Square, Bourke Street Mall and Queensbridge Square
Price: Free
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5. Docklands Christmas Maze
Families are invited to make their way through a giant present-themed maze to help Santa find his elves. Join in the fun interactive games for a chance to win one of four $500 The District Docklands vouchers.
Date: –
Time: 11 am – 6 pm
Location: NewQuay Central Park, 429-437 Docklands Drive
Price: Free
6. The lighting of the Bunjil Place Plaza Christmas Tree
Bunjil Place will be celebrating the festive season with live music, food trucks, workshops, performers, artisan markets and the lighting of their plaza Christmas tree. Keep a lookout for Santa as he will be dropping by for photos with the kids.
Date: Saturday 3 December 2022
Time: 3 – 9 pm
Location: Bunjil Place Plaza, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren
Price: Free
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7. Christmas Carols
What better way to get into the festive spirit than singing Christmas Carols under the stars? Multiple local councils around Melbourne are hosting free Christmas carols in December.
8. Myer Christmas Windows
This year the Myer Christmas Windows celebrate Disney’s 100th anniversary by re-creating classic Disney movies and bringing their characters to life. See Mickey and Minnie Mouse soaking up the sun, sea and sand on their Hawaiian Holiday or Elsa, alongside her sister Anna, Olaf and Kristoff from Disney’s Frozen.
Date: 6 November – 24 December 2022
Time: 7.30 am – 10.30 pm
Location: Myer Melbourne, 314–336 Bourke Street
Price: FREE
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9. Free Santa Photos
Santa is coming to Melbourne and there are plenty of places to say hi and take a free photo with him. He will be at various locations around Melbourne.
10. Crown Atrium Christmas Show
The Atrium will come alive with Crown’s Christmas show this festive season. The show will feature 12 professional dancers, a live vocalist and a special appearance by Santa Claus. The fast-paced high-energy performance is inspired by the Radio City Hall Rockettes and will be curated to a festive soundtrack and costumed in theme.
Date: 1 – 24 December 2022 (Thursday – Sunday, plus the week leading into Christmas)
Time: 2 pm, 4 pm & 6 pm (duration: 10 minutes)
Location: Atrium Staircase, Crown Melbourne
Price: Free
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11. Christmas Pop-Up Playground
A giant kids’ playground will pop up in Southbank this Christmas. Families can swing on a giant illuminated bell, dance on the light-up dance floor and play with an interactive canopy of flower petals.
Date: –
Time: all-day
Location: Queensbridge Square, 3 Queens Bridge Street, Southbank
Price: Free
12. Christmas Gift Markets
Discover unique gifts from local creators and producers at some of the best Christmas Markets around Melbourne. Stock up on Christmas presents for the whole family and make a day of it. The Christmas markets are at various locations around Melbourne.
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13. Discover Kensington Christmas Fair
Discover Kensington Christmas Fair will bring festive cheer to Bellair Street, with free Christmas activities, musical performances, magicians, roving performers, face painting, giveaways and of course Santa.
Date: Saturday 3 December 2022
Time: 10 am – 4 pm
Location: Bellair Street, Kensington
Price: Free
14. Family Christmas Evening on South Wharf
Families can enjoy a special Christmas evening on South Wharf, with a 60-minute outdoor carol concert by the Australian Girls Choir, then a free family Christmas movie – ’The Grinch’ on the big screen. There will be lots of family-friendly Christmas food and drinks to purchase from South Wharf’s many eateries. South Wharf will also be providing a $20 money voucher to all families attending, to be used on the night in participating South Wharf venues, when they spend $50 or more in a single transaction.
Date: Sunday 18 December 2022
Time: 5 pm – 9 pm
Location: South Wharf Promenade, South Wharf
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15. Frankston’s Christmas Festival of Lights
Frankston’s Christmas Festival of Lights will feature free live entertainment, Christmas performers and carols, activities for the kids, and of course the chance to meet Santa. When the sun goes down experience the magical lighting of the 30m Norfolk Pine, followed by everyone’s favourite fireworks display.
Date: Saturday 26 November 2022
Time: 5 pm- 10 pm
Location: Davey and Young Streets, Frankston
Price: Free
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We try our best to provide accurate information on kid-friendly events around Victoria but do recommend parents check details directly to confirm dates, times, prices as some details may be subject to change.
