Christmas kicks off in the city
Christmas has well and truly come to Central Sydney, with choirs serenading shoppers, a giant Christmas tree installed in Martin Place and Christmas bunting festooning the streets.
In one of the first of many City of Sydney Council Christmas initiatives to be held this festive season, choirs started serenading shoppers last Thursday night, filling Pitt St Mall and Hyde Park with the sound of Christmas carols.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City’s Christmas choir program was not only pleasant for the public but had a practical side too, giving a boost to CBD retailers.
“The City is working hard, alongside retailers, to make the Sydney shopping experience as good as possible in time for Christmas,” said Ms Moore.
“We want to get everyone into the festive season. These carolling choirs, combined with our city’s famous festive decorations, will help create a magical Christmas atmosphere in key retail precincts like Pitt St Mall, Castlereagh St and the QVB.”
Choirs taking part in the initiative include The Cleftomaniacs, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir, the Circular Keys Chorus, Tuxedo and the Leichhardt Espresso Choir.
The choirs will serenade CBD shoppers each Thursday night until Christmas, said Ms Moore, while the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir would also perform at the Taylor Square Christmas Market on the night of Thursday, December 20. Two free Christmas concerts will also be held this week, with the Martin Place Children’s Concert and Tree-Lighting Celebration, and Christmas on the Green in Hyde Park both scheduled for 6pm Thursday, November 29.
Other Christmas events and initiatives include 26 Christmas trees across the Sydney local government area, 1,900 Christmas banners, light projections on Sydney Town Hall and St Mary’s Cathedral each night, and the City of Sydney’s annual village Christmas concerts, which will be held in Rushcutters Bay, Rosebery, Alexandria and Surry Hills through December.
