The Christmas season in the City starts with Pageant and ends on Christmas Day. It is a time of joy and delight with family and loved ones, in which the City comes to life with activity, colour and sparkle. In September 2024 we received feedback from 282 respondents, who generously shared their priorities for a new Christmas Action Plan.

We drafted a new Plan and asked our community if we got it right. We asked for feedback to ensure that Council’s investment in Christmas in the City supports community expectations, prior to final Council endorsement of the Plan.

A copy of the draft Christmas in the City Action Plan can be found here.

An annual budget is set by Council for city-wide Christmas experiences, in partnership with the community and businesses, which pays for decorations, events and activities such as the live music week of Countdown to Christmas at the Tree and public performances. In addition, Council’s subsidiaries Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA) and the Adelaide Central Market Authority (ACMA) support traders with activations, decorations and advertising to attract visitors throughout November and December.

Council invests in a suite of new decorations each year such as the Giant Santa Trail. Council also funds events and markets such as the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Event in Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga and Adelady Christmas Village; and AEDA has sponsored both the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant and Carols by Candlelight events.