Your guide to festive fun across the Illawarra

Chrissy lights are coming on, Santa Claus is stacking his sleigh with lollies and carols are coming to a beach or park near you. Here's a round-up of what's on, from trees to charities

Buy a Christmas Tree (for a local cause)

Helensburgh Girl Guides

The Helensburgh Girl Guides Christmas Tree Sale, starts from 4pm Friday and opens again at 9am on Saturday (unless sold out) at the Guide Hall, 4 Chippendale Place, Helensburgh. $100 for 6ft trees, cash only.

P & C Fundraising Christmas Trees at Bulli Public School

Bulli Public School Fundraising Committee will be selling Razorback Christmas Tree Farm trees on Saturday 6th December 2025. All profits from the day will go directly towards Bulli Public School for additional learning and sporting equipment. You can pre purchase your tree via the Humanitix platform and collect between 7am and 10am from Bulli Public School on Haig Road Bulli, or you can walk in and purchase your tree anytime after 10am.

CHRISTMAS MARKETS

Support your local makers and small businesses. Find unique and homemade gifts at the markets.

Illawarra Mega Indoor Christmas Market

7 December 2025, Shellharbour City Stadium, 110 Croome Road, Croom, 10am-3pm, Cost $5. More than 100 stalls offering handmade goods, homewares, festive treats, and more. Free Santa photos, free Christmas craft activities for the kids, live Christmas carols and food vendors, onsite café, sweet treats, fairy floss, and ice cream.

Sunday Village Market

14 December 2025, Bulli Showground, Grevillea Park Road, Bulli, 9am-2pm.

Coledale Twilight Market

Monday 22nd December, Coledale Public School, 699 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coledale, 2pm – 8pm

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

Carols in Corrimal

Friday, December 5, Ziems Park, Corrimal. From 5pm (Santa arrives at 8:30pm)

Combined Churches – Carols in the Burgh 

Saturday, 6 December, 6pm-8.30pm, Helensburgh Park (behind Tradies Helensburgh). A free community events, with family entertainment from 6pm, carols at 7pm and 8.30pm fireworks.

Carols in MacCabe Park

11 December 2025, MacCabe Park, Wollongong, 6:30pm-8:30pm. An alcohol-free family-friendly event to celebrate the festive season. Wollongong Conservatorium of Music will lead the night of carols with the Wollongong City Brass Band, the Hummingbirds, the Children’s and Youth Choir, Southern Brothers Choir and Street Beatz. Face painting, food and roving entertainment will kick things off at 6.30pm. Stage performances from 7pm, and there will be a visit from Santa Claus towards the end of the event!

Shellharbour Carols by Candlelight 2025

Friday, 12 December, Croom Regional Sporting Complex, 5-9pm

Carols by the Sea (Austi Beach)

Sunday, 14 December, Austinmer Surf Lifesaving Club, Austi Beach. From 7pm 

CHRISTMAS AT THE LIBRARY

Our libraries are also getting Christmassy with fun activities for kids!

Christmas Storytime – Ho ho ho! Santa’s popping into your library for stories and songs. Free, no bookings are required – just drop in.

• Helensburgh: Fri 19 December 2025, Helensburgh Library 57 Walker Street, 10:30am-11:15 am
• Thirroul: Tuesday 9 December, Thirroul Library, 352-358 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul, 10am-10:45 am
• Unanderra: Fri 5 December 2025, Unanderra Library 144 Princes Highway, 10:30am-11am
• Wollongong Library, 10 Dec, Wollongong Library, 10am-10:45am

Christmas Crafternoon

Craft, laugh, and be merry! Drop in and unwrap your creativity by making Christmas crafts, decorations, and cards. It’s fun for the whole family. Whether you love hand making gifts or simply enjoy celebrating the season, you can also borrow books from our collection for more Christmas craft ideas for all ages. Free, no bookings are required - just drop in.

• Helensburgh Library, 10 Dec, 3:30pm-4:30pm
• Thirroul Library, 17 Dec, 3:30pm-4:30pm
• Wollongong Library, Friday, 12 December 2025 , Wollongong Library 41 Burelli Street, 3:30pm-4:30pm

This event is one of many reasons to have a library card. Don’t have one? It’s free and easy to join online!

A TIME OF GIVING

Many charities have been hit hard this year with more people than ever reaching out for assistance during the ongoing global cost-of-living crisis. Please add a charity to your Christmas list by donating food, gifts, vouchers, money or your time.

Illawarra Salvos are seeking donations

Non-perishable food items or new toys can be dropped at Salvos’ Wollongong centre. 11-13 Burelli Street, weekdays between 9am and 3pm. If you are need this Christmas, don’t hesitate to call The Salvos on (02) 4227 2994

A Little Ray of Giving

Until 11 December (Helensburgh) and 16 December (Thirroul). Ray White Helensburgh (1/131 Parkes Street) and Thirroul (5/369 Lawrence Hargrave Dr) are collecting donations of new toys for local families in need. Drop by their office to pop a present under the tree before 11 December and your gift will delivered to a child who may otherwise go without. Ray White is partnering with Hope Church and Community Outreach. 

Raine & Horne's SAHSSI Christmas Gift Drive

SAHSSI is a not-for-profit organisation that supports vulnerable women & children affected by homelessness or domestic violence. Please drop all NEW, UNOPENED & UNWRAPPED gifts into the office office at 1/114a Parkes Street, Helensburgh by December 5.

Lions Christmas Cakes

Support your local Lions Club by buying a Christmas cake or pudding this year. Call Lions Australia on 1300 300 205 to find out where the club’s Christmas cakes or puddings are being sold, contact your local club, or visit participating local businesses.

City of Wollongong’s Giving Tree

Location: Various. Until 14 December. Supported by a long-standing local partnership with Anglicare and St Vincent De Paul Society, Wollongong City Council is accepting gifts to help those in our community doing it tough this Christmas. The annual appeal asks for unwrapped gifts suitable for children up to 16 years old. 

Donations can be brought to the following locations until Sunday 14 December: Corrimal Library, Dapto Library, Helensburgh Library, Thirroul Library, Unanderra Library, Warrawong Library, Wollongong City Council Customer Service Area, and Wollongong Library.

Donate via Anglicare and St Vincent de Paul Society.

Bikers Toy Run

6 December 2025. 11am-12:30pm. The Bikers Toy Run convoy will start at Shellharbour and is expected to arrive at Crown Street Mall around 11am. They will enter from Kembla Street (near ANZ Bank) and ride towards the Christmas tree in front of the stage. Following their arrival, there will be some light entertainment and speeches from Lord Mayor Cr Tania Brown and participating charities and committee on the stage. More info here.

More festive fun

Santa Fire Truck Run

Saturday, 20 December 2025. Fire + Rescue 325 Station’s Fire Engine will depart around 9am from the Fire Station in Walker St to hand out pre-packed lollies to any children gathered along the truck’s route. 

Need A Feed – Christmas breakfast

December 22, 2025 / McCabe Park, 9-10:30am. Need A Feed invites community members to enjoy a breakfast at McCabe Park, Wollongong (near Pioneer Hall). Enjoy a hot breakfast shared with others and receive a food gift to take home. It’s about more than a meal, it’s about connection, kindness, and ensuring no one is left out during the festive season. Everyone is welcome.

To support Need a Feed's work, visit their website.

Did we miss something? Upload your festive event to our free community calendar