It’s time to cheer and be festive.
Melbourne, it felt, was in hibernation forever.
But now that the seasons have changed and we’ve gone a month with zero community transmissions, it feels like the party is warming up. And just in the nick of time too since Christmas in Melbourne is a pretty special time to be out and about, taking in all the lights, sounds and wonderful decorations on show around the city. (Featured image: @mitchel3uo)
It’s one of our favourite times of year to just wander. If you want a bit more direction, though, head to these five city spots to revel in the Christmas spirit.
1. Federation Square
For one month, Fed Square becomes Christmas Square.
Featuring a 16m tall Christmas tree, a giant bauble which will inevitably pop up everywhere on your social feeds, as well as Santa’s Workshop, Fed Square is your ground zero for Christmas in Melbourne. We’d take a stab at how many lights the city has put up, but it’s safer to say that there’s more than we think.
27 Nov – 25 Dec
2. Myer Christmas Windows
Myer’s Christmas Windows have been spreading around the magic of Christmas for 65 years now. It’s been so long that imagining a Christmas without the Myer Windows was almost cause for alarm (and actually did alarm quite a number of people).
Luckily, though, the show must go on and the amazing design team has managed to pull one out of the bag using many of the toys and figures exhibited at Melbourne Museum’s Retrospective Exhibition. For the full story as to how this year’s windows came about, watch the video.
14 Nov – 24 Dec
7:30am – 10:30pm
3. The State Library
This year’s projections will see five animated scenes played out with the first featuring a tribute to Melbourne’s COVID-19 heroes.
The projection will change after Christmas and display a new look from 26 December to 3 January 2021.
Static light projections can also be seen at Melbourne Town Hall and Princes Bridge.
4. Crown Melbourne Christmas Spectacular
Not one to miss out on an opportunity to amaze, Crown Melbourne has launched their own Christmas Spectacular for 2020.
Aside from the impressive tree, which just might rival the one at 333 Collins Street, the ten-minute shows run every fifteen minutes between 10am and 7pm with a number of sing-a-long classics for the whole family to enjoy. Songs include ‘It’s Beginning to look a lot like Christmas’, ‘Hark the Herald Angles Sing’, and ‘The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’.
No booking is required to visit the spectacular at The Atrium in Crown Towers, as there is a physically distanced queuing system in place.
29 Nov 2020 – 4 Jan 2021
5. Docklands
Docklands is coming alive this Christmas season with the stunning giant reindeer on Harbour Esplanade a not to be missed photo op. But that’s not all you’ll find at Docklands with giant bonbons and present boxes also featuring.
Head to The Star and you’ll find festive-themed food and beverages as well as Christmas-themed cabins so you can whirl around in festive fashion and see beautiful Melbourne sparkle from up high.