Spread the festive joy in Canberra! Our guide has all the top events and activities that make this season special. For Canberra experts and beginners, this guide is your compass through the winter wonderland.
One of the highlights of the holiday season in Canberra is the Floriade 2024, featuring a stunning array of spring blooms that add a vibrant touch to the festive cheer. The FLIGHT: Drone SkyShow and Night Market showcases an enchanting display of illuminated drones against the night sky, combined with delicious market treats. And the Enlighten Illuminations is something you definitely don't want to miss with its captivating light installations transforming the city into a dazzling spectacle. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Canberra
- Floriade 2024 (Parkes)
- Canberra Balloon Spectacular
- Enlighten Illuminations
- FLIGHT: Drone SkyShow and Night Market
- National Multicultural Festival
- Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
- Nara Candle Festival (Yarralumla)
- Handmade Christmas Market (Lyneham)
- A very Canberra Comedy Festival Christmas
- Canberra Writers Festival 2024
See these and even more events listed below!
Canberra Holiday Light Displays
Enlighten Illuminations
What to Expect:
Light-based installations on historic buildings.
Description:
Enlighten Illuminations transforms Canberra's iconic buildings into vibrant canvases with stunning architectural projections, creating a dazzling spectacle of light and culture.
Where: Canberra | More Info: Enlighten Illuminations
Canberra Holiday Markets and Shopping
Christmas Sparkle Market
What to Expect:
Showcasing local crafters and artisans in a leafy suburb.
Description:
The Christmas Sparkle Market at Pearce Crafters Market is a beautiful, bespoke event showcasing local crafters and artisans in the leafy suburb of Pearce. This market offers a variety of handmade and seasonal items, perfect for finding unique gifts and enjoying the local community's creativity.
Where: Pearce | More Info: Christmas Sparkle Market
Handmade Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Unique Australian-made products in a sensory-friendly environment.
Description:
The Handmade Market in Canberra is an award-winning indoor event showcasing over 260 Australian designers and producers. It offers a wide range of unique, Australian-made items including fashion, ceramics, handcrafted furniture, children’s items, original artworks, jewellery, and accessories. The market also features an indoor gourmet food and wine pavilion. Shoppers can experience a reduced sensory and relaxed environment during the Low Sensory Hour from 9am to 10am on Sundays.
Where: Lyneham | More Info: Handmade Christmas Market
Canberra Holiday Shows and Entertainment
A very Canberra Comedy Festival Christmas
What to Expect:
A hilarious comedy gala with international and local comedians.
Description:
Join the Canberra Comedy Festival for a special Christmas event featuring top comedians in a 2-hour gala packed with laughter and entertainment.
Where: Canberra | More Info: A very Canberra Comedy Festival Christmas
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
What to Expect:
Live music and yule-tide carolling enhance the theatrical experience.
Description:
Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is a grand-scale production featuring live music, yule-tide carolling, innovative video design, and lavish costumes. Ebenezer Scrooge's journey through Christmases past, present, and future is a reminder of the true meaning of the season, highlighting the power of kindness and love.
Where: Canberra | More Info: Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Canberra Writers Festival 2024
What to Expect:
A diverse program of literary events celebrating Australian and international authors.
Description:
The Canberra Writers Festival 2024 is a vibrant springtime celebration of literature, featuring master classes, author talks, panel discussions, workshops, book launches, and performances at some of Australia's most iconic national institutions. It brings together art-makers, big thinkers, and storytellers to kick off the national literary calendar.
Where: Canberra | More Info: Canberra Writers Festival 2024
Canberra Other Holiday Activities
Canberra Stamp Market
What to Expect:
National Philatelic Exhibition with diverse exhibits and international dealers.
Description:
The Canberra Stampshow 2024 is a premier event where collectors and enthusiasts gather to showcase and exchange philatelic material. It features a wide range of exhibits, trade dealers, and social opportunities, making it a significant event for anyone interested in stamps and coins.
Where: Kingston | More Info: Canberra Stamp Market
FLIGHT: Drone SkyShow and Night Market
What to Expect:
Australian-first drone skyshow with three unique stories.
Description:
Witness a spectacular drone skyshow featuring 600 drones telling a trilogy of stories over Lake Burley Griffin, accompanied by vibrant night markets offering multicultural cuisines, live music, and roving performances.
Where: Canberra | More Info: FLIGHT: Drone SkyShow and Night Market
National Multicultural Festival
What to Expect:
Celebrating diverse cultures with over 300 performance groups and 264 stalls.
Description:
The National Multicultural Festival is a vibrant 3-day event celebrating over 170 multicultural communities through food, art, song, and dance.
Where: Canberra | More Info: National Multicultural Festival
Craft + Design Canberra Festival
What to Expect:
Emphasizing regenerative design and community engagement through local craftsmanship.
Description:
The Craft + Design Canberra Festival is a celebration of local craftsmanship, featuring exhibitions, workshops, artist talks, and markets showcasing unique handmade objects and innovative design thinking.
Where: Canberra | More Info: Craft + Design Canberra Festival
Nara Candle Festival
What to Expect:
Celebrates Japanese culture with a stunning candlelit display.
Description:
The Canberra Nara Candle Festival celebrates Canberra's sister city relationship with Nara, Japan, by showcasing Japanese culture and promoting peace and goodwill. The event features thousands of candles lighting up Lennox Gardens, along with traditional music, dance, and cultural activities such as calligraphy, lantern making, and origami.
Where: Yarralumla | More Info: Nara Candle Festival
Floriade 2024
What to Expect:
Vibrant floral displays and diverse community events.
Description:
Floriade 2024 is Australia's biggest celebration of spring, featuring over one million beautiful flowers transforming Canberra's Commonwealth Park into a vibrant canvas of colour and creativity. The event includes art exhibitions, entertainment, music, food and drink, horticultural and artistic workshops, market traders, and recreational activities.
Where: Parkes | More Info: Floriade 2024
Canberra Balloon Spectacular
What to Expect:
Hot air balloons launch daily from the Parliamentary triangle.
Description:
The Canberra Balloon Spectacular is an annual event where hot air balloons launch from the Parliamentary triangle, offering breathtaking views of the city. Each morning, weather permitting, balloons inflate and launch, providing a spectacular sight for spectators. Passenger flights are approximately 45 minutes and conclude with a champagne celebration.