Family Christmas Fun in the Shire

When you think back to your childhood Christmas memories, what comes to mind? Perhaps it’s the sparkle of Christmas lights on a hot summer’s night or the twinkle of candles at the local Christmas carols. Christmas is a fun and magical time of the year – especially for kids. Amongst the busy-ness of the festive season, the Sutherland Shire offers some fabulous ways to enjoy time together as a family. Here are four suggestions that may just become part of your children’s Christmastime memories.

Santa Photo at Cronulla

The family Santa Claus photo is a long held tradition in many families. Older children neatly dressed and smiling, while younger siblings cry horrified by the man with the big white beard. At Cronulla you can find a unique and fun twist to the traditional Santa photo. The backdrop includes beach views and you can even jump on a surfboard with Saint Nick! The furry members of the family are also welcome to join in.

Cronulla Mall Stage
Everyday until Sunday 24 December
See more event information here

Other locations for Santa photos in the Shire include: 

• Southgate Sylvania
  
• Menai Market Place
  
• Myer and Westfield Miranda

Christmas Lights

There is something magical and marvellous about fairy lights. The Sutherland Shire has some of Sydney’s best Christmas light displays to be enjoyed by kids both big and small. Once the sun sets, pile the kids into the car in their pyjamas and swing through your local drive-thru to indulge in some hot chocolates (or perhaps ice-creams for those who prefer not to pretend they are going to the North Pole!). Head to one or a few of these locations and wonder at the lighting displays created by local residents:

• Gamenya Place, Engadine
  
• Snowden Avenue, Sylvania
  
• Tea Tree Place, Kirrawee
  
• Aldgate Street, Sutherland
  
• Ridge Road, Engadine
  
• Carter Road, Menai
  
• Burraneer Bay Road, Burraneer
  
• Allambie Avenue, Caringbah

Delicious Christmas Treats

One of the fabulous things about the festive season is all the amazing food that you can share with your family. Hidden in the car park behind Officeworks at Taren Point you will find some award winning puddings and gourmet treats at Itha’s Puddings and Gourmet Foods pop-up shop. Inside you will find a range of delicious holiday treats to enjoy with your family. They even have DIY fruit mince pie kits so you can enjoy some Christmas baking with your kids without any of the stress of making it from scratch! What an easy and fun Christmas tradition to start!

Another local gem serving unique Christmas fare is Paper and Poppies in Woolooware. The sweetly decorated tea shop is serving up a range of Christmas themed cupcakes, cookies and other treats. Take a moment to enjoy a pot of tea brewed to perfection with a fluffy cupcake before grabbing a sugar cookie drawing pack which includes festively shaped cookies covered in white icing ready to colour with edible ink textas. Yet another fun and easy food activity to do with the whole family.

Itha’s Puddings and Gourmet Foods:
Open Friday to Sunday from 9am to 4pm
Shop 1 Officeworks Carpark, Taren Point Road, Taren Point 

Paper and Poppies:
Open Tuesday to Friday from 9.30am to 4.30pm and Saturday 9am to 2pm
38 Wills Road, Woolooware

Christmas Carols

There are few places in Sydney where you can enjoy Christmas carols while watching the sun set over the water – and at Gunnamatta Park in Cronulla you can do just that. The annually held carols include performances by the Sutherland Shire Brass Band and you can enjoy the great Aussie tradition of holding a sausage sandwich in one hand and a glow stick in the other while singing heartily Away in a Manager! All while watching the sun go down over the Port Hacking River. Another memorable Christmas experience for the whole family! Check out the list below for details and other great carol locations:

• Grays Point - Grays Point Oval, Sunday 3 December 5.30pm-9pm
  
• Cronulla - Gunnamatta Park, Sunday 10 December, 6pm – 9pm
  
• Engadine - Town Square, Saturday 16 December, 10am – 12pm
  
• Gymea - Seymour Shaw Park, Sunday 17 December, 6.30pm – 9.30pm
  
• Menai - Parc Menai, Sunday 17 December, 6pm -8.30pm
  
• Loftus - Loftus Reserve, Saturday 23 December, 6.30pm – 7.30pm
  
• Kurnell - Marton Park, Saturday 23 December 6.30pm – 8pm
  
• Sutherland - Forby Gardens, Sunday 24 December, 8pm – 9.30pm
  

These are just a few of the fun Christmas family traditions that the Sutherland Shire has to offer. So get out there and make some memories with your kids this Christmas time.