City of Sydney prepares for Christmas events

SYDNEY, Nov. 18 (People's Daily Online) -- The lighting of Sydney's tallest tree, early visits from Santa, top children's entertainment and free family concerts will launch the City of Sydney's Christmas season of events in Australia. 

Festivities kick-off on 26 November with two concerts in the CBD packed with free entertainment from 6pm to 8.30pm.

The Martin Place Christmas Concert and tree lighting will be hosted by Channel 7 presenter James Tobin. Santa and Mayor of Sydney will arrive by sleigh ahead of the tree lighting and the night will finish with fireworks spectacular.

“The City of Sydney has produced the annual Martin Place Christmas Concert and tree lighting for 43 years, attracting thousands of people into the city each year,” Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore said.

“The Martin Place and Hyde Park concerts are a wonderful opportunity for people to get into the festive spirit in the heart of the city with free live music, carols and Christmas cheer for the whole family.”

This year, the 20 metres tall Christmas tree in Martin Place will be dressed with 60,000 lights, 120 interactive stars, 200 stainless steel baubles and a 1.5-metre star on top. Passers-by can jump on the interactive dance pad at the tree base and text or tweet a message and it will appear on the tree’s branches. (People's Daily Online/ Chuyi Sheng)