Santa selfies, school band and Novatones lead Jingle in the City weekend at Wheeler Place

Santa photos, pet “pawtraits” and free live music will return to Wheeler Place in Newcastle on Friday 5 December and Sunday 7 December 2025 as City of Newcastle’s Jingle in the City celebrations continue.

Wheeler Place:

The two sessions form part of a broader Christmas in Newcastle program that is transforming Wheeler Place into a family-friendly festive hub, centred on an 11-metre tree and a schedule of free entertainment across three weekends from Friday 28 November to Sunday 14 December.

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City of Newcastle’s official events guide says its “spectacular 11-metre Christmas Tree will light up the heart of the city with three weekends of festive fun” in the civic precinct, with all activities free to attend. The program includes Santa photos, live performances, children’s craft activities and food options around the square.

This weekend’s focus is on local performers. On Friday 5 December from 5pm to 7pm, families can drop into Wheeler Place for free photos with Santa and their pets while the Belair Public School Band & Choir perform Christmas favourites on stage.

Sunday 7 December will run from 4pm to 6pm and feature another two hours of Santa photos and pet pawtraits, alongside a performance by local vocal group Novatones.

The Jingle in the City program began with a launch event on Friday 28 November, when the tree was switched on for the first time during an evening that included a DJ, roving Elves with Bells, dance performances, choirs and a jazz band playing carols. The celebrations continued on Sunday 30 November with more Santa photos and a performance by Inner Voice Vocal.

Across all three weekends, Santa photos and pet pawtraits are scheduled on Fridays from 5pm to 7pm and Sundays from 4pm to 6pm, with Wheeler Place promoted as a pet-friendly space where families can bring their dogs for a Christmas snap under the tree. Children can also visit a craft station to write letters to Santa or make bell-themed decorations, while food vendors including LuLu’s Gelato Co and Doughheads are providing festive treats during selected sessions.

The live music line-up will continue after this weekend, with Evan Worgan from the National Music Academy playing on Friday 12 December and the Hunter Singers closing out the Wheeler Place program on Sunday 14 December.

Beyond the square, the wider Christmas calendar in the Civic precinct includes a performance of Handel’s Messiah by Newcastle University Choir at City Hall on 14 December, a special One Song Sing community choir event in Wheeler Place on 22 December, and a season of the musical Kinky Boots at Civic Theatre from 18 to 21 December. Full details of Christmas in Newcastle events are listed on City of Newcastle’s What’s On website.