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By: Lisa Cook
Gift shopping, carol singing and visits from Santa are all on the agenda, with a huge line-up of festive events set to bring Christmas cheer to Perth this year.
Pick up unique gifts from local makers, enjoy a magical night of pageantry and fireworks or explore Santa's village in the city.
Here are 12 Christmas events in Perth to add to your festive-season itinerary.
1. Santa's Symphony in the Park and Christmas Twilight Perth Makers Market
Location: Burswood Park, Burswood
Date: Saturday 12 December 2026
Time: 4-9pm
Cost: Free
Christmas shopping and a live orchestra come together for one very special festive celebration by the Swan River.
Burswood’s annual Santa’s Symphony in the Park is joining forces with the Christmas Twilight Perth Makers Market for an evening of music, shopping and family entertainment.
Browse more than 100 stalls featuring handmade gifts from local makers as the sun sets, with food trucks and family activities to enjoy before the main event.
Then, roll out a picnic rug and settle in for a magical Christmas concert featuring the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO), WASO Chorus and special guests, including Santa.
Starting at 5.45pm, the concert will feature more than 100 performers bringing some of your favourite Christmas songs to life.
2. Made on the Left Christmas Market
Location: Esplanade Park, Marine Tce, Fremantle
Dates: Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November 2026
Time: 10am-5pm
Cost: Free
If you’re keen to shop local for Christmas this year, make a date with Fremantle’s much-loved Made on the Left Christmas Market.
Celebrating almost two decades of showcasing WA’s creative talent, the summer market will transform Esplanade Park into a bustling hub of local artists, designers and makers.
Browse more than 100 stalls featuring everything from fashion, jewellery and artwork to ceramics, homewares, skincare and one-of-a-kind gifts you won’t find in shopping centres.
There’ll also be gourmet food trucks and artisan treats to keep you fuelled while you shop.
Best of all, it’s a pet-friendly event, so your four-legged shopping companion is welcome, too.
3. Crafted Clay Christmas Market
Location: The Glasshouse, 215 Wright St, Cloverdale
Date: Sunday 13 December 2026
Time: 11am-4pm
Cost: Free
Calling all pottery lovers - Crafted Clay Christmas market is bringing together some of WA’s talented ceramic artists for a special celebration of all things clay.
It’s not just an opportunity to find a unique Christmas gift, either. Visitors can get hands-on with the creative process, with live wheel-throwing demonstrations and workshops where you can try your hand at making your own ceramic creation.
Whether you’re after functional pottery, decorative pieces or intricate sculptures, there’ll be plenty of beautiful handmade work to admire and take home.
You might even discover a new hobby along the way.
4. The Paper Bird Christmas Art & Illustration Market
Location: Paper Bird and Moore & Moore, 42-46 Henry St, Fremantle
Date: Friday 4 December and Saturday 5 December 2026
Time: Friday 3.30pm-7.30pm, Saturday 9am-3pm
Cost: Free
If you’ve ever lost track of time browsing the shelves at Paper Bird Books or enjoying the many spaces of heritage cafe and gallery Moore & Moore, this is one event to add to your calendar.
The much-loved Fremantle venues will open their galleries, alleys and courtyards for a special Christmas art and illustration market.
Discover a collection of handmade and original creations, including ceramics, prints, clothing, accessories, stationery and Christmas ornaments.
With more than 30 artists and illustrators taking part, including Renee Treml Illustrations, Fi Wilkie Toot Studio and This is Taliah, it’s the perfect place to find something a little different for the person who has everything.
5. Alinta Energy Christmas Pageant
Location: St Georges Tce, Perth CBD
Dates: Saturday 5 December 2026
Time: From 7pm
Cost: Free
One of Perth’s favourite festive traditions is back, with the annual Christmas Pageant set to bring a colourful spectacle of floats, performers and entertainment to the CBD.
Find a spot along St Georges Terrace and watch the procession of festive floats and performers make their way through the city.
It’s also the perfect opportunity to explore the Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail, which transforms the CBD into a sparkling festive wonderland.
Bring the family, soak up the atmosphere and get ready for a night of Christmas magic.
6. A Very Freo Christmas
Location: Walyalup Koort, Fremantle
Dates: 18-20 December 2026
Time: 12-9pm
Cost: Free
Fremantle is set to get into the Christmas spirit with three days of festive entertainment, outdoor movies, carols and family-friendly activities at A Very Freo Christmas.
A Christmas village will pop up in the heart of the city, complete with professional Santa photography, trackless Christmas train rides, face painting, sustainable gift-wrapping and hula hoop workshops.
Friday evening will feature a Christmas carols program, with live performances kicking off from 5.30pm.
On Saturday, families can settle in for an outdoor screening of The Grinch, making it the perfect excuse to grab a picnic blanket and enjoy a festive movie under the stars.
There’s plenty happening across the three-day celebration, so check out the full program before you go.
7. Carols by Torchlight at Araluen
Location: Araluen Botanic Park, Roleystone
Dates: Saturday 5 December 2026
Time: 4-8pm
Cost: $2 per person, $5 per family
There’s something particularly magical about singing Christmas carols surrounded by the natural beauty of Araluen Botanic Park.
The park’s amphitheatre will transform into a festive wonderland for its annual Carols by Torchlight event, with an afternoon of family entertainment leading into an evening of Christmas favourites.
Arrive early to enjoy face painting, train rides and a special visit from Santa before the carols begin at 7pm.
Food and drinks will also be available, so you can grab a festive treat or a hot drink while enjoying the atmosphere.
It’s a lovely way to celebrate Christmas with the family while taking in one of Perth’s most picturesque garden settings.
Tickets are available through the Araluen Botanic Park website.
8. Mandurah Christmas Pageant
Location: Eastern Foreshore and Mandurah City Centre
Date: Saturday 12 December 2026
Time: 6-9pm
Cost: Free
Mandurah is going all out for Christmas, with a huge evening of festive entertainment planned for the annual Christmas Pageant.
The celebrations will include festive market stalls, food vendors and a colourful parade of Christmas floats and performers, with the pageant kicking off at 6pm.
There’s plenty to keep little ones entertained, too, including festive face painting, photos with Santa, gingerbread rock painting and the chance to write a letter to Santa.
As the sun goes down, settle in for a free outdoor screening of The Grinch before the evening wraps up with a fireworks display lighting up the Mandurah sky at 9pm.
9. Santa's Village
Location: Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre
Dates: 4–24 December 2026 (closed 7–10 December)
Time: 8.30am-8pm
Cost: From $15 + booking fee
If your family likes to go all out for Christmas, Santa’s Christmas Village promises a festive adventure packed with activities, rides and entertainment.
Returning to the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre, the Christmas extravaganza will feature a whole wonderland of attractions for children of all ages.
Get into carnival mode at Rudolph’s Funfair, with family rides including the Dream Swinger and The Storm, plus plenty of sideshow games.
Inside Santa’s Christmas Village, little ones can explore a singing reindeer barn, Candy Cane Lane, a Tiny Tots Christmas Dome and a Magic Snow Factory.
There are also plenty of hands-on activities, including gingerbread decorating, writing letters to Santa and bauble decorating.
Of course, no Christmas village would be complete without a chance to meet the big man himself and snap a festive family photo.
This year’s program also features two live Christmas shows, The Grinch and Sesame Street, promising plenty of sing-along fun for little ones and grown-ups alike.
Tickets are available online through the Santa's Christmas Village website.
10. Summer x Salt Christmas Markets
Location: Clarko Reserve, Trigg
Dates: 12 December 2026
Time: 8am - 1pm
Cost: Free
Why brave the shopping centre crowds when you can get your Christmas shopping done by the beach?
The popular Summer x Salt Markets are hosting a special Christmas edition at Trigg, bringing together a huge range of local makers, artists and small businesses for a morning of coastal shopping.
Browse outdoor stalls featuring homewares, artwork, fashion and jewellery, with plenty of unique gift ideas to tick off your Christmas list.
The community market has a focus on small, sustainable producers and creators, making it a great opportunity to support local businesses while finding something special.
There’ll also be some festive extras, including the annual Salty Santa photo opportunity.
Once you’ve finished shopping, you can even head down to the beach for a swim for the perfect Saturday morning.
11. Perth Makers Market Christmas Market
Location: Goolugatup Heathcote, 58 Duncraig Rd, Applecross
Date: Sunday 6 December 2026
Time: 9.30am - 3.30pm
Cost: Free
Perth’s biggest handmade market is wrapping up the year with a special Christmas edition, bringing together more than 150 stalls at the picturesque Goolugatup Heathcote.
It’s a great opportunity to find something a little more thoughtful for the people on your Christmas list, with local makers showcasing everything from bespoke jewellery and handmade homewares to original artwork.
Beyond the market stalls, art lovers can explore the venue’s open artist studios, art gallery and museum.
There’s plenty to keep the kids entertained, too, with a pirate ship playground, giant garden games and live music adding to the festive atmosphere.
11. The Polar Express at Karrinyup
Location: Ground floor near Cotton On and LEGO, Karrinyup Shopping Centre
Dates: 1-29 November 2026
Time: Thursday-Saturdays 9am-3pm, Sundays 11am-5pm
Cost: Free
All aboard! The magic of The Polar Express is coming to Karrinyup Shopping Centre, with an immersive Christmas experience designed to bring the much-loved story to life.
Created in partnership with Warner Bros. Global Experiences, the attraction features a spectacular 20-metre-long train, where children can climb aboard and explore its carriages.
Families can book a free interactive 30-minute session, which includes storytelling and a guided craft workshop where little ones can create their own Christmas masterpiece to take home.
The festive fun continues throughout the shopping centre, with opportunities to snap a family or pet photo with Santa.
If you’re visiting after sundown, make sure you also check out Perth’s largest Christmas tree, which will be lighting up the West Deck.
The experience is designed for children aged four to 10, and bookings for the free Polar Express sessions can be made online.
Banner image: This is Fremantle
