It’s time to spread some festive season magic with twinkling lights and carol singing
Mosman’s ‘Christmas’ street
Some streets are known for being ‘Christmas streets’ with most homes lit up in festive cheer. Prince Albert Street in Mosman has been hosting a Christmas Lights party since 2015.
“I just love Christmas,” gushes Lisa Bennett, a local vet who coordinates the Christmas Lights Party. She’s lived on the street for 12 years with her husband and three children, now 19, 20 and 22 years old. The family was told about the Christmas lights tradition when buying the house.
“My husband’s face dropped,” recalls Lisa. “I was really excited as I love decorating the house. We (now) dedicate a full day, if not an entire weekend, to do it all. It’s a big commitment but the lights are special and magical and there’s something so amazing about a street that’s all lit up with beautiful soft and colourful lights.”
Being a vet and wildlife advocate, Lisa uses the evening to raise money for the Taronga Conservation Society Australia. Last year the lights party had about 4,500 people jingling all the way through the sparkly street and $10,000 was raised for Taronga.
Taronga sets up stalls selling zoo toys and zoo volunteers sell raffle tickets to win ‘incredible animal experiences.’
There will be carol singers, food trucks selling pizza, gozleme, dumplings and icecream and it wouldn’t be a Christmas party without an appearance from Santa Claus.
“I feel like it’s hard to get communities together and the lights bring people together in a simple and genuine way which is quite rare these days,” Lisa says. “I stand outside at night and listen to people walking past and to kids getting excited and it gives me joy.”
The Prince Albert Street Christmas Lights Party is on 14 December from 6.30pm to 10pm.
Willoughby’s Christmas avenues
Graham and Katie Porter moved to Third Avenue in Willoughby with their two daughters, 22 and 24 years old, two decades ago and began decorating their house for Christmas. What started as a Santa and sleigh on the roof grew over the years, as did the number of residents who decorated their homes. Now Third Avenue, along with neighbouring First, Second and Fourth Avenues, are known for their sparkling Christmas displays, and collectively known as The Avenues, although Graham says that Third Avenue probably has more houses lit up.
The Porters love Christmas, especially being from England with no family nearby, and the community has become like family to them.
“In the 20 or so days before (Christmas) all the neighbours wander through the streets, people having dinner parties and bringing friends around,” says Graham. “It’s become a real community event. Not only do people come from miles around, but it’s also an opportunity for neighbours to get out and say hello.”
The Cape Don sparkles at Christmas
Waverton’s sparkling ship
The MV Cape Don Museum and Training Ship on Balls Head Drive in Waverton, has been sparkling with Christmas lights for the past seven years, though it’s been docked there for 25 years.
“I go crazy for Christmas,” says head ship keeper Daniel Callender, who first decorated the ship with Christmas lights after a successful trip to Bunnings. It looked so good and attracted so many positive comments that he carried on.
“We even decorate the main dining room and a couple of other rooms on the ship and we have about three or four trees on board,” says Daniel.
It was laborious putting up the lights initially, but now he has a crew of volunteers.
“We kind of just ‘chain gang’ it,” Daniel says. “I draw which coloured lights are going on which railings, so they’re normally all up within a couple of hours. Getting them organised and tested takes longer.”
They had their first ever ‘switching on the lights’ ceremony last year but ‘absolute torrential rain’ saw only five people turn up.
Daniel has volunteered on the Cape Don for 19 years. “There’s not a single paid person here – we’re all equally insane,” he laughs.
Built in 1963, the Cape Don was used as a lighthouse tender for building and fixing lighthouses around Australia’s coastline. It was taken out of service in 1990, sold to a cargo company operating in the Pacific Islands and eventually docked in Waverton. It was privately bought, and the Sea Heritage Foundation established to manage its restoration.
The plan is to dry dock the ship on Garden Island in Potts Point for about six weeks in 2026, where the hull will be sandblasted and repainted and any other needed work carried out, before being returned to Waverton well before the 2026 Christmas lights. Visit seaheritagefoundation.org.au
Lisa’s home lights up Mosman’s ‘Christmas’ street
What’s Christmas without carols?
Mosman Village Church has been gathering the community for the Balmoral Carols for close to 40 years. “It’s singing a lot of traditional carols,” says Reverend Michael Crichton. “The community love the simple service. It’s a beautiful setting and if the weather’s kind to us, it’s a wonderful way of getting the community together. It’s reminding people of the hope we have too,” says Michael. “People have tough lives these days, so it’s a great time to come together.”
The church cancelled the carols a few times because of bad weather, which Michael says was a tragedy as it costs the church about $25,000 to run, but the church sees it as a worthwhile service to the community.
Up to 2,000 people converge around the Rotunda by Balmoral Beach, some with singing voices at the ready, some with packed picnics, all with sleigh-loads of Christmas spirit.
People bring their own drinks and picnics, some quite elaborate and some very simple.
There’s fun for children at the Balmoral Carols
“Some have the best food, their favourite chardonnay and nice glasses,” says Michael. “Some even set up a little table. Some of them do it pretty fancy, I must admit. It’s lovely, but that’s classic Mosman for you. Others just come with sandwiches.”
The church’s community choir, which was established two years ago, will lead the carol singing with a band accompanying them.
“It’s just a great festivity,” says Michael. “It’s a wonderful way of connecting the community and reminding them of the true meaning of Christmas and how blessed we are (to live) where we live. It’s an iconic celebration in Mosman, that’s for sure.”
This year’s event is taking place on 13 December from 5pm to 8.30pm. Song sheets will be available for downloading from the church website and there will be some printed at the carols too. Visit mosmanvillage.church/events
More musical merriment
6 December – Carols in Willoughby Park
13 December – Christmas at Taronga Concert
14 December – Spirit of Christmas 2025 Concert at Chatswood Concourse
