Christmas in the Adelaide Hills
From the Lights of Lobethal to European-style Christmas markets, you'll find plenty of Christmas spirit and magical experiences in the Adelaide Hills during the festive season.
Germans are known for magical Christmas experiences and with Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement (Hahndorf) and a number of German townships, the Adelaide Hills region is the perfect place for festive fun.
Markets and Family Fun
The Lights of Lobethal Festival has been attracting visitors and locals far and wide to the village of Lobethal to ignite that festive feeling for more than 60 years. Many enjoy this activity as a tradition that marks the start of the Christmas season. In December the largest community Christmas light display in the Southern Hemisphere will light up your hearts. Fill the car with family, friends and Christmas tunes and see the lights in style. Visit the living nativity (two performances nightly) and catch the Christmas pageant parade and Centennial Hall Market.
Hahndorf is a hive of activity during the Hahndorf Christkindlmarkt (Christmas Market), a European-style Christmas market complete with light displays, festive market stalls, live entertainment, food and drink stands and more! The township itself is transformed for a special weekend in December - this is your chance to discover Hahndorf like you've never seen it before with traders open late for gift shopping, restaurants and cafes available for tasty meals, wineries pouring to quench your thirst, and a whole lot of entertainment guaranteed to delight all ages. If you’re up for a whole weekend of Christmas cheer, why not stay a night or two in the Adelaide Hills to really soak up the atmosphere!
Other highlights include the Gathered Christmas Design Market, Torrens Valley Christmas Market and Mount Pleasant Farmers Market special Christmas Twilight Market.
Just remember that car parking is quite limited on the weekend of the Hahndorf Christmas markets. Access the official parking and public transport guide here, or refer to the snapshot below.
It’s often easier to find a car park on the back streets and walk the short distance to the main street.
Suggestions include Windsor Avenue, English Street and Pine Avenue
Parking is at your own risk
Please be respectful using private car parks, and be mindful of signage stating private and permit parking.
Please do not park on/over yellow lines, this is for safety reasons to ensure people can enter & exit safely.
Consider parking outside of the village and catching the Metro Bus with services running regularly.
Christmas Pageants and Carols
There are many Christmas pageants and carol nights in the towns and villages of the Adelaide Hills and here are just some of the highlights:
The Mount Barker Christmas Pageant and Mount Barker Carols in the Park
The arrival for St. Nicholas in Hahndorf – a Christmas pageant with a German twist
Sinclair’s Gully winery’s Carols Under the Candlebarks at Norton Summit
Christmas Favourites
The Hahndorf Candlemaker in Hahndorf's main street is the place to visit for an enchanting window display of Christmas decorations and traditional German Christmas pyramids. Their range of German folk art is imported all the way from Seiffen, Germany. Learn about the tradition of wood-carving and pick up an ornament or two for the tree!
Head to Melba's Chocolates and Confectionery, an Adelaide Hills institution located in Woodside for special twilight trading hours and activities in the lead-up to Christmas. As well as the incredible range of traditional chocolate and confectionery treats there are free fun activities for the whole family - from face painting, colouring competitions and special demonstrations through to garden games and appearances from Father Christmas. It's worth a trip on its own but combining a visit to Melba’s with the Lights of Lobethal is recommended for a truly magical (and delicious) night out.
The Oakbank Racing Club's Twilight Christmas at The Races also captures the spirit of the season with twilight horse races, fun activities for the whole family and an after-race concert that is suitable for all ages.