The Rocks Christmas Markets 2020

Overview

The Rocks is serving up all your Christmastime needs in its cobblestone streets this holiday season — from bespoke gifts and decorations to joyful meals and festive drinks. The historic neighbourhood's annual Christmas Markets will run every Friday through Sunday from December 4–20. Plus, it'll have a special Christmas Eve market on Thursday, December 24, should you need to pick up any last-minute pressies. From the vast array of stallholders, expect artisanal gifts like personalised engraved jewellery from Roubos Club, handmade cheeseboards from Good in Wood, sweat treats Patisserie Confiserie and shaving kits from Stuga.

Not only that, but The Rocks will be decked out to the nines, transforming the precinct into a Christmas wonderland. There'll be ambient lighting at the First Fleet Park stairway as you head into The Rocks, alongside Christmas trees, lamp post decorations and fairy lights along George Street. Nurses Walk will have seven-foot Christmas trees, Nutcracker statues and star lanterns festooning the laneway. You can also wander under a 30-metre-long canopy of baubles and mistletoe. Then, head to Playfair Street where you'll find the Insta-worthy Jingle Bell Rocks Station, complete with a custom-built gold train, station signs, more trees and cheery Christmas tunes.

A variety of live music will also take over The Rocks, with a mixture of Christmas covers and mashups. Kicking things off will be local drag queen and Mariah Carey impersonator Vanity Faire, performing in First Fleet Park at 6.30pm on Friday, December 4. She'll take the stage with a crew of dancers, backdropped by the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Expect her to sing all of Mariah's festive hits — and yes, that includes 'All I Want for Christmas Is You'.

The Rocks' usual shops will be done up in your standard red-and-green, silver-and-gold hues, too. There'll also be plenty of festive treats from street food vendors, so you can refuel on some tasty snacks, then keep working through your gift list. And, the local bars and pubs have you covered post-shopping, from craft brews at Endeavor Tap Rooms to cocktails on Mrs Jones' terrace.

Craven Images

The Christmas Markets will be open from 10am–8pm each Friday and Saturday and from 10am–5pm on Sundays. On Christmas Eve, the market will be open from 11am–6pm.

Top images: Anna Kucera