Christmas Trivia brings festive questions, singalongs and friendly competition to PHIVE on 9 December, offering an easy-going after-work celebration in Parramatta.
There is a particular pleasure in finishing work and knowing the evening holds something more enjoyable than the usual journey home. In December, when diaries fill quickly and the festive season begins to gather pace, an invitation to pause, meet friends and enjoy a little friendly competition can be especially welcome.
That is the idea behind Christmas Trivia, coming to Riverside Live at PHIVE in Parramatta on Wednesday 9 December 2026. Part of Riverside's Beat the Peak offering, the event invites people to swap the peak-hour commute for an after-work gathering filled with Christmas questions, singalongs, prizes and a generous dose of seasonal humour.
Hosted by cabaret performer, vocalist and musical comedian Libby Wood, the evening will test how well guests know their Christmas films, songs, traditions and popular culture. Whether the team includes a dedicated Christmas enthusiast, a film buff or someone who simply remembers every festive song lyric, there should be plenty of opportunities to contribute.
The format is straightforward: gather a team, settle in with a drink, enjoy complimentary popcorn and see how much festive knowledge can be brought to the table. With tickets priced at $10 and a running time of approximately 90 minutes, Christmas Trivia offers a relaxed way to celebrate the season without committing to a full evening out.
Christmas Trivia And The Pleasure Of A Friendly Challenge
Christmas trivia has a particular advantage over many other kinds of quiz. Most people arrive with at least a little knowledge, even if they do not consider themselves experts. They may know the words to a familiar carol, remember a favourite Christmas film or have strong opinions about seasonal traditions.
The questions can take participants in several directions, from the films that return to television every December to the songs that seem to appear everywhere as soon as November arrives. Popular culture, festive customs and the small details of Christmas entertainment all provide opportunities for a surprise answer.
The fun is often less about achieving a perfect score than discovering what everyone around the table remembers. One person may know every detail of a classic Christmas movie, while another can identify a song from its opening notes. Someone else may have an unexpected store of knowledge about traditions from around the world.
That variety is part of what makes the format suitable for groups. Colleagues can form teams after work, friends can organise a seasonal get-together, and people celebrating Friendsmas can add a little competition to their gathering.
Riverside describes the evening as an after-work Christmas party, with friendly competition and prizes among the attractions. It is designed to be light-hearted, social and accessible to people who want to enjoy a festive event without needing specialist knowledge or a serious quiz background.
Hosted By Libby Wood
Leading the evening will be Libby Wood, a cabaret performer, vocalist and musical comedian whose work combines music, humour and audience engagement.
Her hosting role gives the event a performance element beyond the trivia questions themselves. A good quiz host does more than read questions and announce scores. They establish the atmosphere, keep the evening moving and make sure the competition remains enjoyable for everyone, including those whose teams are not quite keeping up with the leaders.
Wood's background in cabaret and musical comedy is well suited to a Christmas event that includes singalongs and festive entertainment. Riverside's own introduction to the performer sets the tone with a playful fictional biography, claiming that she trained at the North Pole Academy of Cabaret and that she and Santa are "just good friends".
It is a small piece of seasonal mischief that signals the evening's approach. This is not intended to be a formal examination of Christmas knowledge. The emphasis is on having a laugh, joining in and enjoying the company.
The singalong element also gives the night a different rhythm from a conventional pub quiz. Guests can expect the festive atmosphere to extend beyond the questions, with music helping to bring the room together.
For those who enjoy cabaret, musical comedy or simply a lively host, Wood's presence adds another reason to make the evening part of the December calendar.
A Christmas Get-Together For Colleagues And Friends
December can be a difficult month in which to organise a group outing. Work commitments, family arrangements and end-of-year celebrations compete for space, while the most popular venues and dates can book out quickly.
An event at PHIVE offers a convenient alternative for people who want to meet in central Parramatta. The venue sits at 5 Parramatta Square, in the heart of the city's business and civic precinct, making it a practical meeting point for people working nearby or travelling into the area.
The event is particularly suited to colleagues looking for an informal end-of-year gathering. Instead of organising a large dinner or a more elaborate celebration, a trivia evening offers a shared activity that gives everyone something to do. Teams can encourage one another, compare answers and enjoy a little harmless rivalry.
It also suits Friendsmas celebrations, where friends create their own seasonal gathering outside the demands of traditional family events. A quiz can provide a relaxed structure for the evening, while the music and festive questions give the group plenty to talk about.
For Christmas enthusiasts, the appeal is obvious. There is something satisfying about being able to put seasonal knowledge to use, especially when prizes are available and the competition is friendly.
The $10 ticket price also makes the event a relatively affordable option for a group outing. Guests can check the official ticketing page for current availability and any applicable booking information.
Beat The Peak With An After-Work Change Of Pace
The Beat the Peak idea speaks to a familiar part of working life in Sydney: the rush to get home at the end of the day. Rather than immediately joining the evening commute, guests are invited to stay in Parramatta and make an occasion of the time between work and home.
That small change can turn an ordinary Wednesday into something more enjoyable. Meeting friends or colleagues after work creates a natural break in the day, while an organised activity removes the pressure of deciding what everyone should do.
Parramatta Square is well placed for this kind of gathering. Its location in the city centre makes it a meeting point for people working across the surrounding business district, and PHIVE is part of the precinct's growing cultural and community life.
Riverside Live at PHIVE is Riverside's performance venue within the PHIVE building. Its programme includes theatre, music, dance, comedy, talks and community events, bringing a range of experiences into the centre of Parramatta.
For Christmas Trivia, the venue provides a central setting for a social event that does not require a long journey or an elaborate plan. Guests can arrive after work, take their seats, order a drink from the bar and settle into the evening.
The format is also relatively compact. At approximately 90 minutes without an interval, the event offers enough time for a full evening of questions and entertainment while leaving guests free to continue their night afterwards or head home.
The Small Festive Details
Riverside's event description highlights a few simple additions that help create the atmosphere. There will be a bar where guests can purchase a drink, and complimentary popcorn will be provided.
These details may be modest, but they suit the informal nature of the event. A quiz night is as much about the atmosphere around the questions as it is about the score. Having something to enjoy while teams compare answers and wait for the next round helps make the evening feel like a Christmas gathering rather than a formal competition.
Prizes will be available, adding a little incentive to get the answers right. But the event's appeal is not limited to those who take the quiz seriously. The combination of music, humour and familiar seasonal subjects should give everyone a way to take part.
There is also a useful sense of occasion in having a Christmas event early enough in December to feel like the start of the celebrations. By 9 December, the festive season is well underway, but there is still time to enjoy a relaxed gathering before the final rush towards Christmas Day.
An Accessible Evening At PHIVE
PHIVE is located at 5 Parramatta Square, Parramatta, and the venue provides several accessibility features for visitors.
Riverside lists the event as wheelchair accessible, with Companion Card accepted and an assistive hearing system available through FM. The performance is in English.
Guests who require additional information about accessibility can consult the venue's official access information before attending. It is always useful to contact the box office in advance if there are particular requirements that may affect seating or the visit.
The event is listed at $10 per ticket, with a transaction fee of $3 applying. Riverside advises that prices are correct at the time of publication and may change. The official ticketing page will show the current price and availability during booking.
A Little Christmas Competition Before The Holidays
The best end-of-year gatherings do not always need elaborate plans. Sometimes a room full of people, a few familiar songs and a set of questions about Christmas are enough to create a memorable evening.
Christmas Trivia offers just that kind of occasion. It brings together the social pleasure of a quiz night and the familiar fun of the festive season, with Libby Wood guiding the evening through questions, music and comedy.
For colleagues, it is an opportunity to enjoy time together away from the office. For friends, it offers an easy way to organise a December catch-up. And for anyone who takes Christmas films, songs and traditions seriously, there is the added satisfaction of putting that knowledge to the test.
The event's central Parramatta location and short running time make it a practical choice for a midweek outing. Instead of heading straight into peak-hour traffic, guests can stay a little longer, share a drink and enjoy the company.
There may be a prize for the team with the sharpest festive knowledge, but the real reward is an evening that makes the countdown to Christmas feel a little more enjoyable.
Event Details
Event: Christmas Trivia, presented by Riverside
Date: Wednesday 9 December 2026
Time: 5.30pm, as listed in the supplied event information
Venue: PHIVE, 5 Parramatta Square, Parramatta NSW 2150
Host: Libby Wood
Duration: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, no interval
Tickets: $10 per person, plus a $3 transaction fee
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible; Companion Card accepted; FM assistive hearing system available
Language: English
The evening includes Christmas trivia, singalongs, prizes, a bar and complimentary popcorn.
For tickets and the latest event information, visit the official Riverside Christmas Trivia page.
With its mix of festive questions, music and friendly competition, Christmas Trivia offers a cheerful way to step away from the usual after-work routine. At PHIVE, the Christmas season will come with a quiz sheet, a few familiar tunes and the chance to discover who really knows their festive facts.