Magic of Christmas brings live music, family entertainment and fireworks to Carss Bush Park on 5 December, with a free evening of celebration beside the bay.
As December settles over Sydney, the familiar signs of Christmas begin to gather: shopfronts brighten, school terms approach their close and evenings stretch towards the warmer part of the day. In the Georges River area, one of the season’s larger community gatherings takes place beside the water at Carss Bush Park, where families, neighbours and visitors come together for the annual Magic of Christmas celebration.
Set against the natural setting of Carss Park, the event offers a different kind of Christmas outing from the crowded shopping streets and ticketed spectacles of the city. The emphasis is on spending time outdoors, sharing an evening with the local community and enjoying a programme that moves from children’s performances and familiar characters to live music and a fireworks finale.
Georges River Council’s Magic of Christmas takes place on Saturday 5 December 2026, from 4.30pm to 9pm. Entry is free, and the celebration is held at Carss Bush Park, Carwar Avenue, Carss Park. Visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic rug and chairs. The event is alcohol-free.
Christmas Beside the Water
Carss Bush Park gives the celebration a distinctly local setting. Rather than occupying a closed venue, Magic of Christmas unfolds in an open public space, with the bay and surrounding parkland forming part of the evening’s backdrop.
That setting shapes the pace of the occasion. Families can settle in for the afternoon programme, find a place to sit and let the performances become part of a longer visit. Children have room to move between activities, while adults can enjoy the chance to catch up with friends and neighbours in a familiar part of the suburb.
The timing also makes the most of the early summer evening. The event begins at 4.30pm, leaving time for visitors to arrive while daylight remains, find a comfortable spot and take in the programme as the afternoon gives way to dusk. By the time the evening reaches its final act, the celebration has moved from daytime family entertainment towards a shared spectacle above the park.
The council describes the event as a free Christmas celebration, with children’s activities, live performances and food and treats available throughout the evening. Its closing fireworks display provides the final gathering point, bringing the crowd’s attention together for a countdown over the bay.
A Programme Built Around Local Performers
The early part of Magic of Christmas places local dance schools and community performers in the spotlight. The programme begins at 4.30pm with KO Dance Academy, whose performance takes inspiration from the changing seasons. Jazz and ballet pieces draw on images of snow and spring flowers, before the young dancers come together for a final number.
At 4.45pm, Hurstville-based Jump St takes to the stage. The performing arts school has a long history, having been established in 1952, and its classes span a range of dance and performance styles. Its appearance gives the programme another connection to the district, with a local organisation presenting its work to a community audience.
Studio 23 follows at 4.55pm. Based in Peakhurst, the dance studio was established in 2008 and is represented by members of its show group, who perform at eisteddfods and other events. These early performances give the afternoon a neighbourhood character. The stage is not reserved solely for touring acts; it also provides a place for young performers and local organisations to share what they have been working on.
At 5.05pm, Melody Mamas brings a more participatory element to the programme. The group performs Christmas songs in an interactive musical session designed to encourage families to sing and move along. It is an invitation for the audience to become part of the entertainment rather than simply watch from the sidelines.
The sequence of performances gives the event a gradual build. Dance, music and familiar seasonal songs create a programme that can hold the attention of different age groups, while allowing families to arrive, settle in and find their own rhythm.
Magic of Christmas Welcomes Familiar Faces
For younger visitors, some of the evening’s most recognisable appearances arrive from the world of children’s entertainment.
At 5.30pm, Sesame Street brings its Christmas-themed song and dance show to the stage. Elmo and friends lead a performance centred on music, movement and the spirit of giving. The characters are familiar to generations of children, making this part of the programme an opportunity for younger audience members to see them in a live setting.
The entertainment continues at 6pm with the Jayden Rodrigues Dance Party. Rodrigues, an Australian dancer, choreographer and digital content creator, is known for his high-energy dance videos and work as a Just Dance ambassador. His session is designed as an interactive children’s disco, with music and dance games inviting the crowd to join in.
At 7pm, the Care Bears arrive for a performance featuring Share Bear, Funshine Bear and Cheer Bear. Their story follows a Christmas party being organised with the help of their friend Ellie the Elf, combining singing, dancing and audience participation.
The Care Bears return the programme to the world of familiar characters and gentle seasonal storytelling. For families with younger children, these appearances provide recognisable moments within a longer evening of entertainment.
The Jayden Rodrigues Dance Party returns at 7.30pm, giving the crowd another chance to take part before the programme moves towards its later musical performances.
A Change of Pace as Evening Falls
Not every part of Magic of Christmas is directed towards children. As the evening progresses, the programme makes room for a different musical atmosphere.
At 6.25pm, Endeavour Harmony performs. The Sydney-based female a cappella ensemble was formed in 1996 and has earned national recognition, including titles at community choir competitions. Its international achievements include a fourth-place finish at the 2024 SingUnited International Harmony Classic.
A cappella singing brings its own texture to a live event. Without instrumental backing, the voices carry the melody, harmony and rhythm, creating a sound that depends on the balance of the ensemble. In a programme filled with dance, character appearances and interactive entertainment, the choir offers a change of pace.
The evening’s headline musical performance begins at 8pm, when jazz vocalist Emma Pask takes the stage with her band. Pask has built a career spanning more than three decades and is recognised for a style shaped by jazz tradition, expressive vocals and improvisation.
Her appearance broadens the programme beyond the familiar Christmas repertoire. It also gives adults and older music lovers a reason to stay for the later part of the evening, as the event shifts from family-focused performances towards a concert atmosphere.
The programme is hosted in two parts. Jayden Rodrigues leads the first section of the night, while David Campbell and Belinda Russell join the event for its second half. They introduce the headline act and lead the countdown to the fireworks.
Roving Characters and Things to Discover
Away from the main stage, the celebration continues through roving entertainment. The Giant Bubble Fairy, Santa and an elf helper, Sesame Street favourites, the Care Bears and other surprise characters are expected to appear around the event, meeting visitors and adding moments of discovery between scheduled performances.
For families, this means the evening does not need to be experienced from one fixed position. Children can encounter characters as they move through the park, while the main stage provides a programme to return to throughout the night.
Food and treats are also part of the event, giving visitors the option of making an evening of it rather than treating the celebration as a brief stop. Bringing a picnic rug and chairs is encouraged, allowing families and groups to establish a comfortable place to sit and watch the performances.
The council has also confirmed that the event is alcohol-free. This is worth noting when planning the visit, particularly for groups accustomed to bringing their own refreshments to outdoor gatherings.
An Accessible Community Celebration
Magic of Christmas is planned as an accessible event, with facilities and services intended to support visitors with different access requirements.
Accessible toilets, wheelchair access, accessible parking and a designated drop-off zone are available. Visitors needing to use the drop-off area should ask staff at the road closure on Carwar Avenue for access. Assistance animals are welcome, although visitors should be aware that the evening concludes with a fireworks display at 9pm.
A quiet space is located between By the Bay Cafe and Carss Park Cottage. The council also provides an accessibility map and further accessibility information through the event page. Anyone with specific requirements that are not covered by the listed arrangements can contact the council’s Events Team before attending.
For parking, the council identifies Carss Park Flats as an available option. Visitors are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport where possible. As with any large community event, allowing extra time for arrival and departure is sensible, particularly for families travelling with children or visitors who need to plan around accessible parking and drop-off arrangements.
The Final Countdown at Carss Bush Park
The final part of the evening brings the different strands of Magic of Christmas together. At 9pm, the celebration concludes with fireworks, with Santa, Jayden Rodrigues and the Mayor leading the countdown.
It is a familiar kind of Christmas finale, but the setting gives it a local character. The crowd gathers outdoors, the programme pauses and attention turns towards the sky above the park. For children, it is the bright punctuation mark at the end of an evening of music and characters. For adults, it is a chance to take in the atmosphere of a community gathering before the walk home.
The event also supports a local fundraising initiative. Sylvania BMW is the presenting sponsor, and its activation at the celebration will display a BMW 118 raffle prize vehicle. The raffle supports the St George Hospital Anaesthetics Department, with the draw taking place at the event and visitors able to purchase tickets before it closes.
In a busy part of the year, Magic of Christmas offers a reason to pause and spend an evening in a public place with the wider community. Its programme moves between local dance schools, established performers, children’s characters, choir singing and jazz, bringing together different kinds of entertainment without losing sight of the families and residents at its centre.
For those planning to attend, the practical details are straightforward: arrive from 4.30pm, bring something to sit on, and allow time to enjoy the performances before the 9pm fireworks. The celebration is free, open to all ages and held beside the water at Carss Bush Park.
As the last fireworks fade, the park will return to the quieter sounds of the bay and the evening. For one December night, though, the familiar landscape becomes a meeting place for the season – a reminder that some of Sydney’s most meaningful Christmas traditions are made close to home.
Event Details
Event: Georges River Council Magic of Christmas 2026
Date: Saturday 5 December 2026
Time: 4.30pm to 9pm
Location: Carss Bush Park, Carwar Avenue, Carss Park, NSW
Entry: Free
What to bring: Picnic rug and chairs
Important information: Alcohol-free event. Fireworks conclude the evening at 9pm.
Parking: Available at Carss Park Flats. Walking, cycling and public transport are encouraged where possible.
Official information: https://www.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au/Community/Events/Council-Events/Magic-of-Christmas