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Christmas in July

Christmas in July in Sydney and Yulefest in the Blue Mountains

Christmas in July in Sydney

The idea for "Christmas in July" supposedly came from the Blue Mountains. European visitors who were missing winter back home. From this sentiment came a string of hotels and restaurants all rushing around to recreate a Christmas that Europeans would recognise and savour. Whether this works as a good substitute is hard to say but it has certainly become popular with hoteliers and traders in the Blue Mountains and has spread its way down to Sydney. So we say Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas everybody! and a happy new ???

In 2010, Christmas came early in Balmain with numerous fun activities but, unfortunately, Christmas appears to cancelled this year (in Balmain at least). Christmas is a time to be jolly so lets not despair, last year, the retailers in Waverley at Charing Cross got organised and it was:

Waverley Christmas! (in July) - We are waiting to se if they will do it again this year (2012).

Participating shops are making contributions to hampers, as well as in store gifts, with purchases, reductions and other surprises. On the day purchasers receive tickets for hampers which will be drawn at 15:30. The Waverley College Band to play during the day. This is a community event with something for everybody..

and Christmas, wouldn't be Christmas (in July) without a Christmas Harbour Cruise (from $55):

Christmas in July on Sydney Harbour

The magic of a July Christmas is brought afloat with four hours of cruising on gorgeous Sydney Harbour compete with Christmas bonbons and decorations to set the mood.

Whilst admiring the view tuck into a delicious Christmas themed buffet including hot roast beef, tender chicken, pastas and tasty salads. This is all followed by coffee, tea and desserts (yes, there'll be plenty of Christmas pudding and custard for all!).

Christmas Entertainment

On the entertainment front there's an explosive Brazilian floor show (with audience participation!) and a dance floor full of happy dancers having enjoyed the reasonably priced drinks from the fully licensed bar. If that's not enough there will be prizes to be won and giveaways to be given.

Christmas in July Sydney Harbour Cruise

Christmas in July in the Blue Mountains

Christmas in July? In the Blue Mountains it's Christmas everyday! well every day from June..more likely July to August. Up here it's known as 'Yulefest' and it's the second best reason to visit the Blue Mountains (after the mountains themselves of course).

If you've never experienced a Blue Mountains 'Yulefest' then you're in for a Christmas treat. Many of the region's guesthouses, hotels, motels, resorts and restaurants provide all the treats, and trappings, of a traditional northern hemisphere Christmas. We are talking turkey here folks along with ham and chicken and stuffing and the cranberry sauce and the Christmas pudding. This is an enlarging experience.

All this food is accompanied by live entertainment, from carols around the piano, to live shows, group dancing and bush bands. Oddly perhaps, but Yulefest appears to be mostly aimed at adults. This may change over time of course, (we give it about five months :) but if you were thinking of taking your kids up the mountains to meet Santa like we were, well, you might want to reconsider.

Before your Christmas Lunch why not have Breakfast with the Kangaroos

(hey! it's my turn to pull the sleigh!)

Reindeer can be a little hard to find in Australia, even in the Blue Mountains, but kangaroos are a close approximation in a bouncy kind of way. To see the roos you need to be early, late or be able to see in the dark. So an early morning tour is a good option.

Blue Mountains Kangaroo Tour - maximum of 5 people

This special two hour tour is limited to only 5 participants. So you'll experience a personal encounter making it all the more memorable. After all, if you are going to have to raise yourself at an ungodly early hour you'll want the experience to be worth it. On route you'll travel through an historic valley before you view the wild kangaroos in their natural habitat. The tour runs out of Katoomba, in the heart of the Blue Mountains.

Breakfast with Kangaroos in the Blue Mountains