Not only will tens of thousands be treated to the stunning light spectacular of Christmas at the Cathedral this year, Sydney’s iconic mother church is also set to ring with the joyous music of choirs, bands and performers in its daily concerts running from 12 December to 25 December.
Once again, the cathedral forecourt will come alive with Christmas market stalls, activities and live musical acts in the special, free family event open to everyone.
One of this year’s headline acts is The John Field Band who perform countless gigs during the year but count the Christmas at the Cathedral event as the real highlight of their year.
“The John Field Band are thrilled to be performing at this year’s Christmas at the Cathedral,” said Dan Fallon, the saxophone player for the band.
“It is wonderful to share the joy of the season together at one of Sydney’s most iconic locations; to play carols and to perform our own Christmas songs is so much fun.
“John Field, who composed such Wiggles hits as Hot Potato, has written some absolute beauties,” Dan added.
Every evening, festivities will kick off at 5.30pm with dinner options, stage performances, face painting, and gift stalls underneath more than 600 fairy lights before the illumination of the cathedral at 8.30pm.
Dan said the positive energy in the cathedral is palpable when the music begins, and he can see the happiness in people’s faces as he performs.
“There is a great mix of Sydneysiders and visitors to our great city enjoying the musical celebration of Christmas. We thrive on that energy,” said Dan.
Large-scale events like Christmas at the Cathedral are not possible without broader community support, with the archdiocese counting on major sponsors, such as the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) to deliver this gift for Sydney.
“CommBank’s purpose is to build a brighter future for all. As such, we see this time of year and events like Christmas at the Cathedral as important opportunities to bring some light and joy to the world,” said CBA’s Executive General Manager for Major Client Group, Chris Williams.
“We’re proud to sponsor this wonderful event that brings so much happiness to our community, as people of all ages and backgrounds come together and celebrate,” he added.
As Australians everywhere feel the pinch of the rising costs of living, Australia’s largest bank, the CBA, are proactively supporting customers with direct financial assistance where needed.
“Making a positive impact in the communities that we serve is important to us and we are supporting community organisations through initiatives including our Community Grants program,” said Chris.
Which is why the CBA are actively empowering Australians to improve financial literacy and manage their finances more effectively, not just over Christmas but throughout the year.
“It’s incredibly important for CBA to increase financial literacy and empower customers to make more informed decisions. This year, we have hosted over 1,300 free financial wellbeing seminars at branches across Australia. We also have a range of free resources for parents and teachers to help build financial literacy with their children and students.”
From 12-25 December, the cathedral will come alive with Christmas projections and entertainment running from 5.30 to 10.30pm each day.