For Sydney families searching for a magical, affordable Christmas experience, ‘Christmas at the Cathedral’ offers the perfect night out.
For Dany Elachi and his family of seven, a summer’s evening at the St Mary’s Cathedral forecourt has become not just a seasonal tradition but a joyful, stress-free highlight on the calendar.
“We’ve been to the last three, and it’s always a lot of fun. We turn it into an evening out in town, grab some food from the stalls and enjoy the atmosphere,” Dany explained.
“Last year, we had some friends who were performing at the cathedral, so we went and watched the concert beforehand and then made a whole night of it, with the animation display, of course, being the main attraction. It makes for a wonderful, cheap evening for a family of seven.”
With the rising cost of living, the price tag for family entertainment matters, making this event a real winner.
“Typically, a family needs to spend well over $100 for an outing but being at the cathedral makes it a quick trip to get into the city, as its right at the railway station steps, said Dany.
“Last year we combined our visit with the Carols in the Domain. So that made for a huge night out for our family, and it was just a wonderful way to get into the spirit of Christmas in the lead up to the big day.”
The experience is a delight for children and parents alike. “The kids all took a few dollars in their pockets and walked around to the various stalls. And it had a bit of a party, festive festival atmosphere for them, offering some autonomy in a nice, safe, enclosed area, where parents can keep an eye on their children, and they enjoyed the ability to walk around, meet up with some friends, while mum and dad enjoyed a delicious coffee. And it was just a really good way to get into the Christmas spirit.”
For Kingsford father of five Mark Sarmiento, Christmas at the Cathedral has become an annual tradition his family treasures – an easy, affordable, and joy-filled way to begin the season together.
“It’s great because we just get there by public transport. We just catch the light rail, walk to the cathedral and just sit down and take it in all the magic.”
The evening has something for everyone: “There’s a lot of the little shops that the kids love to go to, food stalls where they love to eat, seeing family and friends, there’s entertainment, other communities that sing and perform prior to the lights. And when the lights start, you treasure the happiness in their faces,” he said.
Music and performance add that extra dimension for families like the Sarmientos and Elachi’s.
“Whenever we think of Christmas, we think of carols,” reflected Dany. “We think we think of music and having those performances in the forecourt of the cathedral is a wonderful way of bringing us into the season and feeling those beautiful emotions that we all remember.”
This year’s theme resonates deeply for the Elachi’s.
“Drummer Boy is a personal favourite of mine. And it’s a timely message, especially for kids, when we can shower them with gifts and all the material kind of things,” said Dany.
“Here is this young boy who shows what Jesus really values, and that’s humility, devotion and true love.”
Mark has a special memory of his children spending the night enjoying the event with sisters from the Missionary of Charity.
“My children were sitting on the cathedral steps and we found ourselves sitting next to the sisters and we spoke all night about the meaning of Christmas, about their work and the faith. With the lights and music, it’s something we haven’t forgotten.”
It’s experiences like these that made Christmas at the Cathedral a true Christmas favourite event for families not just for its affordability, the breathtaking lights, music, and festivities, but for the warmth, connection, and spirit it brings to families.
“We always encourage family and friends, anyone that we know, to meet us down there if they can,” said Dany. “We don’t have to purchase tickets, or try to organise seating next to each other. All you’ve got to do is rock up at the same time, and you’re in for a truly Christmas memorable family experience.”