Santa's calendar is stacked with appearances in the City of Onkaparinga this festive season.

Published on 01 November 2019

An Onkaparinga Christmas

We’ve only just reached November, but there’s no denying Christmas is in the air.

Supermarket aisles are filled with the sounds of Christmas songs, dusty trees and decorations are being pulled out of cupboards, and the 2019 City of Onkaparinga Christmas Pageant has been and gone. But our pageant isn’t the only Christmas event happening in the city.

There are pageants, carols, workshops and performances on offer, from Sellicks to Sullies and everywhere in between, with enough Christmas cheer to warm even the grinchiest of hearts.

Not to mention you can donate a gift to the Onkaparinga Christmas Tree, which will make Christmas special for children in need in our city, or follow the Christmas light display trail to see the entrants Mayor’s Christmas Light Display Competition entrants.

Don’t forget to catch up on our Christmas opening hours too.

Without further adieu, here’s a selection of some of the events on offer in your neighbourhood. Santa is going to be a busy boy.

Aberfoyle Park

Seeds Uniting Church is hosting a free family-friendly Road to Christmas event in its Sunnymeade Drive carpark on Friday 13 December (7-9pm). Enjoy live nativity, Jewish dancers, centurions, children’s activities, an animal nursery, tastings and baby Jesus.

Hub Library will host a free Christmas Storytime session for kids of all ages on Saturday 21 December (11am to 12pm), featuring stories, songs and craft.

Aldinga

If you’re aged between 12 and 25 and want to be part of this year’s City of Onkaparinga Christmas Pageant, Aldinga youth centre Studio 20 is hosting hands-on sessions to build this year’s youth float, alongside award-winning float-maker Mark Timberlake.

The cost is $5 per session and there are two sessions left (Monday 4 November and Monday 11 November, 4-6pm), bookings online.

Aldinga Beach

Stuck for gift ideas? Get crafty and learn to make your own handmade festive decorations – made from natural and compostable materials – via a Sustainable Spring workshop at Aldinga Library on Saturday 23 November (cost $6, bookings online).

Dani and Sam from local DIY legends Folk of All Trades will teach you to make decorations such as dried orange garlands, stamped wrapping paper, origami tree ornaments, salt dough name tags and mini rosemary wreaths, with all materials provided.

The Library is also hosting a Christmas Storytime session for kids where they can enjoy Christmas stories, songs and a craft activity (suitable for all ages), for free, on Friday 20 December 10-11am. For children with sensory issues, the library’s Christmas Sensory Storytime on Tuesday 17 December (10-11am) is a perfect alternative.

You can enjoy the Aldinga Bay Community Carols in Symonds Reserve on Sunday 15 December, 5pm to 9:30pm, featuring free carnival events, food and drink stalls and carols from local singers, community choir and guests.

Cherry Gardens

Cherry Gardens Community Carols are happening at the Memorial Hall on Tuesday 17 December (6:30pm to 10pm), featuring animals from Old McDonald’s Farm.

A balloon twister, a range of free craft activities, carols, food and nativity dress-ups (costumes available on the night) will also be on offer.

Christie Downs

The Twilight Christmas Market at St Basil’s Aegean Village is happening on Friday 6 December (5-8pm), featuring up to 30 food, plant and gift stalls run by local community members and residents from St Basil’s.

Experience a range of entertainment, including bouncy castles and belly dancers, and enjoy food and beverages for purchase in an alfresco seating area. Kids can meet Santa and parking and entry is free.

Christies Beach

Celebrate the beginning of the festive season with the City of Onkaparinga Christmas Pageant on Sunday 17 November!

From 10am to 1pm you can watch the procession of marching bands, dance troupes, sporting clubs, community groups and businesses along Beach Road before Santa makes his appearance, and enjoy free live entertainment, children’s games, activities and market stalls at Rotary Park.

Flagstaff Hill

Aberfoyle Park Baptist Church’s free Carols in the Park returns to Flagstaff Hill’s Mandilla Reserve on Wednesday 18 December (7:30pm to 9:30pm), featuring children’s activities, live music and carols singing for young and old.

Kangarilla

Follow the Santarilla Trail over the festive season through Clarendon, Kangarilla, Meadows and beyond to see the silly situations Santa has found himself in down south.

At Kangarilla Oval, the Kangarilla Community Carols will take place on Sunday 15 December from 6:15pm, featuring a sausage sizzle and soft drinks, and carols from 7pm (by Kangarilla Progress Association). Bring a picnic rug or low camp chair.

McLaren Vale

The Vale is the place to be on Sunday 8 December (6-8:30pm) for the McLaren Vale Community Christmas Parade and Party in the Piazza.

Enjoy the parade of colourful floats along Main Road McLaren Vale from Field Street to Valley View Drive and join in the “Party in the Piazza” with live music, carols, sausage sizzle, face-painter, ice cream, a visit from Santa and late trading by local businesses.

Morphett Vale

Morphett Vale positive ageing centre, Wakefield House, is celebrating Christmas with a party and smorgasbord lunch by its all-star kitchen team on Wednesday 18 December (11:30am to 2:30pm).

It’s open to all ages for $20 and bookings are essential (call 8384 6158).

Noarlunga Centre

Celebrate Christmas with Community Carols in Ramsay Place, Colonades on Thursday 12 December (6-9pm). There’ll be carol singing, children’s activities, live music and community groups to interact with, as well as a visit by Santa.

At Noarlunga Library, you can learn how to make simple festive flower arrangements with paper or repurposed books via a fun Christmas craft workshop on Monday 9 December (1-2:30pm), bookings online.

Noarlunga Downs

The Southern Community Christmas Carols are back at South Adelaide Football Club on Sunday 15 December (5:30pm to 9pm) where, for a gold coin donation, you can enjoy kids activities, open-air carols, fireworks and a visit from Santa. Food and beverages available.

Old Noarlunga

Pack a picnic tea, bring your family and, friends and a blanket to Market Square on Sunday 15 December (6:30pm to 8:30pm) for the free Carols on the Square.

Port Noarlunga

Two festive shows at Port Noarlunga’s Arts Centre will help ring in Christmas by the sea.

A Fizzy Pop Christmas – presented by Allsorts of Entertainment – on Saturday 7 December (8-11pm) will feature Fizzy Pop’s signature big sound and dazzling costumes while they play the great party hits of the 70s, 80s and 90s. Tickets are $35 and bookings can be made online.

On Wednesday 11 December (11am to 12pm), The Beggars Christmas Favourite Matinee will feature everyone’s favourite Christmas songs with their beautiful playing and harmonies and relaxed and friendly style. Tickets $18, bookings online.

Reynella

Reynella’s Christmas Pageant takes place on Friday 13 December (4-7pm), featuring belly dancers and roving entertainment including face-painters, buskers, jugglers, stilt walkers, fire-twirlers and a parade of decorated floats and community groups.

Food and drinks will be available in John Reynell Park, with the parade kicking off at 5:45pm.

Seaford

Enjoy a free kids Christmas Bedtime Storytime (for 3-6 year olds) featuring Christmas stories and jingles, followed by milk and cookies, at Seaford Library on Thursday 19 December (5-5:45pm). Kids will also be given some reindeer food to take home.

Willunga

Learn how to make festive gifts – such as beeswax wraps, natural sugar face and body scrubs, and handkerchiefs – during a Sustainable Spring workshop at the Willunga Environment Centre on Saturday 16 November (10:30am to 12:30pm).

Cost is $5, plus small fees depending on what items you choose to make. Bookings online.

Woodcroft

Woodcroft Carols in the Park takes place on Saturday 14 December (5pm to 7:30pm) on Equestrian Drive, featuring carols, kids amusements, information stalls, food and drink vendors, fair-type activities and a visit by Santa.

Woodcroft Library is hosting a Christmas School Holiday Drop-in Activities day on Monday 16 December (9:30am to 4:30pm), featuring a range of Christmas craft, colouring and activities suitable for all ages.