Sydney Town Hall lights up for Christmas

Sydney's Town Hall will be lit up like a Christmas tree over the next four weeks,
with a holiday light show projecting images of Australia onto its Victorian
sandstone facade.

The 12 Days of Christmas light show will begin on Thursday night as part of the City
of Sydney's $1.9 million celebrations.
The 12 rotating images of wattle blossoms, kookaburras, blue bottles, flying foxes
and echidnas will brighten up Town Hall until Christmas Eve, City of Sydney Lord
Mayor Clover Moore said.
"It's going to be the 12 days of Christmas Sydney style," Ms Moore told reporters at
Monday's launch.
"We're going to be seeing images such as 12 wattle blossoms, 11 flying foxes, seven
yachts a-sailing, two old echidnas, and we finish up with a pink galah in a gum
tree."
A 21-metre Christmas tree has again been erected in Martin Place, adorned with
58,000 LED lights and more than 300 seven pointed stars.
Trees will also be set up in seven other locales across the Sydney council area,
including a new tree in Kings Cross, an eight-metre tree at Taylor Square, and trees
at Circular Quay and on the balcony of Town Hall.
The Christmas celebrations kick off at 6pm (AEDT) on Thursday with a free children's
concert in Martin Place.
Kids will be able to see Santa, the Bananas In Pyjamas and Koala Brothers, plus
carollers from St Mary's Cathedral Choir and the Australian Girls Choir.
Kids' favourite Justine Clarke, jazz singer and TV personality Monica Trapaga, and
country star Melinda Schneider will also perform at Thursday's concert.
The performance, including a fireworks display, will also be shown on the big screen
in Hyde Park, as the crowds are expected to be too big for Martin Place.
"It's an exciting night, thousands of children come in with their parents," Ms Moore
said.
A series of village concerts will also be held in November and December in Elizabeth
Bay, Rosebery, Alexandria and Surry Hills.
Ms Moore invited families from all the wider Sydney area to come to the city during
the Christmas celebrations.
"Sydney belongs to everyone, whether you live right in the inner area or in the
outer metropolitan area," said the mayor, who was once dubbed a Christmas Grinch by
the Sydney press.
"We do invite all the families in to enjoy our city.
"Our celebrations reflect a true Sydney experience - from the kids' entertainment at
our free concerts to the Australian themed decorations."