The best ways to celebrate Christmas in Melbourne 2022

Ready to deck the halls and get your fa la la la las on? We round up some of the best ways to celebrate the silly season.

Albums

What do Mariah Carey, Nat King Cole and Wham have in common? Their songs are always some of the most played at Christmas. But why not hit shuffle and give some Australian hitmakers a go this season?

Jimmy Barnes lends his grunt ‘n’ shout to songs such as Jingle Bell Rocks, Little Drummer Boy and Santa Claus is Coming To Town and even sings a song popularised by Elvis Presley for a hot shoe shuffle in Blue Christmas.

Barnesy even dons his leopard print dinner jacket for a rockabilly-inspired trip around the Christmas tree.

Melbourne soul sisters Vika and Linda Bull also lean into the festive spirit with Gee Whiz, It’s Christmas!  It’s inspired to get people dancing on Christmas Day as they prepare lunch for those they love.

The siblings do a version of Tom Petty’s Christmas All Over Again and lend their pipes to Memphis soul legend Carla Thomas’ 1963 single It’s Christmas.

They also put a sisterly spin on a Willie Nelson classic Please Come Home for Christmas [which was originally performed by Charles Brown] and Slade’s Merry Christmas Everybody.

Concerts

Stage legend Rhonda Burchmore and jazz ensemble the Jack Earle Big Band come together for A Red Hot Swingin’ Christmas at The Palms at Crown on December 4.

Full of new Christmas arrangements with an 18-piece big band that pays homage to the swing masters, they reimagine classics like Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Cool Yule, We Need a Little Christmas and Let it Snow.

There’s also an accompanying album for all your festive celebrations.

Las Vegas circuit regulars Human Nature return to Australia to perform A Christmas Celebration at the Palms at Crown from December 8-11.

They released a Christmas album back in 2013 and a deluxe version hit the shelves in 2016. It’s still ever so popular for their Motown takes on Christmas and duets with Delta Goodrem, Smokey Robinson and Jessica Mauboy.

“The Christmas show is one of our favourite things to do every year,” says Human Nature vocalist Phil Burton.

“It’s light-hearted and uplifting and it feels like we’re not performing to a crowd in our usual format. The audience is there for the same reason we are, to have a little bit of joy and fun at Christmas time.

“Soul-based renditions of classic Christmas tunes resonate with every generation.”

Events

What’s Christmas without the iconic Myer Christmas Windows? This year’s theme is Disney’s 100 Years of Wonder, and it brings to life magical scenes from Frozen, Peter Pan, Mickey Mouse and The Lion King.

If you missed out on annual Santa photos over the last few years, then now is your chance to make up for lost time. Santa takes his throne at Crown Atrium for free digital photos every day from December 1, between noon and 6pm.

Melbourne’s Christmas Wonderland returns to Caulfield with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, elves and Santa Claus on site for an immersive walk-through experience that will excite kids and parents alike.

You’ll find the North Pole Post Office open for special letter posting, and Mrs Claus will be on hand to help little authors.

You can also make your own gingerbread to take home, there’s a storyteller corner in which to plonk the kids, and a Christmas stage show too. Oh, and did we mention the skating rink?