Can you believe it’s December, and the start of the holiday season? There are plenty of activities this summer to get out and about!
Alexandria Christmas Concert, December 14, 5.30-8.30 pm
Hosted once again by The Listies, there will be guest bands, free craft activities, and a visit from Santa. Variety, the Children’s Charity NSW/ACT, will receive a $5 donation for a photo with Santa. There will also be face painting and coloured hairspray for a donation. Buses and trains to Green Square and Metro-Waterloo will get you there.
50 Years of Sydney Festival, January 8-25, 2026
Can’t believe the Sydney Festival has been running for half a century. While most of the big marquee events will be sold out by now, there are still some free events for everyone, including:
- Waverider – Legs on the Wall, January 8-18, Bondi Pavilion
- Hickson Road Live – Effetes Especiales (from Argentina), January 10, 4-8 pm, with DJs, dancing, food and The Kick On
- Sydney Symphony under the Stars – 50 Years of Music and Pictures, January 17, Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour
Festival programs are available at your local libraries and stores, and you can check out free events online at https://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/do-it-on-a-shoestring.
Vigil-Belong Sunset, January 25, 2026
Will be held at Barangaroo Reserve at sunset (8.05 pm) on January 25. Expect rising smoke, song and ceremony, with sculpture by Lucy Simpson, Uncle Matthew Doyle kindling fire and smoke, and Nardi Simpson leading a community chorus of songs. https://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/events/vigil-belong
Field Rooms – Danks St South, Waterloo, 2026
Field Rooms is a purpose-built studio and workshop performance space for regenerative creative practice. Launched by artist Heidi Axelson and architect Hugo Molina of MAPA Art & Architecture, Field Rooms is seeking three residents for its Placeholder Program in 2026. The residencies will span four months, and attract a $4,000 artist fee. Applicants can cover a wide range of creatives – artists, carers, gardeners, etc. Applications close Monday 19 January 2026, at www.openfieldagency.org.
NSW Summer School Holidays
Start Monday 22 December 2025 and end Monday 2 February 2026.
Thank you to our volunteers for 2025
Thank you to South Sydney Herald’s long-term and new contributors and volunteers; we couldn’t do it without you. A formal welcome and thank you to our new Managing Editor, Anna Jahjah, whose enthusiasm is boundless. Welcome back to Rev Andrew Collis, who, with Colin, is distributing SSH to its various outlets. We can’t end the year without a huge thank-you to our designer, Rob. Best wishes to our advertisers, readers and friends, as we look forward to a successful New Year.
Greetings for the festive season and best wishes for a happy and safe holiday season.
Pat Clarke
volunteers@ssh.com.au
