Plans to revive Noel Sydney Christmas festival after NSW Government budget cuts

The beloved Noel Sydney festival could be saved in an early Christmas miracle after ‘a Grinch in Macquarie St’ scrapped funding.

The beloved and popular Noel Sydney Christmas festival could be thrown a lifeline by the City of Sydney Council after its funding was scrapped by the NSW Government.

Attracting thousands of visitors nationally, Sydney’s annual Noel Christmas festival was scrapped by the NSW Labor Government after budget cuts.

Held throughout Macquarie Street and the Royal Botanical Gardens, the festival saw more than 100,000 visitors in 2022.

'Digital Christmas Forest' at the Royal Botanic Gardens on December 09, 2022 (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Liberal councillor Shauna Jarrett called for council to revive the Christmas event with funding. “A grinch in Macquarie St stole Christmas, It’s absolutely an important event for Sydney, it brings people into the city, keeps businesses going, and everyone is able to enjoy the Christmas spirit as a visitor or a resident,” Ms Jarrett said.

City of Sydney Liberal councillor Shauna Jarrett

“ Its a shame the Labor Party cancelled the event when it brings in so much life and revenue,” Cr Jarrett said.
“City of Sydney should take over and put it on – it would be fabulous”.

City of Sydney’s Chief Executive Officer has been requested to investigate whether discretionary funding and resources are available to fund the Christmas Festival for 2023 through the council.

Ms Jarrett hopes after the investigation by the CEO that they can get in touch with Destination NSW, who hosted last year’s event so they can take the reins and save Christmas.

Noel Sydney was nominated as a finalist for the Eventex Awards for Events and Experience Marketing.