Find your festive fun with our complete Top End Christmas events guide
Christmas has taken over Darwin with an explosion of themed events promising everything from Santa’s murder mystery nights to magpie goose painting workshops.
WHAT’S ON: CHRISTMAS CHEER EDITION
While digging through this week’s events, I had to laugh at just how many rogue Christmas-themed happenings we’ve managed to whip up in the Top End.
Take an activity, slap “Christmas” in front of it, and you’ve got a festive event!
I’d need a double page spread to list them all, but here is a round-up of wholesome, random, and cheer-filled Christmas fun rolling out between now and the 25th – something for everyone to get into the spirit.
This morning kicks off the wholesome activities, with the free Christmas Pool Party at Casuarina Pool from 9.30am to 1pm, complete with free entry, a BBQ, a visit from Santa, and even a free coffee for the first 50 parents.
Later today, you can get a last-minute ticket for aLittle Miss Flowers Christmas wreath workshop – an eleventh-hour chance to decorate your front door.
Then from 7.30pm, jazz fans can settle in at Dinah Beach as Tanzil Rahman teams up with The Noteheads for a warm and cosyChristmas-jazz mash-up, best paired with cold drinks from the bar and Ton’s Bistro seafood specials.
Down at the Waterfront, the Christmas Express train is running its loop every night if you’re chasing something for the kids.
On Sunday, the 14th of December, Santa’s Fun Run hits its new home at the Casuarina Coastal Reserve, with 2km and 5km options, a Zumba warm-up at 7.15am and a sea of Santas, elves and reindeer raising money for Variety NT.
And from the 16th, Palmerston’s Christmas Wonderland returns to Goyder Square from 5pm to 9pm each night with glowing displays and family-friendly festivities.
If a cheeky Christmas is more your style, the Darwin Divine Dancers are also bringing their festive showcase to the Darwin Railway Club tonight, where you can expect sparkle, sass and seasonal mischief.
On Thursday 18th December, Santa goes rogue at The Last Supper with a two-hour murder mystery night from 6.30pm, complete with bottomless pizza and a room full of questionable suspects.
Then on Saturday 20th December, the Beachfront Hotel hosts the Naughty Santa edition of La Playa, with an 8pm Bachata class, shows from Santa’s Salsa & Bachata Squad and dancing from 9pm.
The same night, The Last Supper doubles down with ‘Deck the Balls’, a Christmas cabaret led by Darwin’s drag kings for a night of high-energy, hot-season glamour with a Territory twist.
For those leaning toward the vaguely Territory-themed end of Christmas, today at 2pm the Top End Drift crew are running their Christmas Drift Day, followed by Christmas beers into the evening.
I can’t help but think they missed an opportunity to call it Top End Driftmas – but there’s always next year!
From 5.30pm today, Hanky Panky is hosting a Macallan Christmas whisky session, set up as a round-table deep dive for anyone keen on a good drop.
Tonight, Bustard Town fires up saNTa maNTra Xmas Edition from 9pm, with Adrian Zac, HoH and Pete Stone on deck and free entry all night.
Also this weekend, the Darwin Clay Target Club and NT Field and Game are hosting their 2025 ‘Christmas Target Shooting’ events from 9am.
It wouldn’t be a Top End Christmas without Magpie Goose, so on Tuesday 16th December, The Artful Room is running a Kid’s Christmas Magpie Goose Painting Workshop (with Santa hats on them, of course) from 9.30am to 11.30am, for ages eight and up.
SOMETHING YOU NEED TO EAT
It’s no secret I love a cinnamon scroll – so imagine my joy when I found out Oh Boy Scrolls in Gateway are doing a gingerbread flavoured scroll for Christmas.
If you’re in charge of sweets for your Christmas catch-ups this weekend or next, you can order online, or pop into their pop-up store in Gateway Palmerston and get a box of six cinnamon scrolls with cream cheese icing and special gingerbread spice. Delicious!
Originally published as Find your festive fun with our complete Top End Christmas events guide
