Dunedin’s Christmas Weekend Starts Here!
Fill your calendar and get ready for a weekend packed with festive fun, family entertainment and plenty of Christmas spirit. Think of it as Christmas opening ceremony – Dunedin style!
From all-star entertainment at Christmas in the Garden, to the much-loved Dunedin Santa Parade, and the epic Z Manu Comp making waves at Steamer Wharf, there’s something happening all weekend.
Bring the whānau, round up your friends and get ready to celebrate – Dunedin’s Christmas spirit is on full display!
Weekend Highlights
Saturday 5 December
Christmas in the Gardens
Time: 3:00pm - 8:00pm
Celebrate Christmas at the Dunedin Botanic Gardens. Enjoy an afternoon full of free family entertainment and special guests. Bring a picnic, visit the food trucks or the new Aster Café.
Entertainment
- - Welcome from MC Melanie Kerr
- – Rainbow Rosalind
- – Prince of Purple
- – Hot Steppers
- 5:25pm - 6:15pm - The Andy P Band
- – Headliners DKCM Christmas All Stars with a special guest… Santa!
Z Manu Comp at Steamer Basin
Get ready for an action-packed day of epic bombs, big splashes and all-round good vibes
As well as the main comp, there are two Push Play sessions where anyone can give it a go, whether you’re keen to try your first Manu or just want to jump in for the fun of it.
Full timetable will be announced soon – for more information click here.
Sunday 6 December
Dunedin Santa Parade
Time: 3:00pm
Dunedin's iconic Santa Parade is filled with enchanting and captivating floats, music, marching, community groups, local businesses, sports teams, and of course the man in the red suit himself - Santa!
Parade starts
Free buses to and from the city centre will be available as well as accessibility parking options. For road closures click here.
People travelling into the city centre to watch the parade and back home again can catch a free ride on all Dunedin bus routes from 1pm to 6pm. To travel for free, passengers will need to tell the bus driver they’re going to or from the parade. They will not need to tag on or off with their Bee Card.
