At a glance
- When
- Saturday 12 December 2026, 6pm to 10pm (Adelaide time, UTC+10:30)
- Where
- Thorndon Park, Hamilton Terrace, Paradise SA 5075
- Cost
- Free. Food and drinks are for sale, or bring your own picnic
- Program
- 6pm children’s activities and food trucks; 7pm official opening; 7:15pm carols; a screening of The Grinch (PG) at sundown
- Parking
- The council says parking is available in the Thorndon Park car park
- Who it’s for
- Families in Adelaide’s north-eastern suburbs, with children’s activities, a visit from Santa and a family movie
- What to do now
- Put the date in your diary and plan how you will get to the park, because the car park is the only parking the council names
- Last checked
- Saturday 31 October 2026, against the Campbelltown City Council event page and Thorndon Park page
- Not yet confirmed
- Whether the car park stays open after sunset on the night, wet-weather arrangements, and bus options
Campbelltown City Council’s free Christmas carols and movie night is on Saturday 12 December 2026 at Thorndon Park in Paradise, from 6pm to 10pm. There are food stalls, children’s activities, carols, a visit from Santa and a screening of The Grinch (PG) at sundown. The council says parking is available in the Thorndon Park car park.
This guide follows the council’s event page and its Thorndon Park page, both read on 31 October 2026. We say where the pages do not answer a question.
What time does the Campbelltown Christmas carols and movie start?
The event runs from 6pm to 10pm. The council gives this order for the evening:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 6pm | Children’s activities and food trucks |
| 7pm | Official opening |
| 7:15pm | Carols |
| Sundown | Screening of The Grinch (PG) |
The page does not give a clock time for the movie, only “sundown”, and it does not say when the evening finishes beyond the 10pm end time. The carols will be played by the Campbelltown City Band and sung by Mark Oates, who the council describes as a renowned Adelaide performer best known for his work with the State Opera.
Is the Campbelltown carols night free, and what food is there?
The event is free. The council lists food stalls and says food and drinks will be available for purchase on the night, or you can bring your own picnic. Food trucks are listed in the 6pm part of the program. The page does not name the vendors.
Where is Thorndon Park, and where do I park?
The event page gives the address as Thorndon Park, Hamilton Terrace, Paradise SA 5075, and says parking is available in the Thorndon Park car park. The council’s park page adds that this is a large sealed car park with over 150 spaces, including 6 disability spaces, and that you enter at the intersection of Hamilton Terrace and Stradbroke Roads.
One detail on the park page may matter for an evening event: it says the car park is locked between sunset and sunrise each day. The event page does not say how that applies on 12 December, when the movie starts at sundown. We have not assumed anything, so check with the council before you go.
| Thorndon Park detail | What the council says |
|---|---|
| Car park size | Over 150 spaces, including 6 disability spaces |
| Entrance | Intersection of Hamilton Terrace and Stradbroke Roads |
| Car park hours | Locked between sunset and sunrise each day |
| Park hours | Open to the public 24 hours a day, every day |
| Not allowed | Dogs, bikes, fishing and swimming at all times; registered assistance dogs are permitted |
What else is in Thorndon Park?
The council calls Thorndon Park its principal park and the most accessible and inclusive park in the city. It features the historic reservoir and an all-inclusive play space called Paripardu, a Kaurna word meaning “river birds”. The perimeter path around the reservoir is 1.45 kilometres, and most paths, including the reservoir loop and the playground paths, are sealed and wheelchair accessible. The park also has toilets, picnic areas, shelter and barbecue facilities, and a nature trail through the wetlands that takes about 30 minutes.
The kiosk and a small heritage museum are run by the Rotary Club of Morialta. The council says the kiosk is generally open on Saturdays and Sundays during summer, with opening days and times varying with volunteer availability. It does not say whether the kiosk will be open on the night of the event.
The accessible toilet at Thorndon Park has an adult-sized change table and a hoist, and it needs a Master Locksmith Access Key. The council says you can use the key in the lockbox, call the council on 08 8366 9222 during business hours for the code, call the after-hours number on the council’s park page, or borrow the key from the kiosk if it is open.
The Paripardu playground is built around eight themes: Bird Song, Bird Watching, Eating, Flying, Gathering, Gliding and Treetops, Nesting and Plains, and Wading and Waterways. The council lists features such as a sky bridge and towers, a flying fox, a carousel, water play, trampolines, a parkour and ninja warrior course and a giant chess board. Its accessible features include a liberty swing for wheelchair users, wheelchair-accessible trampolines, a raised sand play area, a raised water play area, a vision-impaired table tennis table, Auslan signage and communication boards. The council’s page does not say whether the playground will be open during the event, and we have not assumed it will be.
The nature trail starts at the northernmost point of the wetlands by the amphitheatre and has 11 stops. The council says the markers explain the surrounding plants and animals, and that you can pick up a booklet at the council offices while stocks last, or use a mobile or printable version online. The signs and booklet use Kaurna names and words that were developed in consultation with Kaurna and Peramangk Elder Kauwanu Ivan Tiwu Copley OAM and Kaurna and Narungga man Jack Kanya Kudnuitya Buckskin.
Can I get to Thorndon Park by bus?
The council’s event page does not mention public transport. We have not named routes or stops, because the council does not list any and we did not confirm one against the Adelaide Metro journey planner. For a bus trip, use the planner with Thorndon Park, Hamilton Terrace as your destination and check the Saturday evening timetable, including the return trip after 10pm.
What else is Campbelltown council doing for Christmas?
The council runs a Christmas lights map for homes whose residents register their displays. Registrations close at 5pm on Sunday 22 November 2026, and entrants are encouraged to have their lights on from 1 to 31 December between 8:30pm and 11pm. We cover this in a separate guide to the Christmas lights registration.
The council also lists its Christmas closures. The council office will close from 5pm on Wednesday 23 December 2026 and reopen at 8:45am on Monday 4 January 2027, and the Campbelltown Library will close from 6pm on 23 December and reopen at 10am on 4 January. The ARC Campbelltown will run reduced hours from 24 December to 1 January and will be closed on Christmas Day.
What has not been confirmed?
- Whether the Thorndon Park car park stays open after sunset on 12 December. The park page says the car park is locked between sunset and sunrise each day.
- What happens if it rains. The event page does not mention weather.
- The clock time of the movie. The page says “at sundown”.
- Whether the kiosk will be open on the night.
- Bus routes and the return trip after 10pm.
We will update this guide if the council adds details. Check the council’s event page again on the morning of Saturday 12 December, because event details can change. You can also contact the council on 08 8366 9222 or at mail@campbelltown.sa.gov.au.
Sources
- Campbelltown City Council — Campbelltown Christmas carols and movie (date, time, program, food, parking, performers)
- Campbelltown City Council — Thorndon Park (car park, hours, playground, kiosk, accessible toilet)
- Campbelltown City Council — Christmas closures (office, library and ARC closures)
- Campbelltown City Council — Christmas lights (registration and dates)
Featured image: the Thorndon Park entrance wall, August 2024 (photo: RegionVisitor90 / CC0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Campbelltown City Council or Adelaide Metro. Event details can change; check the council website before you go.