At a glance
- When
- Saturday 21 November 2026, 6:30pm to 9:30pm (Geelong time, AEDT); Denis Walter Carols by the Bay 7pm to 9pm
- Where
- Steampacket Gardens precinct, Eastern Beach Road, Geelong
- Cost
- Free; no booking is mentioned on the City’s pages
- Finale
- Countdown and lighting of the Floating Christmas Tree, then fireworks at about 9:15pm
- Facilities
- First aid, toilets, children’s activities and wheelchair access, according to the City
- Who it’s for
- Families, and children aged 12 and under who live in the City of Greater Geelong and could win the chance to switch the tree on
- What to do now
- Enter Flick the Switch before 12 noon on Thursday 12 November; bring a picnic or buy food on the night
- Last checked
- Saturday 31 October 2026, against the City of Greater Geelong’s announcements, event page, Christmas page and competition form
- Not yet confirmed
- Road closures, parking and bus changes for the night, and what happens if it rains
The Christmas Opening Night on Saturday 21 November 2026 is free: Denis Walter Carols by the Bay runs from 7pm to 9pm at Steampacket Gardens, followed by a countdown to light the Floating Christmas Tree and fireworks at about 9:15pm. The City of Greater Geelong announced the night on Tuesday 27 October, and children aged 12 and under who live in the municipality have until 12 noon on Thursday 12 November to enter the competition to switch the tree on.
This guide uses the City’s announcement, its event page, its Christmas in Geelong page and the competition entry form, all read on 27 October 2026.
What time does everything happen?
| Time | What the City says |
|---|---|
| 6:30pm | Festivities start |
| 7pm to 9pm | Denis Walter Carols by the Bay |
| After the carols | Countdown and lighting of the Floating Christmas Tree |
| About 9:15pm | Fireworks |
| 9:30pm | End time on the City’s event page |
The City’s announcement says families can settle on the lawn and watch the sun set over the city before the carols. We have no set list or stage running order, because the City has not published one.
Who is performing?
The night marks 30 years of Denis Walter Carols by the Bay. The City says Denis Walter OAM, a local entertainer and 3AW radio announcer, has run the carols since 1997. This year’s line-up, according to the City, is:
- Three generations of the Walter family
- OzBoyz
- Angie Hilton
- Bethany Fisher
- Richard Swanson
- Musical director Michael Cristiano
- A special visit from Santa
The event page adds big screens, roving entertainment, singalongs and special guests joining the fun on stage.
How do I enter Flick the Switch?
Flick the Switch gives one child the chance to join Denis on stage and light up the Floating Christmas Tree, in what the City calls its 13th season. The entry form sets out the rules:
| Question | Answer on the City’s form |
|---|---|
| Who can enter? | Children aged 12 and under on 21 November 2026, entered by a parent or guardian |
| Where must you live? | The City of Greater Geelong municipality |
| When does it close? | 12 noon on Thursday 12 November 2026 |
| How many entries? | One per child |
| When is the draw? | 12:30pm on Thursday 12 November, a random draw |
| When is the winner named? | Online and on the Events Geelong Facebook page on 16 November 2026 |
Enter on the City’s Flick the Switch form. The parent or guardian gives their name, email, phone and address and the child’s name and age. The terms say that by entering you allow the City to publish the child’s first name and suburb online, and that the winner is notified by email or phone. The prize cannot be transferred or exchanged for cash.
Where is it, and what is there to eat?
The event page puts the night at the Steampacket Gardens precinct, Eastern Beach Road, Geelong VIC 3220. It says food and drinks will be available from nearby eateries and food trucks, or you can pack a picnic. The listed facilities are children’s activities, first aid, toilets and wheelchair access.
Can I park nearby, and will roads be closed?
The City has not published road closures, parking arrangements or bus diversions for the 2026 night yet. Check the event page in the days before.
Until then, our central Geelong parking guide covers the City’s metered parking, and its list of spots the City describes as free all day includes Garden Street at the Eastern Beach end and Hearne Parade above Eastern Beach. That list is from the City’s parking page as of 22 October 2026 and does not account for any event-night changes, so read the signs when you arrive.
Can I come by train or bus?
The City’s pages do not give transport advice for this night. Our Melbourne to Geelong train guide lists the Geelong line stations and how myki works on local buses. Late trains after a 9:30pm finish are not covered by anything we have read, so check V/Line’s timetable for your journey home before you go.
What is happening to the Floating Christmas Tree?
On Friday 30 October 2026 the City announced that the tree is nearing the end of its operational life and that a new Christmas centrepiece will take its place from 2028. The City says the tree was first launched in November 2014, stands 25 metres tall, weighs around 15 tonnes and was built by local company Hanlon Industries from hot-dip galvanised steel. It was designed for a 10-year life, and this November’s lighting begins its 13th season.
According to the City, engineers check the tree’s structure every year, and the current assessments say it could return for two more Christmas seasons but is beyond repair. That points to the tree appearing in 2027 as well as this year, but the City has not published a final decision for either year beyond that statement. In the lead-up to Christmas the City will open an Expression of Interest for designers, with a proposed initial budget of up to $1.9 million for the first installation at Christmas 2028. Details of the process are still to come.
What has Carols by the Bay been like over the years?
In the City’s announcement, Denis Walter says he first had the idea for Carols by the Bay because he wanted “to create something special” for his community at the waterfront, and that the event has had “sunshine, rain, different venues and countless Christmases” over 30 years. He also says he likes seeing families return each year, with children growing up and bringing their own families. The City’s announcement says the carols have been a Geelong tradition since 1997.
Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM called the 30 years an extraordinary achievement and said Christmas is about connection, generosity and kindness. The City’s announcement shows two photos from the 2025 lighting, one of the tree and one of that year’s competition winner getting ready to flick the switch. We have not used them here, and the City’s pages carry no 2025 attendance or closure details that we could read for this guide.
How do I hear about the rest of Christmas in Geelong?
The City’s Christmas page invites people to sign up to Christmas in Geelong to be the first to hear about the 2026 program, and it links to a Christmas in Geelong Instagram account. The page was last updated on 23 October 2026 and the City says to keep an eye on it for updates.
What else is on for Christmas in Geelong?
The City says the Christmas Opening Night launches the Christmas in Geelong program, which runs to 7 January 2027. Its Christmas page lists other events including these local carols and festive nights:
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday 29 November, from 10am | Pasko Sa Geelong 2026 | Geelong Racing Club |
| Sunday 6 December, from 5:30pm | Carols on the Lawn | Reside Church Geelong |
| Saturday 12 December, from 6:30pm | Lara Carols 2026 | Pirra Homestead |
| Sunday 13 December, from 6:30pm | Ocean Grove Christmas Carols in the Park | Ocean Grove Park |
| Friday 18 December, from 7pm | Portarlington Community Carols 2026 | WG Little Reserve, Portarlington |
| Sunday 20 December, from 6:30pm | Highton Carols in the Park | Highton Reserve |
The same page lists The Polar Express train ride at the Bellarine Railway’s Queenscliff Station on weekends from 5 to 20 December 2026. Dates, times and venues can change, so check each event’s own page.
What should I check before I go?
- Whether your child’s Flick the Switch entry went in before 12 noon on Thursday 12 November
- The City’s event page in the week of the night for closures, parking and any wet-weather plan
- Your trip home if you are coming by train or bus after the fireworks
Sources
- City of Greater Geelong: Celebrating 30 years of carols, and enter Flick the Switch competition (27 October 2026)
- City of Greater Geelong: Christmas Opening Night 2026 – Denis Walter Carols by the Bay (read 27 October 2026)
- City of Greater Geelong: A new Christmas centrepiece for central Geelong (30 October 2026)
- City of Greater Geelong: Christmas in Geelong (page updated 23 October 2026)
- City of Greater Geelong: Flick the Switch competition 2026 entry form and terms (read 27 October 2026)
Featured image: Eastern Beach Promenade, Geelong, looking west, February 2023 (photo: DXR / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the City of Greater Geelong, Denis Walter or V/Line. Event details can change; check the City’s event page before you go.