At a glance
- When
- Saturday 12 December 2026, gates open 5pm (Melbourne time, daylight saving)
- Where
- The Great Lawn at Werribee Park, Werribee
- Tickets
- Adult early bird $22 until 31 October, then $25; concession $18; children free but still booked; booked online through the carols’ ticketing page
- Parking
- Free on site, in a large field next to the event; wear shoes for lawns and fields
- Public transport
- Train to Werribee Station, then taxi or rideshare; the organisers say public transport to and from Werribee Park does not run during the event
- Not allowed
- Pets, except assistance dogs (a Parks Victoria rule); there is no ATM on site
- Who it’s for
- Families planning to go to the Wyndham carols on Saturday 12 December
- What to do now
- Book by 31 October for the $22 early bird adult ticket; the standard adult ticket is $25
- Last checked
- Tuesday 27 October 2026, against the Wyndham Carols by Candlelight website and its ticketing page
- Not yet confirmed
- The main show start time and finish time, which the organisers’ own pages give differently (see the table below)
Wyndham Carols by Candlelight is on Saturday 12 December 2026 on the Great Lawn at Werribee Park, with gates open at 5pm, free on-site parking and adult tickets at an early bird price of $22 until 31 October and $25 after that, while concession tickets are $18 and young children go free but still need to be on the booking. This guide pulls together the organisers’ website and ticketing page, checked on 27 October 2026: what it costs, how to get there when no public transport runs, what the evening looks like hour by hour, and where the organisers’ own times do not agree.
How much are tickets, and when does the early bird end?
The ticketing page, run by Leap Events, lists an Adult – Early Bird ticket at $22; it shows no end date for the early bird price. The same page lists Adult at $25 and Concession / Companion at $18 and Child (12 or Under) at $0. The Wyndham Carols website carries an early bird ticket release banner that runs until 31 October (the end date appears on this site, not on the ticketing page) and lists adults at $25 and concession at $18 and says under 12s are free. The ticketing page does not show an early bird price for concessions. The event is presented by the Churches of Wyndham, and the site says all proceeds go back into the event. It describes the carols as a tradition created by the Churches of Wyndham, with more than 75 years of history and more than 5,000 attendees every year, which is the organisers’ own figure.
| Ticket | Price listed |
|---|---|
| Adult, early bird (until 31 October) | $22 |
| Adult | $25 |
| Concession | $18 |
| Child | Free, but included in the booking (the ticketing page says “12 or Under”; the carols website and FAQ say “Under 12s”) |
The FAQ says everyone attending should be included in your booking so the organisers can manage capacity, children under 12 included. A concession ticket is for a holder of a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Victorian Seniors Card, Victorian Carer Card, Student Concession Card or Companion Card. The organisers say they are not a Companion Card affiliate and do not offer free tickets to Companion Card holders. For transfers, the FAQ points you to your booking confirmation and the ticketing site.
What time does it start, and why do the times differ?
Gates open at 5pm. After that, the organisers’ pages disagree. The What’s On program and the Plan Your Visit page give a main show from 7:30pm to 9:10pm, with the Nativity at 8:35pm to 9:00pm. The home page and the FAQ say the main event starts at 8pm, with the Nativity at 8:45pm, and the FAQ says the evening concludes at 9:30pm. The ticketing page lists the whole event as 5pm to 10pm.
| Item | What’s On program and Plan Your Visit | Home page and FAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Gates open | 5:00pm | 5:00pm |
| Kids activities | 5:15pm to 8:00pm | From 5:00pm |
| Kids show | 7:00pm to 7:30pm | 7:00pm |
| Main show | 7:30pm to 9:10pm | 8:00pm |
| The Nativity | 8:35pm to 9:00pm | 8:45pm |
| Finish | 9:10pm | 9:30pm (FAQ) |
Plan for the earlier times if you want to catch everything, and for the later finish if you are arranging a pick-up. The organisers have not explained the difference, so look at the website again closer to the date.
What is there for kids, and what can I eat?
The organisers list a kids’ zone from the moment gates open. The home page names a petting zoo, face painting, crafts, activities and games, and the What’s On program lists face painting, craft, games and an animal farm from 5:15pm to 8pm. School choirs and groups perform in the kids show from 7pm. Food trucks are open throughout the evening with dinner, coffee and dessert options, and the ticketing page mentions sweet treats. You can also bring your own food, so you do not have to rely on the trucks, and the organisers suggest cash or a card for them.
Who is performing?
The headline act is Fatai, described as a Wyndham local whose voice has taken her on tours across Europe, the UK and North America. The Melbourne Staff Band, one of Australia’s established Salvation Army brass bands, joins the main event. The program also lists school choirs and groups in the kids show, a live band, carols and dance, and a live Nativity with animals and actors. The ticketing page adds that the carols include a dedicated kids’ zone with free activities and crafts.
Where do I park, and can I take the train?
Parking is free on site. The FAQ says that because of the size of the event, a large field next to the event location is used for parking, as is customary for large events at Werribee Park, and asks you to wear appropriate footwear because both the event and the parking are across lawns and fields. On arrival, enter by the event-directed vehicle entrance and follow signage and traffic crew directions. The Plan Your Visit page suggests arriving early for the closest spots. Accessible parking is available.
The organisers say Werribee Station is the closest major public transport connection, but taxis or rideshare are the practical way on to Werribee Park, and that public transport to and from Werribee Park does not operate during the times of the event. If you plan to take a train, work out the onward leg and your trip home before you book. Our myki fares guide covers what the train part costs.
What should I bring?
The organisers suggest a picnic rug or low-back chair, warm clothing, a water bottle, sunscreen and a hat, and cash or a card for the food trucks. The FAQ also suggests an umbrella and a rubbish bag if you bring a lot of snacks. You can bring your own food into the venue. There is no ATM in the grounds, and pets are not permitted, except assistance dogs, under Parks Victoria’s rules for the park.
Is it accessible, and what if the weather turns?
The organisers list accessible parking, accessible toilets on site and Auslan interpretation during the main event. If you need help finding the interpreters, they say to visit the information tents on the night, and to contact them before the event for specific access needs. Further access information is due to be published closer to the event.
It is an outdoor event. In severe or unsafe weather, the organisers say they will post updates on the website, on social media and by email, and the MCs will announce any change during the event. They do not publish a wet-weather venue or a decision time.
Sources
- Wyndham Carols by Candlelight — home page (date, prices, early bird banner; checked 27 October 2026)
- Wyndham Carols by Candlelight — Plan Your Visit (parking, public transport, what to bring, accessibility, weather)
- Wyndham Carols by Candlelight — What’s On (program times)
- Wyndham Carols by Candlelight — FAQ (tickets, concession cards, parking, pets, public transport)
- Leap Events — Wyndham Carols 2026 (ticketing page)
Featured image: Werribee Park Mansion and gardens, photographed in 2022 (photo: Philip Mallis / CC BY-SA 2.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Wyndham Carols by Candlelight, the Churches of Wyndham, Parks Victoria or Public Transport Victoria. Event details can change; check the organisers’ website before you go.