At a glance
- When
- Friday 11 December 2026, 4pm to 7:30pm
- Where
- James Meehan Reserve, Dee Why
- Cost
- Free
- What is on
- Carol singalong, a children’s Christmas show, free face painting and Santa photos, and seven food trucks
- Run by
- Northern Beaches Council, with Cunninghams Real Estate as event partner
- Who it’s for
- Families and anyone who wants a free carols night on the Northern Beaches
- What to do now
- Pack a picnic rug and a low chair (camping chairs are not allowed), and plan to arrive by public transport
- Last checked
- Thursday 29 October 2026, against Northern Beaches Council’s event page
- Not yet confirmed
- The programme (to be published closer to the date) and the wet-weather decision, which the council says it will announce on social media
Christmas by the Beach returns to James Meehan Reserve in Dee Why on Friday 11 December 2026, from 4pm to 7:30pm. It is free. The council lists a carol singalong, a children’s Christmas show, free face painting and Santa photos, and food trucks. Camping chairs are not allowed, glass is banned and the event is smoke-free. Sydney is on daylight saving time, so all times are local AEDT.
This guide is based on Northern Beaches Council’s event page, read on 29 October 2026.
What is on at Christmas by the Beach?
| Feature | What the council says |
|---|---|
| Carols | Sing along to your favourite carols |
| Children’s show | A special children’s Christmas show with entertainment for the whole family |
| Face painting and Santa photos | Free, courtesy of event partner Cunninghams Real Estate |
| Food | Bring a picnic, get takeaway from a Dee Why restaurant, or buy from the food trucks on site |
| Cost | Free event |
The council’s page does not give a running order. It says the event programme will be available to download closer to the date and asks people to download it before arriving. The listed hours are 4pm to 7:30pm, and the page gives no time for the carols or the children’s show within that window.
Which food trucks will be there?
The council lists seven food trucks. It marks dietary options with v for vegetarian, vg for vegan, gf for gluten free, df for dairy free and nf for nut free.
| Truck | Dietary options listed |
|---|---|
| Bella Sicily | v, gf |
| Chill Bar | v, vg, gf, df |
| Istanbul Gozleme | v, vg, df, nf |
| Mr Creamy Coffee & Ice Cream | gf |
| Satay Brothers | v, df |
| Smoky Sue’s Barbecue | v, vg, gf, df |
| Teta’s Pitta | v, vg, gf, df |
The page does not publish menus or prices. It asks you to bring a smartphone or a debit or credit card for food and drink payments. It does not say whether the trucks take cash.
If someone in your group has a dietary need, check the letters beside each truck before you queue, because the options vary from truck to truck and the council has not published a menu for any of them.
What can I bring?
The council’s list of things to bring is short and practical. You can also bring your own food and drinks, as long as nothing is in glass.
- Picnic rugs and low chairs
- Point-and-shoot cameras
- Insect repellent and sun protection
- An umbrella or raincoat, if rain is forecast
- A smartphone and/or a debit or credit card for food and drink
- Your own water bottle, because there will be water stations to refill it and food vendors will not sell bottled water
Prams are allowed. The council asks you to be considerate of other people around you so everyone can see.
Can I bring a camping chair, a dog or a bike?
The event page is clear on several items. Camping chairs are not permitted, and the page links to images of the approved chairs, which are low-lying chairs. Glass is not permitted. Dogs are allowed on a leash, but the council strongly discourages bringing one because of the size of the event and the number of children. Animals cannot be within 10 metres of the food preparation areas. The page’s leave-at-home list also names pets, so the safest choice is to leave a dog at home. Assistance animals are permitted.
| Leave at home | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Pets (other than assistance animals) | Picnic rugs and low chairs |
| Tents | Your own food and drink (no glass) |
| Drones | Prams |
| Skateboards, bikes and e-bikes, scooters and e-scooters | Point-and-shoot cameras |
| Rollerblades and rollershoes | Empty water bottles to refill at the water stations |
| Frisbees and ball sports | Assistance animals |
| Video or professional recording and photography equipment | |
| Weapons, fireworks and flammable or dangerous items |
The council’s list also includes drugs and “bad attitudes” among the things to leave at home. Smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere at the event. All minors must be supervised by an adult at all times.
How do I get there, and where do I park?
The council says the easiest way to get to the event is on public transport and links to a trip planner. The page does not name a car park, give parking prices or list road closures around James Meehan Reserve. If you drive, read the signs where you park, because the page gives no official parking advice for the night.
What happens if it rains?
The council says it will monitor the weather in the lead-up and, in the event of extreme weather, will say on social media whether the event goes ahead. It does not describe a wet-weather venue or a postponement date. Pack an umbrella or raincoat if rain is forecast, as the page’s own list suggests.
Will I be photographed?
The council says it may have a professional photographer or videographer at the event, and if so, signs at the venue will say so. Photos and video taken may be used in future for promotional purposes.
How do I ask about access needs?
The council asks anyone with accessibility or inclusion requirements to contact it before the event, by email or by phone. The page gives two numbers for accessibility enquiries, 02 8495 5492 in the main text and 02 8426 1833 in the FAQ, so try either. It lists 1300 434 434 and events@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au as the Northern Beaches Council Events contact details.
Is it the same as the other council Christmas events?
The council runs a series of Christmas events, and the Christmas Choral Concert at Manly Oval on Thursday 3 December 2026 has its own page. That concert has gates open at 5pm and starts at 6pm, with carols from the Northern Beaches Orchestra, the Community Christmas Choir and local artists. It is also free, with face painting from the same event partner and a visit from Santa. Children under 18 are not admitted unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and the council asks parents to collect a free Child Safety wristband for each child at the entry gates or the information tent.
The Manly Oval page carries rules similar to the Dee Why ones: no glass, no camping chairs, and no dogs other than assistance animals. Rules and times differ between events, so check each event’s own page. For Christmas by the Beach, the facts in this guide come from the Christmas by the Beach page alone, and the page mentions no wristband scheme. Read the page again close to 11 December in case that changes.
What is not confirmed yet?
- The running order of the carols and the children’s show.
- Whether the event goes ahead in bad weather (announced on social media on the day).
- Parking and transport arrangements around James Meehan Reserve.
- Food truck menus and prices.
Sources
- Northern Beaches Council: Christmas by the Beach 2026, read 29 October 2026
- Northern Beaches Council: Christmas Choral Concert 2026, read 29 October 2026
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Northern Beaches Council or Cunninghams Real Estate.
Featured image: Dee Why Beach (photo: Tmansome / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)