At a glance
- When
- Thursday 3 December 2026, 5pm to 8pm; gates open at 5pm and the concert starts at 6pm
- Where
- Manly Oval, Sydney Road and Belgrave Street, Manly
- Cost
- Free
- What is on
- Carols by the Northern Beaches Orchestra, the Community Christmas Choir and local artists; free face painting; a visit from Santa; 11 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 in Manly
- What to do now
- Pack a rug and a low chair (no camping chairs, no glass, no dogs), and collect a free Child Safety wristband at the gate for each child
- Last checked
- Saturday 31 October 2026, against Northern Beaches Council’s event page
- Not yet confirmed
- The running order, the wet-weather decision and any bus or road changes for the night (none published)
The Christmas Choral Concert returns to Manly Oval on Thursday 3 December 2026. It is free. Gates open at 5pm and the concert starts at 6pm, with the event listed until 8pm. Dogs, camping chairs and glass are not allowed, and children under 18 must be with a parent or legal guardian. Sydney is on daylight saving time, so all times are local AEDT.
This guide uses Northern Beaches Council’s event page and its Manly parking stations page. The event page was read on 29 October 2026 and the parking page on 26 October 2026.
What is the running order?
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 5pm | Gates open |
| 6pm | Concert starts |
| 8pm | Listed finish time |
The council says the carols are performed by the Northern Beaches Orchestra, the Community Christmas Choir and local artists, alongside festive activities for the whole family. There will be free face painting from event partner Cunninghams Real Estate, and a visit from Santa. The page does not publish a song list or a set-by-set schedule, so the three times above are all the official timing there is.
Which food trucks will be there?
The council lists 11 food trucks. It marks dietary options with v for vegetarian, vg for vegan, gf for gluten free and df for dairy free.
| Truck | Dietary options listed |
|---|---|
| Authentic Turkish Gozleme | v, vg |
| Birdman | v, vg, df |
| Crescent Yum Cha | v, vg, df |
| Dolce Bacio | v, vg, gf, df |
| Fire and Flames Catering | v, vg, gf, df |
| Gelato Messina | v, vg, gf, df |
| Lambda Souvla Grill | v, gf, df |
| Mr Pig | v, vg, gf |
| Soft Serve Van Man | v, vg, gf, df |
| Vege for Love | v, vg, gf, df |
| Volkswurst | v, vg, gf, df |
The list is as at 29 October 2026. The page gives no menus or prices. You can also bring your own picnic or buy takeaway from a restaurant in Manly.
What are the rules at the gate?
| Item | Rule on the council page |
|---|---|
| Children under 18 | Not admitted unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and must stay under adult supervision for the whole event |
| Dogs | Not permitted; assistance animals are allowed |
| Chairs | Picnic rugs and low-lying chairs only; camping chairs are not permitted |
| Glass | Not permitted |
| Food | Bring your own picnic, or buy from the food trucks on site |
The council also asks parents to pick up a free Child Safety wristband for each child at the entry gates or the information tent. The page says it wants everyone to be safe at its Christmas events. It links to pictures of the approved chairs and to a longer list of frequently asked questions, which this guide has not summarised beyond what the main page says.
How do I get there, and what would parking cost?
The event page does not give transport or parking advice. It does not name a car park, a bus route or a road closure for the night. Use the Transport for NSW Trip Planner for your own trip, and read street signs wherever you park.
The council’s Manly parking page lists four paid council parking stations. Their published fees are the best official guide to the cost of parking near Manly Oval, though the page does not say these are the car parks for the concert.
| Car park | Address | Spaces |
|---|---|---|
| Whistler Street | 5A Market Lane | 311 |
| Peninsula | 25 Wentworth Street | 289 |
| Pacific Waves | 9-15 Central Avenue | 170 |
| Manly National | Central Avenue | 220 |
| Entry 6:30am to 6:59pm: time parked | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 2 hours | Free |
| 2 to 2.5 hours | $13.50 |
| 2.5 to 3 hours | $18.00 |
| 3 to 3.5 hours | $22.00 |
| 3.5 to 4 hours | $26.00 |
| 4 to 5 hours | $40.50 |
| 5 hours or more | $55.00 |
| Entry 7pm to 11:59pm | Flat fee of $5.50 |
The page says evening fees are not available to vehicles that enter in the daytime. So a car that enters at 5pm for the 5pm gates pays the daytime scale, and a car that enters at 7pm or later pays $5.50. The car parks use licence plate recognition, and re-entering or visiting another council car park within 3 hours of leaving brings fees starting at the 2 to 2.5 hour rate. If you stay past midnight, a $5.50 overnight surcharge applies plus the next day’s fee. These were the published fees on 26 October 2026 and may change.
You pay by credit card at the pay machine or at the exit, and by cash at the pay machine only. If you leave without paying, you have seven days from the date of entry to return to one of the four Manly car parks to pay.
What else is on in Manly that week?
Two other council-listed events fall the next morning and evening, on Friday 4 December. A walk against domestic and family violence starts at 7:30am at Queenscliff Lagoon, and runs until 9am. The Manly Art Gallery & Museum opens its new exhibition, Chromatic Luminosity, with a launch from 6pm to 8pm. Our Chromatic Luminosity guide has the exhibition dates and the free talks that go with it.
What happens if it rains?
The page does not describe a wet-weather plan. Check Northern Beaches Council’s website and social media on the day, and pack for rain if it is forecast.
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 calling 02 8495 5813. The Events Team’s email address is events@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au.
Is there another Christmas event nearby?
Yes. The council’s Christmas by the Beach is at James Meehan Reserve in Dee Why on Friday 11 December 2026, from 4pm to 7:30pm, with carols and a children’s Christmas show. It is also free. Our Christmas by the Beach guide has its rules and food trucks.
| Manly Oval | Dee Why (James Meehan Reserve) | |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Thu 3 Dec | Fri 11 Dec |
| Time | 5pm to 8pm (concert 6pm) | 4pm to 7:30pm |
| Main act | Northern Beaches Orchestra and Community Christmas Choir | Carol singalong and a children’s Christmas show |
| Food trucks | 11 listed | 7 listed |
| Dogs | Not permitted (assistance animals allowed) | Strongly discouraged; on a leash if brought |
| Cost | Free | Free |
What is not confirmed yet?
- The song list and the order of performers.
- The wet-weather decision.
- Bus, ferry or road changes for the night.
- Which parking stations will be busiest.
Sources
- Northern Beaches Council: Christmas Choral Concert 2026, read 29 October 2026
- Northern Beaches Council: Manly parking stations, read 26 October 2026
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Northern Beaches Council or Cunninghams Real Estate.
Featured image: Manly Oval (photo: CamV8 / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)