At a glance
- When
- Saturday 21 November to Saturday 19 December 2026; the free council carols are on Thursday 3 December (Manly) and Friday 11 December (Dee Why)
- Where
- Brookvale, Manly, Dee Why, Mona Vale and Belrose (Glen Street Theatre)
- Cost
- Free for the market and the two carols nights; $5 plus a booking fee for the children’s pantomime; $15 to $25 for the disco nights; $72.50 for the Grandparents Club comedy
- Run by
- Northern Beaches Council, its libraries, and community organisers named below
- Who it’s for
- Families with young children, teenagers and adults with a disability, grandparents, and anyone after a free carols night
- What to do now
- The pantomime and disco nights are ticketed (the discos have early-bird deadlines of 20 and 27 November); the carols nights are free
- Last checked
- Sunday 8 November 2026, against the council’s Christmas on the Beaches page and each event page
- Not yet confirmed
- Wet-weather plans for the two carols nights, and the full programme for Christmas by the Beach (the council will publish it closer to the date)
Northern Beaches Council and local groups have eight Christmas events on the calendar between Saturday 21 November and Saturday 19 December 2026, and two of them are free carols nights: Manly Oval on Thursday 3 December and James Meehan Reserve, Dee Why, on Friday 11 December. This guide lists every event with its date, time, venue, price and booking rule, using the council’s official pages. Sydney is on daylight saving time, so all times are local AEDT.
The list is built from the council’s Christmas on the Beaches page and the event pages linked in the Sources list, read on 8 November 2026.
What is on, in date order?
| Date | Time | Event | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 21 Nov | 5pm to 8pm | The Metal Space Christmas Market | 8/505 Pittwater Road, Brookvale | Free entry |
| Fri 27 Nov | 6pm to 8:30pm | Christmas disco for teens with a disability (ages 12 to 17) | Dee Why PCYC, 40 Kingsway | $15 to $22 |
| Thu 3 Dec | 5pm to 8pm | Christmas Choral Concert | Manly Oval | Free |
| Fri 4 Dec | 6pm to 9pm | Christmas disco for adults with a disability (18 and over) | Dee Why PCYC, 40 Kingsway | $18 to $25 |
| Fri 11 Dec | 4pm to 7:30pm | Christmas by the Beach | James Meehan Reserve, Dee Why | Free |
| Fri 18 Dec | 9:45am to 10:30am | Carol Claus, children’s Christmas pantomime | Mona Vale Memorial Hall, 1 Park Street | $5 plus booking fee |
| Fri 18 Dec | 12:45pm to 1:30pm and 2pm to 2:45pm | Carol Claus, children’s Christmas pantomime | Glen Street Theatre, Sorlie’s Space, Belrose | $5 plus booking fee |
| Sat 19 Dec | 3pm to 4:30pm | Christmas in The Grandparents Club | Glen Street Theatre, Belrose | $72.50 (member $67.50) |
Where are the free carols nights?
| Christmas Choral Concert | Christmas by the Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Thursday 3 December | Friday 11 December |
| Time | 5pm to 8pm; concert from 6pm | 4pm to 7:30pm |
| Venue | Manly Oval, Sydney Road and Belgrave Street | James Meehan Reserve, Dee Why |
| What the council lists | Carols by the Northern Beaches Orchestra, the Community Christmas Choir and local artists, plus festive activities for the whole family | Carols, a children’s Christmas show and entertainment for the whole family |
| Cost | Free | Free |
Each has its own guide with the details the council publishes: see Christmas Choral Concert at Manly Oval and Christmas by the Beach at Dee Why. For Manly parking, see our Manly parking stations guide.
What should I bring to the two carols nights?
The council’s pages for both nights say the events are free, and the details it publishes differ slightly:
| Manly Oval, Thursday 3 December | Dee Why, Friday 11 December | |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 11 food trucks | Seven food trucks |
| Family extras | Free face painting and a visit from Santa | A children’s Christmas show, free face painting and Santa photos |
| Seating | Bring a rug and a low chair; no camping chairs | Bring a picnic rug and a low chair; camping chairs are not allowed |
| Other rules | No glass and no dogs; a free Child Safety wristband for each child at the gate | Arrive by public transport where you can |
| Wet weather | Not yet published | The council says it will announce a decision on social media |
What is the children’s pantomime, and how do I book?
Carol Claus: The Untold Story of Santa’s Sister is a 45-minute pantomime that the council’s libraries present on Friday 18 December. In the story, a mischievous Jack Frost stops Santa’s sleigh and Rudolph is sent to find Santa’s long-lost sister, Carol, who once wrote everyone’s favourite carols but has forgotten her love of Christmas. The council describes it as a show of catchy songs, colourful characters and Christmas cheer.
| Session | Venue |
|---|---|
| 9:45am to 10:30am | Mona Vale Memorial Hall, 1 Park Street, Mona Vale |
| 12:45pm to 1:30pm | Glen Street Theatre, Sorlie’s Space, Belrose |
| 2pm to 2:45pm | Glen Street Theatre, Sorlie’s Space, Belrose |
All ages are welcome, but the council says the show is aimed at children aged 2 to 7. Tickets are $5 plus a booking fee, bookings are essential for children and accompanying adults, and babies under 2 are free. Accompanying adults must stay for the whole show.
What are the Christmas disco nights?
GrooveABLE Disability Discos runs two Christmas-themed discos at Dee Why PCYC, 40 Kingsway, and asks guests to come in festive outfits. Each ticket includes pizza, drinks and a goodie bag, and carers have free entry. Tickets are fully refundable. The council says the events are partly funded through its Event Grants and Sponsorship Program.
| Teens (high school age, 12 to 17) | Adults (18 and over) | |
|---|---|---|
| Date and time | Friday 27 November, 6pm to 8:30pm | Friday 4 December, 6pm to 9pm |
| Early-bird ticket | $18 if bought by 20 November | $20 if bought by 27 November |
| Later ticket | $22 | $25 |
| Group of 5 or more, booked before the deadline | $15 a person | $18 a person |
Tickets are sold through TryBooking, and the council event pages link to each sale: teens and adults. Group bookings are arranged by contacting the organiser, whose address is on the council pages.
What is Christmas in The Grandparents Club?
It is a 90-minute musical comedy at Glen Street Theatre on Saturday 19 December at 3pm, with no interval. The theatre says it was created for an audience aged 50 and over but is suitable for the whole family. The cast is led by Lynne McGranger, and the theatre describes the story as the family mayhem before Christmas Day, with retro music. Tickets are $72.50, or $67.50 for theatre members and groups of 10 or more. Non-members pay a transaction fee. For parking and buses at the theatre, see our Glen Street Theatre guide.
What is the Metal Space Christmas Market?
The Metal Space in Brookvale holds a free Christmas market on Saturday 21 November from 5pm to 8pm. The organiser says it showcases the work of The Metal Space students and teachers, with handmade jewellery and metal objects, and you can meet the makers and hear the stories behind their work. Everyone is welcome.
Which events suit which audience?
| You are looking for | Best match |
|---|---|
| A free night out with a picnic rug | Christmas Choral Concert (Manly) or Christmas by the Beach (Dee Why) |
| A morning show for a child aged 2 to 7 | Carol Claus pantomime on 18 December |
| Gift shopping from local makers | The Metal Space Christmas Market on 21 November |
| A social night for a teenager or adult with a disability | The disco nights on 27 November and 4 December |
| A day out with grandparents | Christmas in The Grandparents Club on 19 December |
Sources
- Northern Beaches Council: Christmas on the Beaches, read 8 November 2026
- Christmas Choral Concert 2026 and Christmas by the Beach 2026
- Carol Claus at Mona Vale and at Glen Street
- Teens disco and adults disco
- The Metal Space Christmas Market and Glen Street Theatre: Christmas in The Grandparents Club
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Northern Beaches Council, Glen Street Theatre or GrooveABLE Disability Discos.
Featured image: Brookvale Oval (photo: Jason L / CC0) (text added)