Christmas Events for Kids in Maitland (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

3 min read

For 2026, we confirmed 2 Christmas events for kids in Maitland, running from 26 November to 19 December. Every event here is free. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in Australia.

The short version

  • Kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Maitland: 2
  • First: Santa Photos at The Levee, Maitland, 26 November
  • Free events: Santa Photos at The Levee and Christmas Street Eats and Movie Night

Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by suburb, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (booking, ages, what is included).

At a glance: Christmas events for kids in Maitland

Kids’ Christmas events
2 confirmed for 2026
Suburbs
Maitland
Season
26 November to 19 December
Free events
2
Last checked

Christmas events for kids in Maitland

Listed soonest first: 2 confirmed events in Maitland.

Santa photosFree

Santa Photos at The Levee

Expand to see the parent tip

Santa photos return to The Levee Central Maitland from Thursday 26 November to Saturday 19 December. This year Santa has moved inside Maitland Central, across from the play equipment and ALDI, to make the experience more comfortable for everyone.

Free sessions run on Thursdays from 3pm to 7.30pm, Fridays from 9am to 1.30pm and Saturdays from 11.30am to 2.30pm. Scan the QR code at the Santa photos location to join the digital queue, then shop and play while you wait. If you prefer a set time, booked Saturday morning sessions from 9am to 11am cost $15 for a 10-minute slot. There are also two pet-friendly sessions on Wednesday 9 and 16 December, from 3pm to 7.30pm.

Parent tip: Join the digital queue by QR code and wander while you wait. Book the $15 Saturday morning slot if you want a guaranteed time.

Host
The Levee Central Maitland (opens in a new tab)
Where
The Levee Central Maitland (Maitland Central), High Street, Maitland 2320 (opens in maps)
Booking
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with The Levee Central Maitland (opens in a new tab)

New events in Maitland every week

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 1 more Maitland event researched for you.

  • New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Maitland.
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Coming up on this page

  • 2 Santa
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Meet SantaFree

Christmas Street Eats and Movie Night

Expand to see the parent tip

Gates open at 5pm and the movie starts at 6.30pm. The 2026 guide mentions food trucks, carols from the Maitland Musical Society and visits from Santa and the Grinch. Free tickets are required, so check the My Maitland site before you go. In 2025 the same venue asked families to bring camp chairs and rugs or a picnic, and the night was alcohol and glass free with bags checked on entry.

Parent tip: Get the free tickets first. Bring camp chairs and rugs, and plan to eat from the food trucks or bring a picnic.

Host
Maitland City Council (opens in a new tab)
Where
Maitland Regional Sportsground, James Street (opens in maps)
Booking
Essential
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Maitland City Council (opens in a new tab)

New events in Maitland every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Maitland every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

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More Christmas events for kids in Australia

A story for the trip home

Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents. It is a cosy story to share on the way home after a big day out.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolour corgi peeking from a red train

A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolour. Ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon.com.au (opens in a new tab)

Christmas events for kids in Maitland: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Maitland?

For 2026, we confirmed 2 Christmas events for kids in Maitland, each on its host’s own page: Santa Photos at The Levee and Christmas Street Eats and Movie Night. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Maitland?

Yes, every event here is free: Santa Photos at The Levee and Christmas Street Eats and Movie Night.

Where can kids see Santa this year in Maitland?

Where to see Santa: Santa Photos at The Levee and Christmas Street Eats and Movie Night. Check the listings above for times and booking.

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on 8 November 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November

More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.

The story of Christmas in Maitland

Maitland lights an 11-metre Christmas tree outside its library each November. The season also has a toy appeal, a Santa living room at The Levee and a prize street sign for the best lights.

An 11-metre tree outside the library and a toy appeal

Maitland's Christmas season starts with the tree outside Maitland City Library. In 2023 an 11-metre tree was lit at 7.30pm on Friday 10 November, and the Maitland Mercury called it the grandest in the city's history. The lighting launches the Mayor's Toy and Food Appeal, run with Maitland Region Community Support and the Susan Roskell Toy and Gift Drive. Families can leave non-perishable food and toys at the East Maitland, Maitland, Rutherford and Thornton libraries or the Maitland Administration Centre.

A Santa living room, window votes and drones in 2025

In 2025 the 11-metre tree was lit on Wednesday 12 November, and the toy appeal took donations until Wednesday 26 November. Santa photos ran from 27 November to 20 December at The Levee, in a festive living room at The Riverlink, with a new pet-friendly session. Shop windows at The Levee had Christmas displays that the public voted on for a $300 voucher. A Merry Little Christmas market ran on Saturday 13 December. Christmas in the Sky, with a drone light show, filled the Maitland Showground on 16 December.

For 2026, the Christmas Street Eats and Movie Night is listed for Friday 11 December.

A street sign for the best Christmas lights

The council runs a competition for Maitland's best street Christmas lights. In 2024 the winning street got a BBQ voucher and a custom street sign, plus tickets to the movie night where the winner was announced. In 2025 entries were open from 1 to 15 December. The 2024 Christmas Movie Night showed Home Alone on Saturday 7 December at Maitland Regional Sportsground, with adult tickets at $5 and children 17 and under free. Christmas in the Sky also had a letterbox for letters to Santa and snow machines.

Traditions today

  • Library Christmas tree: An 11-metre tree outside Maitland City Library, lit in November to start the festive season.
  • Mayor's Toy and Food Appeal: A donation drive launched with the tree lighting, with drop-off points at local libraries.
  • Santa photos at The Levee: Santa photos in a festive living room at The Riverlink, with a pet-friendly session in 2025.
  • Best street Christmas lights: A council competition where the winning street gets a custom street sign.
  • Christmas movie night: An outdoor movie night at Maitland Regional Sportsground, with Santa and kids' crafts.
  • A Merry Little Christmas market: A village-style fair at The Levee with boutique stalls, food, music and Santa.

A fact for kids

Maitland's winning Christmas lights street gets its own custom street sign.

Questions about Christmas in Maitland

When is the Christmas Street Eats and Movie Night in Maitland in 2026?

It is listed for Friday 11 December 2026 at Maitland Regional Sportsground, from 5pm to 8pm. Gates open at 5pm and the movie starts at 6.30pm. Maitland's council events calendar also shows Street Eats Maitland on 11 December 2026 from 5pm to 8pm.

Is the Maitland Christmas movie night in 2026 free?

Newy with Kids lists it as free, with free tickets required, so families should check the council's My Maitland site and secure tickets before the night. Food from the food trucks is bought on the night. That source is a lead, and the council's calendar gives no price.

What is on at the Maitland Christmas movie night in 2026?

The 2026 guide mentions food trucks, carols from the Maitland Musical Society, and visits from Santa and the Grinch before the movie at 6.30pm. Rally Takes the Train's Maitland Christmas events guide carries the date, time and venue for families planning the night.

Where is the Maitland Christmas movie night held?

It is held at Maitland Regional Sportsground. In 2025 the My Maitland event page gave the address as James Street, Maitland. The same venue hosted the 2024 Christmas Movie Night with Home Alone, so families have used the sportsground for this night for at least two seasons.

What should I bring to the Maitland Christmas movie night?

For the 2025 movie night, My Maitland said to bring camp chairs and rugs or a picnic. It was alcohol and glass free and bags were checked on entry. Ice cream, spiral spuds and a community group BBQ were sold separately, and kids could make a Christmas wreath.

How tall is Maitland's Christmas tree?

The tree outside Maitland City Library is 11 metres tall. The Maitland Mercury called the 2023 tree the grandest in the city's history, and the council still described the city's iconic tree as 11 metres in 2025. It sits in front of the library in the Maitland city centre.

When was the Maitland Christmas tree lit in 2025?

The council lit the tree outside Maitland City Library on Wednesday 12 November 2025. In 2023 the tree was lit at 7.30pm on Friday 10 November. No 2026 lighting date has been published yet, so check the council's Christmas in Maitland page closer to November.

What is the Mayor's Toy and Food Appeal in Maitland?

It is Maitland's Christmas donation drive, launched when the tree is lit. Donations of non-perishable food, toys and gifts support Maitland Region Community Support and the Susan Roskell Toy and Gift Drive. In 2025 donations were accepted until Wednesday 26 November, and families can bring toys to a local library.

Where can I drop off toys for the Maitland Christmas appeal?

In 2023 the drop-off points were the East Maitland, Maitland, Rutherford and Thornton libraries and the Maitland Administration Centre. They took non-perishable food, toys and other essentials. Check the council's current appeal page for the 2026 drop-off points, since they can change.

When were Santa photos at The Levee in Maitland in 2025?

Santa photos ran from Thursday 27 November to Saturday 20 December 2025. Thursdays were 3pm to 7.30pm, and Fridays and Saturdays were 9am to 1.30pm. Santa sat in a festive living room at The Riverlink. No 2026 session times have been confirmed yet.

Can pets come to Santa photos at The Levee in Maitland?

In 2025 the council said a new pet-friendly Santa photo session was available at The Levee. The Santa photos were held at The Riverlink in a festive living room. Check the council or The Levee Central Maitland for 2026 pet session times, as none have been confirmed.

Are the Santa photos at The Levee in Maitland free?

Maitland City Council's 2024 Christmas article called them free Santa photos at The Levee. The 2025 coverage did not state a price and described the program as free and low-cost activities. Families should confirm the cost with The Levee Central Maitland before going in 2026.

What is A Merry Little Christmas market in Maitland?

It is a village-style Christmas fair at The Levee precinct with boutique stalls, local food, live music and a Santa appearance. In 2025 it ran on Saturday 13 December from 10am to 2pm in The Levee Shared Zone. In 2024 it was on Saturday 14 December.

How does the Maitland best Christmas street lights competition work?

Neighbourhoods decorate their street, and residents enter by sending photos or videos through the council. In 2024 entries closed on 6 December, and the winning street received a BBQ voucher, a custom street sign and movie night tickets. In 2025 entries were open from 1 to 15 December.

What is Christmas in the Sky in Maitland?

It is a Christmas festival with a drone light show at the Maitland Showground on Blomfield Street, South Maitland. The 2025 night ran on 16 December from 4pm to 10pm, with fairground rides, snow machines, a bubble show, free Santa photos, Elf and the Grinch, and a letterbox for Santa letters.

How much did Christmas in the Sky in Maitland cost?

The My Maitland page for the 16 December 2025 night said from $10. Entry was $12.90, a family ticket was $30.28 and an unlimited ride wristband was $30. These are 2025 prices. No 2026 date has been confirmed for the festival.

What movie played at Maitland's Christmas movie night in 2024?

Home Alone (PG) screened on Saturday 7 December 2024 at Maitland Regional Sportsground, with activities from 5pm. Adult tickets were $5, children aged 17 and under were free, and popcorn and treats were included. The 2025 council article listed How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Where can I see Christmas window displays in Maitland?

In 2025 local businesses decorated their windows throughout The Levee from Thursday 27 November. The public could vote for a favourite in person with QR codes or online, and one voter won a $300 voucher for a Levee business. Check The Levee Central Maitland for the 2026 displays.

Is there an event for kids at Maitland Showground at Christmas?

Christmas in the Sky at the Maitland Showground on Blomfield Street, South Maitland, had fairground rides, snow machines, a bubble show, free Santa photos and a drone light show on 16 December 2025. Elf and the Grinch also appeared. No 2026 date has been confirmed yet.

Where can I find Christmas events in Maitland in 2026?

Rally Takes the Train's Maitland Christmas events guide lists confirmed 2026 dates, starting with the Christmas Street Eats and Movie Night on Friday 11 December. Maitland City Council also keeps a summer guide on the My Maitland website, mait.city/WhatsOnSummer, for markets, library sessions and more.

Sources

  1. City prepares to light up its tallest ever Christmas tree, Maitland Mercury
  2. Maitland City Council: it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Maitland (2025), Maitland City Council
  3. Ho ho ho, Maitland's bringing the Christmas cheer (2024), Maitland City Council
  4. Santa photos, markets and window displays bring Christmas cheer to The Levee, Newy 87.8 FM
  5. Christmas in the Sky, Maitland, My Maitland
  6. 2026 Christmas Events in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter, Newy with Kids
  7. What's On This Summer, My Maitland
  8. Christmas Movie Night, My Maitland
Kelsey Cecil
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