Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail
Proudly brought to you by the City of Perth, principle partner Rio Tinto and major supporter Lotterywest.
The Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail is back in town, lighting up the City for 41 nights with 20 amazing light installations. You can walk the full trail to see all 20 installations or take the family-friendly route, ‘The Merry Mile’.
Enjoy festive entertainment and performances throughout the City on select nights, including weekly visits from Santa Claus in December.
The City of Perth would like to thank the Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail's valued Event Partners. These organisations support is fundamental to the continued delivery of this beloved community program.
Access the Christmas Lights Trail Accessibility and Sensory Guide here.
Accessibility
The City of Perth is proud to host accessible and include events.
- Promotional materials are available in other formats upon request.
- Each venue is accessible to people who use a wheelchair, walking aids and who are accompanied with a pram.
- A copy of the City’s Disability Access & Inclusion Plan can be found here.
- Whether you’re visiting the City for business or pleasure, check out the City Map for ease of getting around.
The closest parking (including ACROD parking) can be found here:
- CPP: Citiplace Car Park (1 Roe Street, Perth)
- CPP: Roe Street Car Park (68 Roe Street, Northbridge)
- CPP: Pier St Car Park (87-89 Pier Street, Perth)
- CPP: His Majesty’s Car Park (377 Murray St, Perth)
- CPP: Council House Car Park (27 St Georges St, Perth)
- CPP: Convention Centre Car Park (21 Mounts Bay Road, Perth)
Alternatively ACROD bays can be found here:
- ACROD BAY: City of Perth Library, Hay St (East)
- ACROD BAD: Central Park, Hay St (West)
For all the information on Parking in the city, click here.
Rideshare/Taxi
For all the information on Rideshare/Taxi pick up areas in the city, click here.
Please visit Transperth website to plan your journey.
Visitors to the Trail can take the Red or Blue CAT bus to assist with accessing venues around Perth CBD.
The closest accessible toilet can be found at an CPP car park around the city or at the Citiplace Rest Centre at the Perth Train Station.
Alternatively, visitors can check the National Public Toilet Map to find the nearest toilet to you.
For more details on the Citiplace Rest Centre (accessible facilities including toilet, change table and hoist, showers, and lockers), click here.
Event Showings
22 Nov 2024 - 1 Jan 2025
6pm to 3am (Lights On)
Price
Free event
Location
Perth CBD – Various Locations
Accessibility
Wheelchair access
ACROD Parking
Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail
- More than Just Lights!
Visit the Christmas Lights Trail and enjoy free, festive entertainment and performances throughout the city in December.
See below for some of the highlights to look out for!
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The Merry Mile
The Merry Mile is returning for 2024’s Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail. This 1.6km route along the Trail is great for families with short legs, those who prefer an easy, levelled walk, or for those who only have limited time.
The Merry Mile will take visitors through the heart of Perth’s CBD and showcase a variety of displays from large-scale projections to the Mooditj Yongas (Solid Kangaroos) on Council House lawn. Taking approximately one hour, traverse this journey at your leisure and enjoy the sights along the way!
Download your Trail Map to help you find your way.
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Santa Claus Visits
Santa Claus at Council House
Council House Foyer | 6 and 7, 13 - 24 December | 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Your chance to meet the man himself before he heads off on his journey around the world! Tell Santa what's on your wish list and snap a photo to capture the magic of the holiday season.Sensitive Santa
Council House Foyer | 17 and 18 December | 6:30 - 8:30pm
Sensitive Santa sessions enable families to visit during quieter hours to support their sensory needs. This includes lower lighting, quieter surroundings and reduced crowds.Signing Santa & Friends
Forrest Place | Saturday 7 and 21 December | 6pm – 9pm
Join Signing Santa and his helpers as they share Christmas stories with you in Auslan. Fun for all ages, suitable both for families who speak Auslan and those who are learning. -
Entertainment
Visit the Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail and enjoy free, festive entertainment and performances throughout the City on select nights through December. See below for some of the highlights to look out for!
Roving Entertainers
Various Locations | 6 and 7, 13 and 14 and 20 to 24 December
Discover enchanting roving performers and delightful workshops along the trail. Marvel at stilt walkers, whimsical Christmas characters, cheerful carolers, and more as they spread festive cheer along the trail.
Performances
The Real Sing Choir | Saturday 7 and 14 December | Perth Town Hall Family Rest Stop
Immerse in the harmonies of The Real Sing Choir; a mixed voice male and female acapella choir, singing traditional and modern Christmas carols and spreading the festive cheer.
City of Perth Band | Friday 13 and Saturday 14 December | Forrest Place
Don’t miss the chance to experience the holiday spirit as the City of Perth Band serenades you with beloved Christmas carols.
Perth Harmony Choir | Saturday 21 December | Forrest Place and CBD Malls
Perth Harmony Chorus is an exciting, award-winning Chorus performing four-part a cappella harmonies in Barbershop style; this group will fill everyone with joy and inspiration.
Perth Singing Academy | Sunday 22 December |Perth Town Hall Family Rest Stop
Composed of talented and passionate singers of various ages, Perth Singing Academy is a vocal training program that offers music lessons for kids, teens and adults in various genres and styles.
Free Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Walking Tours
Meet at Council House
Every Friday and Saturday night | 6 to 21 December (excluding 7 Dec) | 7pm to 8:30pm
Join our bespoke Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail Tours delivered for free by iCity volunteers. This special route is great for families or couples out on the town and looking to learn about Perth’s history along the way. This tour is wheelchair accessible. Meet outside Council House at 7pm, bookings are essential by calling 9461 3333.
Audio Described Access Tours
17 December | 7:15pm and 8:30pm | Forrest Place
18 December | 7:15pm | Forrest Place
A DADAA guide will take you, your families and friends on a tour to see the installations on the
accessible route ‘The Merry Mile’.
Bookings for these tours are essential and places are limited. To book, please email DADAA at the details below, and include the following information:- Number of visitors will disability and access requirements
- Number of support workers or carers
- Preferred date of tour
- Preferred time of tour
- Email and mobile number
Managed by DADAA Access Tours, please contact Jacqueline Homer via email at jacqueline@dadaa.org.au or phone 9430 6616.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where can I find the map?
A: Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail maps can be downloaded here.
Alternatively, you can collect a map in person at City outlets including the iCity Information Kiosk in Murray Street Mall or City of Perth Library on Hay Street during opening hours. It will also be included in a special edition of the West Australian Newspaper mid-late November.
Q: Can the Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail be completed in one night?
A: The full trail is approximately 4km in length and can take up to and over two hours. The Merry Mile is approximately 1.6km in length and can be done within approximately one hour.
Q: Where are the live performances or children’s activities along the Trail?
A: On 6 and 7, 13 to 24 December between 6pm and 9pm at key activation precincts, the Trail will be active with roving entertainers, choir performances and kids’ workshops such as bubbleology and hula hoop workshops. Visit Forrest Place, CBD Malls, Perth Town Hall Family Rest Stop and Council House to join in on the fun.
Q: Are there any tours available?
A: Back by popular demand, there will be free walking tours available, conducted by our iCity Volunteers every Friday and Saturday evening (from 6 to 21 Dec, excluding 7 Dec).Commencing at Council House at 7pm, the walking tour will encompass installations in Central Perth, returning to Council House at approximately 8.30pm (90 min duration).
Q: How many stops are on the Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail and how many are new to 2024?
A: There are 20 stops on the Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail with 12 new installations, 2 new projection stories and 6 favourites returning.
Q: Why can’t I view the Forrest Place and St Georges Cathedral projections at 6pm?
A: To ensure visibility of the projections on the GPO Building and St Georges Cathedral, the projections start later around 7.45pm, to give the sun more time to move below the horizon and allow the visual display to be more vibrant.
Q: How can I partake in the installations?
A: We encourage all visitors to take photos with the light displays. Some installations allow visitors to interact with the display, such as sitting or moving over the display. Be aware that not all displays can be interacted with and as a general rule, you should not touch a display unless signage directs you to. Where displays can be interacted with, please ensure you are handling displays with care and follow instructions where relevant.
Q: How do I recover lost items during the Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail?
A: If you have lost an item or belonging when visiting the Trail, visit the local Police Station at 2 Fitzgerald Street, (corner of Roe Street) Northbridge WA 6003 or call (08) 9422 7111.
Q: How do I report a lost child/person during the Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail?
A: There are no medical or lost person posts during this event. Security personnel will be present at installation sites throughout the night and can assist with calling Citywatch Surveillance Centre (08 9461 3333) and WA Police (000) if you require.
Q: Where is the closest parking?
A: You can visit the City of Perth Parking website to determine the closest parking locations for the Trail you’d like to traverse. The website displays real time bay availability, parking fees and ACROD parking. There is free parking after 6pm at all CPP Car Parks.There is also 3-hour Free Parking on weekends at CPP Cultural Centre, Pier Street and His Majesty’s.
Q: Are there any road closures for this event?
A: No, not for the Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail, however other events/works within the City may implement road closures. To determine what roads will be closed within the City, the City of Perth website has a Public Notice page that advertises road closures and displays a map of the weekly infrastructure works, events and obstructions.
Q: Where can I find a toilet?
A: Public toilet facilities can be found in a variety of locations across the city with most available during business hours seven days a week and those in parks between sunrise and sunset. Locations of other toilets can be identified through the National Public Toilet Map.
The Citiplace Rest Centre operated by the City of Perth provides supervised toilet and related facilities - toilets (including toilet facility for people with high support needs – change table and hoist), showers, luggage storage for visitors and locals. This facility is situated in the Perth Railway Station Complex, upper level walkway on the corner of Barrack and Wellington Streets, Perth.
Q: Is the event suitable for people with a disability?
A: Yes, the Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail is suitable for people of all ages and abilities, and everyone is encouraged to attend. Please view the accessible map and guide on the VisitPerth website for seating and rest spots, safe crossing locations, drinking water, parking, toilet locations and more information about our guided Access Tours.
Q: How do I provide feedback?
A: While visiting the Trail you may see staff from Culture Counts, engaging with visitors to obtain feedback on their experience at the Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail. Please feel free to approach one of these staff members when they are available, so you can provide your feedback.
Alternatively, the City of Perth welcomes your constructive feedback via email at info.city@cityofperth.wa.gov.au
