Just one day before Christmas and the City of Perth is on track to break visitor numbers and total spend records for the month of December.
Following on from a stellar November which saw total spending up 13.6 per cent to $329 million, along with visitor numbers rising an average of 10 per cent across the CBD year-on-year, total December numbers are on track to surpass last year's record totals.
Last year more than one million people visited the City in December, spending $400 million. This year that is anticipated to jump to 1.3 million people with, despite cost of living challenges, spending expected to match or surpass last year's figures.
"There is no doubt the City has been the place to be this month," Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas said.
"The Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail, the Christmas Pageant, the Lotterywest Festive Light Shows at Elizabeth Quay and the Twilight Food Markets are all reporting record, or decade-high crowds," he said.
"Last Saturday night, Elizabeth Quay reported a 20 per cent increase on crowd numbers compared to the same Saturday night in 2023. It's been a similar story with Carols in the Park in the Supreme Court Gardens on Sunday and the two nights of Christmas Nativity in Forrest Place.
"I'm very proud of our entire City of Perth team for building such a unique and vibrant Christmas and Summer events program which has drawn such huge crowds and confirmed to everyone Christmas lives here in the City."
Check out the events still to come:
Tonight: Tuesday December 24 - Fireworks
Christmas Eve Fireworks at the Elizabeth Quay Fun Fair, family entertainment all day and evening
Thursday 26 December - Boxing Dale Sales
Get out of the blocks early with the biggest shopping day of the year. Shops open from 8am in the City with all of the big retailers and your favourite boutique shops only in one place - the City of Perth.
Saturday December 28 - Radar Festival
The first ever Radar Festival is coming to Langley Park, connecting the dots between music, art and community and featuring an incredible lineup including OVERMONO, AJ Tracey, Bushbaby, DJ Boring, Franck, Jyoty, KI/KI, LB aka LABAT, MPH, Songer, STÜM, and ZERO, along with art installations, activations.
Tuesday December 31 - New Year's Eve
See out 2024 with a bang with the Roy Hill New Year's Eve celebrations. Elizabeth Quay and Barrack Square will come alive with amusement rides, sideshow alley, food vendors, roving entertainment and more. A family friendly fireworks show will light-up over the Swan River at 8:30pm, and for the first time, a midnight fireworks display will officially ring in 2025.
The Palace Motel Music Festival
Langley Park East: 4pm – 1am
Freedom Time Festival NYE 2024
Supreme Court Gardens: 5pm – 2am
Until January 1
The award winning Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail with its 20 amazing light installations.
Until January 18
With exhilarating carnival rides, mouthwatering food, and a vibrant festive atmosphere, the Elizabeth Quay Fun Fair remains open.
