A Night Before Christmas
The Bay’s biggest free Christmas party celebrates over twenty years of spreading Christmas joy and its links to New Zealand’s very own Bethlehem.
Over ten thousand friends, families and members of our communities enjoy coming together to enjoy a variety of live music, dance, Christmas Carols and fireworks, to welcome in the festive season with this stunning community show.
Bring a picnic dinner, grab a bite from one of our delicious food trucks, take a selfie with one of our roving Christmas characters and enjoy the picturesque surroundings. The perfect event for the whole family!
A Night Before Christmas features a heap of amazing entertainers performing some absolute classics that are sure to get you singing and dancing along. With a variety of locally and nationally recognised performers, there’s sure to be something to get everyone into the festive spirit.
You won’t want to miss this unique opportunity to gather with friends, family, neighbours and our community to celebrate the magic of Christmas in New Zealand’s very own Bethlehem - the home of Christmas!
IT’S FREE TO BOOK!
Entry is completely FREE - but you’ll need a ticket to enter.
AND WOW! WHAT A RESPONSE! THE FULL ALLOCATION OF FREE TICKETS ARE NOW SNAPPED UP!
DATE
Saturday 16 December 2023
Gates open at 4.00pm
Show starts at 5.30pm
Show ends approx. 9.45pm
VENUE
Bethlehem College Fields
Elder Lane, Bethlehem, Tauranga, New Zealand
TIMINGS
Gates open at 4.00pm with entertainment starting at 5:30pm. The event will wrap up with an impressive fireworks display at approximately 9:30pm, with the show ending around 9.45pm. See the Show Schedule here.
VENUE INFORMATION
PARKING
Some free parking will be available on site, however we do encourage alternative modes of transport if you can:
If you live close by, walking in is highly recommended to reduce traffic.
Why not bike?! We will have a bike park this year so you can secure your bike during the event!
There will be a taxi/Uber/ride-share drop-off zone, if you want to save from finding a park.
If you need to drive, car-pooling with a group is best to minimise traffic where we can!
See the Parking Map here
MOBILITY ACCESS
There will be some mobility parking available close to the venue for those who require it, and this will need to be booked in advance by emailing us.
The event site is wheelchair friendly, however as the event takes place on a grass field access may be difficult for some wheelchair users, with the ground slightly uneven.
There will also be wheelchair-friendly toilets at the event, on the lower grass field.
Please note this event is an alcohol-free and smoke-free event.
LIVE CANDLE FLAME IS NOT PERMITTED IN VENUE.
To see the full list of permitted and non-permitted items, please see our FAQs section.
KIDs activities
ANBC is a great event for kids! Each year there are thousands of children who enjoy a magical evening with their family and friends. Here’s a few things they can get stuck into:
Face painting
Bouncy castles
Roving characters
Plus more!
Food & Beverage
BYO PICNIC DINNER
You are welcome to bring a picnic dinner to enjoy with your friends and family, If you’re bringing food or beverages from home please ensure you are using reusable containers or packaging where possible. We are aiming to reduce the event’s waste as much as possible!
Please note: Alcohol is not permitted on site.
FOOD VENDORS
We also have an excellent selection of food vendors on site selling a great range of hot food, snacks, desserts, and hot drinks.
Check out our full vendor selection here.
