HOLIDAYS!!!! Sparkles on everything, hanging with the fam and parties all round. Fan- freaking-tastic right? Whether you feel like you’re going to spontaneously combust from excitement or sheer dread, the Silly Season is impossible to avoid in this town. The idea itself is actually pretty cute; chill out with your nearest and dearest, while taking a sec to show how much you luuuurve them. Awwww.
Thing is, peeps have been going a lil crazy around this time of year for a few millennia; Thanks Wise Dudes, nowadays it’s pretty tricky to top frankincense and 24K bling in the presents stakes. If you don’t buy into the whole commercialist agenda or fail to subscribe to the festivities historical origins, Christmas can be an interesting exercise in balancing your own values without appearing like a total scrooge. Well guess what? You have options my little Grinches.
There is actually heaps going on around Sydney that does not directly involve tinsel and fake santa beards. The Moonlight Cinema @ Centennial Park is an old fave which, weather permitting, provides a cheap, enjoyable summer night under the stars. When the Thunder Gods are having a tanty, take it indoors with all the local gigs and exhibits. AQUA is a 30-minute guided show at the Australian National Maritime Museum created by ONE DROP, an initiative of Guy Lailberté, Founder of Cirque du Soleil. For some real life action, aerial and magic performers do their thing at El Circo @ Slide Bar, this funky show includes a nine course degustation menu. The less sexy but equally fabulous option is Sydney Aerial Theatre Aeralize, their End of Year show featuring their students in a series of trapeze and circus acts. Prefer to join in the fun? never fear, Friday nights at Luna Park are LUNACY with super cheap tix and unlimited rides, book online for further discounts. Yay! Finally, if you have not yet checked out The Rocks Village Bizarre, do yourself a favour and grab your buddies for a through- the- looking- glass type experience, they’re all a bit mad there. Ladies, remember to book in with The Ministry of Hair for your free hair and makeup styling session.
Okies, so that’s some alt events for you, now for the whole spirit of giving. The debate of whether or not to give presents and to whom, is really a female issue. Blokes just shout the next round. Too easy! But for the socially conscious, there’s Oxfam stores whose fairtrade products support third world nations, or unwrapped gifts donating to charities directly. There are blogs aplenty filled with eco tips, singing the praises of a responsible Yule time such as Eco Empire and Loving Earth, or take it overseas- altruistic style- with The Real Gap Experience. Feeling festive yet?
So there you have it- A stack of holiday season happenings that won’t leave you feeling like you have just donated to the wallet fund of a shopping centre CEO. Brilliant! Now go forth, be merry and enjoy all that December has to offer, you can leave the jingle bells at home.
Moonlight Cinema www.moonlight.com.au/home.php?location=Sydney
AQUA @ The Maritime Museum www.anmm.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1944
El Circo @ Slide Bar www.slide.com.au/shows/el-circo/
Aerialize www.aerialize.com.au/
Lunacy @ Luna Park www.lunaparksydney.com/whats-on/lunacy
The Rocks Village Bizarre www.therocks.com/
Ministry of Hair www.mohsrocks.com.au/
Oxfam www.oxfamshop.org.au/
Eco Empire www.ecoempire.org/2011/10/07/anti-consumerism-and-christmas/
Loving Earth www.lovingearth.net/blog
The Real Gap www.realgap.com.au/top-10-volunteering-working
Editorial by Ania Rucinska Fifita.
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