You’re likely imagining a roaring fire, twinkly lights, and maybe even a light dust of snow when you think of Christmas. But what if you could experience all of that festive goodwill during the middle of the year? That’s precisely what Christmas in July is. It might be the middle of summer where you are and you’re yearning for a wintery celebration, or you could just be looking for an excuse for a party, but Christmas in July is your ticket to giving and receiving double the holiday love. In this guide, you’ll find all you need to know about Christmas in July: its origins, the best ways to celebrate, and the most thrilling places to visit.
What Is Christmas in July?
Christmas in July is an informal holiday in which some people mark the halfway point to Christmas, that being July 25. It gives citizens an opportunity to enjoy holiday traditions, like decorations, carols, and gifts, without it being within the standard December frame. It’s especially popular in the Southern Hemisphere, where July happens to be winter and a different “winter Christmas” experience can be had. In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s a fun, cheeky respite from the summer, often featuring retail sales and Christmas movie marathons.
How to Celebrate Christmas in July
Searching for some interesting and impactful ways to celebrate Christmas in July? You have a full sleigh of choices. Whether all you have in mind is a laid-back weekend with family or going all out with friends, these tips will help you warm up to the season, mid-winter style.
Christmas Dinner
Also, you can’t have Christmas in July without a feast, and I have a feeling these pigs might not be the only hams on the menu tonight. Roast turkey, baked ham, stuffing, mean gravy and warm puddings all just resonate differently when there is a chill in the air. Unlike a December dinner with people sweating into their creamed spinach, your guests can experience sitting by the fire with full bellies. Whether you cook it yourself or book a champagne parade, just make sure you go full festive.
Cooking Class
Turn Christmas in July into a culinary escapade with a seasonal cooking course. Find out how to prepare a classic Christmas roast or have a go at classic puddings and spiced biscuits. It’s interactive, it’s cozy, and you come away with festive skills, too.
Cocktail Party
Heat up your winter with a Christmas in July cocktail evening. Cinnamon-spiked sangria, hot buttered rum, or a cold peppermint martini come to mind. You can ask guests to come in festive glam and to serve Christmas themed drinks with complementing nibbles. It’s all class and coziness rolled into one.
DIY Workshop
Play into your crafty side with a holiday-inspired DIY workshop. And create ornaments, wreaths or homemade cards that bring you all the warm fuzzy vibes of the season. It's also a perfect way to keep the kids entertained during the winter break.
Ugly Christmas Sweater Party
It’s not Christmas in July if you’re not wearing those cringe-worthy, over-the-top festive knits. Throw an ugly sweater soiree with an ugliest wins competition. Bring out holiday snacks, take absurd photos, turn it into a tradition that people will look forward to in the frigid cold of July.
Gift Exchange
If you still want to maintain the spirit of giving, have a Secret Santa or White Elephant exchange. It doesn’t have to be pricey. Think thoughtful, fun, or even regifted gifts that inspire laughter and surprise. Christmas in July is the ideal reason to tell someone you love them, for no reason at all.
Gather Around the Fire
What’s more snug on a wintry night than a fire? Plan a fireplace or fire pit gathering (indoors or outdoors) for your Christmas in July evening! Roast some marshmallows, drink some hot mulled wine and swap tales. If it’s indoors, light some candles and create the mood with seasonal music and soft light.
Fun Christmas in July Ideas
Christmas in July is more than the dinner parties. If you want to make an adventure of it, these seasonal experiences around Australia are bound to give you memories warmer than a roaring fire.
Road Trip on the Granite Belt
In Queensland’s Granite Belt the town of Stanthorpe becomes a winter wonderland. Vineyards deck their halls and there are some epic Yuletide local events. You may visit Christmas tree sites, eat meals more substantial than oranges and hot cocoa and witness actual frost on the ground.
See Snowflakes in the Sunshine State
Yep, even sunny Queensland will be getting in on the action. Snow or frost occasionally occurs in certain parts of the state's highland regions. Towns like Eukey and Applethorpe get into the Christmas in July spirit with festive markets, food festivals and twinkling decorations under the Southern Cross..
Wild Winter Wanderings Through National Parks
The landscapes of Australia’s national parks transform in winter. Snowy trails! Clear, cold air! Desolate lookouts! It’s a season of epicness. Combine your Christmas in July with a hike and bring along some warm goodies for a holiday picnic.
Curl Up in the Bunya Mountains
Go rustic and visit the Bunya Mountains, where comfortable cabins come with wood-burning fireplaces and views over forests shrouded in mist. You can cook your own Christmas in July dinner and enjoy it in complete silence. Only you, the chilly air, a hot roast.
Dine with Family and Friends in Brisbane
Even Brisbane embraces the Christmas in July spirit. Restaurants promote themed menus and private dining rooms are adorned in twinkling fairy lights. Reserve a group event and go old-school with some good-old comfort food, or treat that special someone to a dinner of home-cooked, wintry goodness.
Where to celebrate Christmas in July in Victoria
If you’re spending this winter in Victoria and hoping to bask in the festive glow, good news! The state has a mix of enchanting villages, gourmet feasts and snowy getaways, all of which are ideal for Christmas in July celebrations. The getaways feature snowy scenes, festive spreads and decorations that distract from the fact that it’s not December.
Ballarat
Ballarat is a place where you can enjoy a traditional Christmas in July. The Sovereign Hill Winter Wonderlights Festival turns the living museum into a twinkling Christmas card. You’ll stroll through “faux” snowfalls, roam heritage buildings adorned in twinkling lights and even spot costumed performers caroling throughout Main Street. Restaurants dish up piping-hot roasts, the mulled wine flows, and the air smells of cinnamon and pine. It’s that festive without the summer sweat. Ballarat is where you’ll get that taste of Northern Hemisphere Christmas in the depths of Victorian winter.
Daylesford
Famed for its cosy appeal and rejuvenating hot springs, Daylesford is the perfect destination for a chillaxing Christmas in July getaway. Cafés and restaurants have a fixed Christmas menu that includes pudding and cranberry-glazed ham. Autumn’s chill encourages a retreat to crackling firesides after long, leisurely days of browsing shops and winter markets. A number of boutique stays have private spas. Some also offer a festive welcome pack complete with mulled wine and homemade decorations.
Dandenong Ranges
The fog enshrouded forests and cold, so-cozy-yards of Dandenong Ranges is all it takes for a Romeo and Juliet Christmas in July vibe. Local venues such as SkyHigh Mount Dandenong offer special festive dinners over panoramic views and twinkling lights. By day, experience antique shops. By night, warm up with hot chocolate. With adorable B&Bs with fireplace suites and full-course Christmas dinners, this is where you can live the Yule holiday storybook experience. The crisp mountain air will just make your winter celebration feel all the more real.
Warburton
Perched on the Yarra River, Warburton welcomes Christmas in July warmly with beautiful surrounds and a strong community spirit. Lots of guesthouses and lodges have themed packages featuring traditional roasts and decorations and hot drinks. Some even have fake snow or winter wonderlands for children. You can go for riverside walks in the chilly winter air, pop into old-worldly cafes or get involved in a hooley of a pub night. It’s a spot where simplicity and spirit converge, nowhere better than Warburton, a best-kept secret for those of us looking for a slower, more soulful Christmas.
Mount Macedon
For a getaway that’s dusted with snow, make your way to Mount Macedon. The town, with its dizzily high altitude and stately homes, conjures a European-style Christmas in July feeling. At many estates, intimate holiday dinners feature roaring fires, wine pairings and a classic menu. You’ll encounter beautifully appointed rooms, verdant gardens and candlelit lounges perfect for lingering on a slow winter night. Also perfect for scenic drives or forest walks that conclude with a warm meal and mulled cider. If you’re in the market for a fancy-pants winter vacation, this is your place.
Power Up Your Christmas in July with the BLUETTI Apex 300
Looking for a meaningful and practical gift for parents or grandparents this Christmas in July? The BLUETTI Apex 300 serves as more than a power station because it delivers peace of mind and comfort and convenience through its reliable device. It can serve all homes by maintaining heated blankets during winter nights while powering slow cookers with stew and charging mobile devices for family connection.
With a 3840W rated output, 2764.8Wh battery capacity, and support for 0ms UPS switchover on select ports, the Apex 300 offers seamless power during outages—keeping essential devices like medical equipment, routers, or fridges running smoothly. It also supports up to 6 expansion batteries and 3-unit parallel connection, giving it flexibility to grow with home backup needs.
The device features multiple output options (AC, USB, DC, wireless charging) and operates at a whisper-quiet level which makes it suitable for older adults who need easy-to-use dependable equipment. The solar charging feature enables effortless battery maintenance which proves beneficial when placed in sunny locations such as patios or garden sheds.
FAQs
Why do Australians have Christmas in July?
It is quite popular in Australia where people can celebrate the holiday July 1-31 just to enjoy a cold, wintry Christmas (roast dinners, mulled wine, snow-themed decorations) that doesn’t vibe with the sunnier December holiday season.
What activities do people typically do to celebrate Christmas in July?
You could host a more traditional dinner, stage an ugly sweater party, or head out on a snowy escape or, you could simply snuggle up and enjoy a movie marathon.
Is Christmas in July an actual holiday?
No, Christmas in July isn’t an official public holiday, but it is widely observed throughout Australia, with events, themed dinners, markets and winter retreats that evoke the holiday spirit.
Where is the best place to celebrate Christmas in July Victoria?
Top picks include places like Ballarat, Daylesford and the Dandenong Ranges. They have wintry landscapes and holiday-themed dining experiences that can make Christmas in July feel like a magical, authentic experience.
Can I have Christmas in July at home?
Absolutely. A Christmas in July dinner party, decorating the space with lights, baking gingerbread and even doing a gift exchange are all great ways to bring the festivities home.
