The festive seasons is officially here! And to help you get in the spirit we've found the top places for Christmas lights, local Christmas events for your diary, gift ideas, where to get your produce and the best pudding recipe to try out for the big day.
Christmas Lights
If it isn’t already a part of your Christmas traditions, add light looking to the list! Wollondilly is home to some passionate Christmas lovers who put on stunning light displays for all to enjoy. We’ve put together a list of popular streets across the Dilly you should check out this year:
Appin
Kerr Street & Rixon Road
Bargo
Hawthornwe Road & Remembrance Drive
Oakdale
Tamara Close & Janet Place
Picton
Friesian Way, Argyle Street & Coachwood Crescent
Silverdale
Walmsley Crescent
Tahmoor
The Acres Way, Dillies Lane, Nattai Street & Mahonga Street
The Oaks
March Place
Thirlmere
Warradale Road, Stanton Street, Thirlmere Way & Madigan Road
Warragamba
Weir Road and Thirteenth Street
Werombi
Mcleay Road
Wilton
Greenbridge Drive. Douglas Park Drive & Beatty Street
Christmas Events
Wollondilly is well and truly getting into the festive spirit with a number of events boasting carols, twilight markets, Santa photos, picnics, lights and more. Below are just a few upcoming events happening around the region to pencil in your diary:
Saturday December 4
Warragamba Christmas Markets
Warragamba Memorial Park & Town Hall
Friday December 10
Twilight Christmas Markets
Picton Botanic Gardens
Friday December 10
Light up Barrallier Park
Barrallier Park The Oaks
Sunday December 12
Carols on the Hill
St James Church Menangle
Dilly Gift Ideas
This year it’s time to forget about boring, ‘same old’ Christmas gifts. The beauty of shopping in small towns is that you’re bound to come across unique gifts you won’t find anywhere else. Treat your loved ones to something special this year and support local businesses at the same time. Check out our selection of local shops and boutiques or why not purchase a voucher for one of our attractions or local restaurants, pubs and cafes.
Christmas Produce & Pudding
When putting together your Christmas menu this year remember to keep it local. Look past the bigger chain stores and head to your local butchers for your ham and roasts, the bakery down the road for bread rolls and morning croissants and pick up your produce from one of our Dilly grocers... and don’t forget a carrot for Rudolf! Head to our Services page to find your closest suppliers.
If you’re up for a challenge this year, why not bake your very own Dilly Christmas Cake! Pick up all your ingredients locally and hit the kitchen with this full proof recipe.
Ingredients
- 1½kg mixed dried fruit, such as sultanas, currants, mixed peel & glacé cherries
- ½ cup sherry, rum, whisky or brandy
- 1 Granny Smith apple, grated
- 1 tablespoon honey or golden syrup
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 4 eggs, lightly beaten
- 250g butter, melted & cooled
- 1½ cups plain flour
- ½ cup self-raising flour
- 1 teaspoon mixed spice
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- extra 2 teaspoons sherry, rum, whisky or brandy to brush
Method
- Preheat oven to 140°C & grease a 20cm cake tin and line base and sides with 2 layers of baking paper
- Place mixed dried fruit in a large bowl. Add sherry, apple, honey, sugar and eggs, and stir with a wooden spoon until well combined. Add cooled melted butter.
- Sift combined flours, mixed spice and ground ginger over fruit mixture, stir until well combined
- Spoon into prepared pan and smooth surface Bake for 3–3½ hours or until a skewer inserted into centre comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and brush top of cake with extra sherry. Cover tightly with foil and set aside to cool completely.
- Wrap in glad wrap and store in the fridge for up to two months
Recipe courtesy of Homes to Love