Sydney feels Aussie winter magic

With cardboard snowflakes hanging from palm trees, fake snow under canvas and ice skaters in T-shirts, it may not be your traditional winter scene. But for Sydneysiders, Winterlight is the next best thing.

The festival has transformed Parramatta’s Prince Alfred Square into a make-believe alpine village complete with an ice rink, a snow pit, a snowflake garden and an outdoor bar serving mulled wine.

Each year Sydney’s winter wonderlands, from St Mary’s Cathedral to Darling Harbour, Bondi to the Blue Mountains, become ever more fantastical.

At Winterlight there’s a somewhat kitsch feel, with little fir trees sparkling with fairy lights and Christmas market-style “wooden” chalets serving food a reminder that we still can’t shake off the European link between snow and the festive season.

On the ice a mostly awkward melee is circling the rink anticlockwise, with the odd sparkly-dressed professional spinning in their midst.

It’s a beautiful winter’s early evening and the rink looks fabulous under a clear blue sky and rimmed by palm trees gleaming orange as the sun dips.

I’m skating with my two eldest daughters and first-time skaters, six-year-old Emmeline and three-year-old Sasha. Sasha, like many of the little ones, is holding onto a heavy penguin skating aid as if her life depends on it.

The penguins are designed to encourage young children to venture out and skate in the free space of the rink rather than holding onto the barrier at the perimeter. They are a great idea and Sasha manages to get around the rink without our help.

But one slow lap for her is enough. “I keep slipping,” she says.

Emmeline, by contrast, loves it and is even skating unassisted for a while, although, like many first-timers, she tries to “walk” with her skates rather than glide.

Despite the amount of unpredictable children around, the ice rink isn’t a bad place for a date. Old-time romantic classics like You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling by the Righteous Brothers and Be My Baby by The Ronettes set the mood.

I manage to coax Emmeline off the ice with the promise of the Frozen ice skating show, and my two girls are mesmerised by the dazzling performance of the pro skaters to some of the Disney film’s biggest hits sung by live performers.

The snow pit is an instant hit. But I feel a slight pang of sadness – two years ago I promised myself I wouldn’t take my kids to one; I wanted their first experience of playing in snow to be the real deal.

But the girls have a whale of a time making snowcastles, snowballs and generally rolling about in the stuff. “That was amazing!” says Emmeline as she’s finally forced out of the pit, where a huge Olaf snowman offers warm hugs and a photo opportunity.

In the snow pit tent, kids can also colour in Frozen-themed masks, and outside there is a good selection of rides to keep them happy.

For the adults, the rink-side outdoor bar selling mulled wine is popular, while the festive-themed food options are pretty mouth-watering, too. There are bratwurst sausages and burgers on offer, as well as handmade chocolates.

But I have my eye on the little Cheesesmith chalet selling cheesy toasties, baked camembert and raclette, a Swiss dish where you can dip vegetables and meat into melted cheese.

The palm trees and squawking crows may be a constant reminder that you are in no alpine village, but, particularly for the kids, Winterlight is still a magical experience.

IF YOU GO

Parramatta Winterlight runs until July 12 and is open 10am till late. The ice rink will operate until 9pm Sunday to Thursday and until 10pm on Friday and Saturday.

Ice skating shows featuring Disney Frozen singers take place on Friday and Saturday nights only.

Tickets: children under 5 $10; 5-13 years $16; 14 years and over $20; family pass $58. All prices include skate hire; penguin hire is an extra $8 per penguin. Tickets can be purchased at www.starsonice.com.au/winterlight2015 or at the door.

For more information visit www.winterlight.com.au.

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parramatta sydney winterlight festival