COVID-19 & Christmas 2020

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. In five days time celebrations will be kicking off across Australia. Following the year that we have had, it is more than welcome!

With restrictions and circumstances continuously changing around Victoria and NSW, we decided to take a look into where and how we can celebrate Christmas 2020.

As of  midnight December 21, Victoria will declare all of Sydney and the NSW Central Coast a COVID-19 “red zone”, meaning people who live in or have visited those areas since December 11 will not be allowed to enter the state. (Check the DHHS, Victoria website for the latest updates.)

Across in Western Australia they are restricting people entering that come from NSW due to the Northern Beaches outbreak and NSW is now classified as ‘medium risk’. As a result, travel from NSW is no longer permitted, unless you are an exempt traveller. This also applies to anyone who may have been in NSW since December 11 and hasn’t completed 14 days in a lower risk state or territory.

As for QLD from 1am AEST Sunday, December 20, a person entering Queensland who has been in NSW after 1am December 11 must apply for and receive a Queensland Border Declaration Pass.

South Australia remains open to NSW, despite declaring it a hotspot.

 If you are in Sydney and part of the LGBTQI community, whether you are religious or you are not someone of faith but want a religious experience you may want to think of having a look at the Metropolitan Community Church. This is an inclusive Christian ministry which is led by Pastor Reverend Dale Yardy. If you are looking for a way to spend your Christmas and forget about the way this year has been, there are a number of events happening beginning on December 23. The inclusive church of Metropolitan Community Church Sydney are holding communion in the park at Brighton Street reserve in Petersham which is an in-person service. On December 24 the church will continue with the celebrations holding an online webinar for Online Christmas Eve Carol Service at 8pm.

If a religious Christmas is not for you there are other alternatives for this part of the holiday period.

Stonewall Hotel is holding an event hosted by Miss Stonewall Skye Paez “Bring Back My Girls: Xmas Edition.” Or you can head over to the Oxford Hotel where they are holding a drag show “The Christmas Eve Edition: 2 Bloke Girls,” whilst over at Universal they have a My Big Fat Greek Christmas. 

At The Beresford they have a drag extravaganza which is being held by the pub in conjunction with Absolut over both December 23 and 24. Entitled, Absolut-ly Christmas featuring – Minnie Cooper, Jacqui St Hyde, Mynx Moscato, Troy Stone and Tora Hymen.

On Christmas day at 10 Metropolitan Community Church, Sydney, is holding a Christmas Day Worship and then you can meet them over at the Petersham RSL at 11:30am for Christmas Day lunch.

 Down in Melbourne due to things slowly rolling out and restrictions being eased bit by bit, but there is still quite a bit of uncertainty with how the future will look for capacities for hospitality venues. As such a lot of places from LGBTQI community and their allies do not have particular events put together like those in Sydney. 

However, the community is coming together at Sircuit. Queerspace has organised a Free Christmas Breakfast and are so excited to announce that their annual free Queerspace breakfast on Christmas morning will go ahead in a COVID-safe manner.

After the breakfast is over you can make your way to Northcote at All Nations Park, where there is Rainbow Village Christmas Day Picnic which is an all ages picnic for LGBTQI people, friends, families and allies. There will be music, games and good times. Free snacks and drinks, BYO rug and dinner. Supported by Your Community Health, and funded by Darebin City Council Community Grants.

Positive Attitude is also catering to those who live with HIV to be surrounded by their community with a Christmas Day lunch at their usual venue, the Edinburgh Gardens Community Room in North Fitzroy. The event is a continuation of an event started by the late Yvonne Gardner. Guests will enjoy a traditional Christmas feast.

Most events will need to have booked, be sure to book and ensure that it meets COVID-safe requirements. Be sure that no matter what you organise or want to do that you check the relevant state government requirements around numbers at events, homes and gatherings.

For New South Wales head here.

For Victoria Head here.