ANNUAL EVENTS
When it comes to big events, none can compare to North Gong Hotel. Boasting sell out events year after year, we pride ourselves on being the premier location for music, entertainment and large scale annual events in the Illawarra.
Santa fest
Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 12, as the North Gong Hotel hosts Santafest 2026- an entire day (and night) of festive fun, friendly competition and local community spirit!
Whether you're stopping by with the family, or locking in a night out with your crew, North Gong is serving up something for everyone. Best of all, you'll be celebrating for a brilliant cause: Surf Life Saving Illawarra. Let's give back to the people who keep our beaches safe all summer long!
So, what's actually happening?
12pm-4pm: All Ages Festivities
Bring the family down to enjoy our sunny beer garden while you grab your annual Santa Photos from 1pm to 4pm, and test your speed in the Christmas Tree Decorating Race! Enjoy live music with Dave White playing from 12pm to 3pm, followed by Gang of Brothers from 3pm to 6pm.
4pm onwards: The Afterparty
Once the sun sets and the family activities are wrapped up, the evening takes over! Catch A Shuffle performing live from 6pm to 10pm, gather your mates, lock in your matching holiday outfits and take your shot at a share of $1000 cash in our 18+ Santa Pageant!
Santafest is all about bringing the Wollongong locals together as we wrap up the end of the year and celebrate our incredible community. By joining us for the day, you're doing far more than just kicking off the festive season in style- you're also helping us give back to Wollongong.
Grab your tickets today and help us make Santafest 2026 one of our most memorable events yet!
New YEARS EVE
NYE at North Gong Hotel
Wollongong, get ready! This New Year's Eve, North Gong's beer garden is being transformed to give you the ultimate New Year's Eve Party!
We've put together a killer lineup to build the night up right:
Ember - Kicking off the festivities as the sun goes down and setting the mood for the rest of your night
Jessi Lowkey - Taking over the stage for a massive 3-hour set to lock in the bass and keep the dance floor going
Will Sparks - The Main Event. Expect an hour of techno & rave music from one of global electronic music's biggest names
Jaida Rose - Driving us through the midnight countdown and continuing the party into the early hours of the morning with her non-stop club tracks
It's going to be the biggest night of the year in the Gong.
Call your crew, lock in your tickets before they sell out, and let's reign in the new year together at North Gong!
dog day
The Illawarra’s best and biggest day for dogs is proudly brought to you by Pound Paws and North Gong Hotel!
Celebrate dog rescue with a whole heap of tail-wagging activities such as live entertainment, rescue dog stalls and adoption parade, pet business stalls plus heaps of competitions and giveaways such as best dressed, best trick & more.
So grab you four-legged friend, and join us for our annual Dog Day to support Illawarra canine rescue organisations and charities.
