The Magic of Christmas is very much alive in Canterbury-Bankstown.

Dancing Santas and singing Christmas trees will add a magical touch to town centres, as residents and visitors can now join their favourite Christmas characters through a new Augmented Reality (AR) experience.

Dotted around the City are special QR codes, strategically placed near the new Christmas trees at Bankstown, Campsie, Belmore, Revesby, Earlwood, Chester Hill and Greenacre. And when scanned with a mobile phone camera, each code opens up a magical world that features 3D Christmas animations.

“In a Council-first activation that’s exclusive to CBCity in Sydney, people can scan the codes and download the Eyejack platform to launch each AR experience,” Mayor Khal Asfour said.

“Once they do this, they can unlock and record magical Christmas moments at each location, and share those moments with their closest friends and family to see on social media.”

Mayor Asfour said spreading Christmas cheer was as easy as scanning, pointing and shooting with a mobile phone camera.

The immersive experience will be available until the new year and is another addition to Council’s bonanza list of COVID-Safe festive activities.

These activities include the Santa’s Cadillac City tour, a Christmas Lights Trail, the lighting up of notable City landmarks in Christmas colours every night and much more.

The Mayor said it was no “secret” celebrations in the City will look a little different without the usual large-scale event this year.

However, “Santa’s little helpers at Council” have pulled out all stops to make this festive season the best one yet.

“I’m proud of how Council has thought outside the box to include innovative technology like the new AR experience. This will guarantee our community members can still have a magical Christmas in CBCity, and I hope everyone gets involved,” Mayor Asfour said.

For more information about Council’s COVID-Safe Christmas activity program, visit cb.city/whatson