They had us at raclette and boozy hot chocolate: 10+ things to eat and drink at the Christmas in July Festival

Posted on 24 June, 2025

One of the best things about Christmas is the food, so it’s no surprise you’re wondering how you can feast your way through Canberra’s own European-inspired Christmas market.

Popping up in a new lakeside location on Patrick White Lawns from Thursday 3 until Sunday 6 July, you might remember some of the delicious offerings from the past three years – but the 2025 festival is looking extra delicious with over 20 pop-ups serving an irresistible array of French and European winter cuisine. And from raclette to boozy hot chocolate, you’ll want to make a list and check it twice to make sure you get to taste the best bites of the Christmas in July Festival.

Luckily, our elves have done the hard work for you and found the things you’ll want to get into your mouth. Just make sure to check with each stall for specific dietary requirements and enjoy!

After all, ‘tis the season for festive feasting…

Raclette Melted Cheese

Lakeside raclette? Say no more, because your festive favourite is back for another year. A traditional French and Swiss dish that’s the ultimate comfort food, (for those that don’t know) it’s an oozy cheese named for the French word that means “to scrape” and refers to both the type of cheese and the traditional dish it is served with. It’s scraped onto seasoned potatoes, charcuterie and pickles – and it’s delicious! If you only try one thing, make it this and thank us as it warms you from the inside out.

East Blue Seafood

Fresh lobster meat piled high in a buttery, toasted roll…drooling yet? At this festival stall, you can get your hands on this juicy and tender dish, served with a touch of lemon and crisp greens – and it sounds like the perfect bite of European indulgence. Simple, satisfying, and unforgettable.

French Kiss Creperie

It’s not a trip to a European market without crêpes and you can get your hands on both traditional sweet and savoury options made fresh to order. Whether you prefer Nutella and banana or ham and cheese, each crêpe is crafted using authentic French techniques and recipe. Ça a l’air bon!

Chocolate In a Bottle

The richness of chocolate with the elegance of sparkling wine? Say no more. Combining the flavours of Belgian chocolate with French blanc de blanc, this is one drink you’ll want to try. Made by infusing traditionally vinified sparkling wine with the essence of Belgian chocolate and hazelnut extract, it’s the best of both worlds – bubbly and rich.

Peterson’s Wine and Savannah Estate

A glass of red wine always goes down a treat on a cold night, so visiting this pop-up from a family-run winery is worth the stop. With long-lasting traditions of wine making, each bottle from Peterson’s Wine and Savannah Estate is crafted with care and tradition, ensuring a quality wine that will transport you to the Hunter Valley with each sip. Cheers to that!

Long Paddock Cheese

This small-scale artisan cheesemaker is recognised as one of the best in Australia. With products that take inspiration from some of the world’s best cheeses and their secrets (made with local and organic ingredients), it’s the perfect excuse to taste test some and stock up for your cosy charcuterie boards for when it’s too cold to leave the house.

Mulled wine

Name a better drink to have at a Christmas market in Canberra? Prepared with French Pinot Noir from Burgundi, cinnamon, cloves, oranges and apples, and heated at 65°C, this Christmas in July Festival favourite is sure to go down a treat for $10 a glass. Don’t drink alcohol? Don’t worry, there’s also a non-alcoholic version!

Nougat Limar

Obsessed with nougat? We dare you to go past this creamy, French-style nougat from the largest nougat manufacturer in Australia. Not too sweet and not too chewy, here they make nougat the traditional European method of slowly combining a hot syrup blend with whipped egg whites – adding freshly roasted nuts, berries, florals and fruits, along with a little of Nougat Limar’s signature vanilla essence. With flavours like Coffee-Almond, Vanilla-Almond and Cherry-Cranberry-Pistachio available, we dare you not to take a block home.

Choucroute Garnie

Looking for something more traditional to treat your tastebuds too?  This traditional Alsatian dish brings authentic French winter flavours to Canberra and it’s just what you need on a cold night. Served hot, it’s a combination of fermented cabbage slowly cooked with aromatic spices and white wine, topped with an assortment of sausages, smoked meats, and potatoes. You’ll feel like you’re in the middle of France!

Cheese Skewer

It’s a classic and for good reason. Always a crowd favourite, these French cheese skewers feature camembert cheese coated in golden, crispy breadcrumbs and lightly fried to perfection. Served hot, they’re the ultimate indulgent snack: crispy on the outside, deliciously melty on the inside, and perfect for pairing with mulled wine.

Hot Chocolate

Forget what you think you know, because the hot chocolate at the Christmas in July Festival will be anything but basic. Prepared with Belgian chocolate and topped with roasted marshmallow, for $10 a cup, you’ll be sipping on one of the most decadent drinks to touch your lips. And adults who like a little bit of alcohol can upgrade to a Boozy Hot Chocolate for $14 – the same delicious drink with Baileys added in.