The first signs of festive cheer have appeared with the Christmas decorations now installed.

The popular free Santa photos will return from Thursday, 26 November as part of a program of events.

Traders from across The Levee Precinct are providing some Christmas gift inspiration this year with a range of offers all brought together in an offer booklet, as well as taking the time to create Christmas window displays that the public can vote on.

The Levee Car Giveaway is also still running in the lead up to Christmas.

Mayor Loretta Baker says it's been a challenging year for everyone, "which makes it even more exciting to be bringing back an even bigger Christmas program to The Levee this festive season".

"We hope that the community will get involved by picking up some of their presents from the great mix of local shops in the area," she said.

"Along with supporting local businesses, this is also a great way to bring the community together at this time o fyear in a COVID Safe way.

Free, social distanced Santa photos will take place at The Riverlink with a new COVID Safe QR code sign up system that will mean people can sign up using their phones and shop while they wait instead of standing in a queue.

This year, a Christmas Special celebration is coming to The Levee which will see a laid back evening with a small selection of fresh local produce, artisan beer, wine and spirits stalls, gift wrapping by donation, roving entertainers and live music to bring some Christmas cheer to the Shared Zone on Thursday, December 3.

Patrick Lane from Ken Lane Menswear said the traditional decorations were popular with families.

In the week the decorations went up he noticed there was an increase in foot traffic.

'We've just started to see an increase with people buying Christmas gifts," he said.

"It's our great hope that with border restrictions easing around the country that people's confidence will return and they will feel that we can have a relatively normal Christmas," he said.

"We might start to feel good about ourselves towards the end of 2020."

Mr Lane said he hoped the optimism around how the country was handling the pandemic would flow through.

"Staying home and having a nice family Christmas would be something to look forward to particularly if we have a vaccine in the wings. That will give people a lot of confidence and hopefully people will come out and have a jolly Christmas and shop locally."

A program including information about the Christmas activities and a fun nutcracker scavenger hunt will be available throughout the precinct in the coming weeks.

Shoppers can also try and win a prize. Find and name the little nutcrackers and go into the draw to win a Christmas surprise.

For more information, pick up a program at The Levee or online at theleveemaitland.com.au and follow The Levee Maitland on Facebook for updates.

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