THE Christmas Spirit has hit the Southern Downs with houses decorated and big events planned for both Warwick and Stanthorpe over the next few days.
With calendars filling up in the lead up to Christmas, Southern Downs Regional Council is reminding residents to set aside Sunday 20 December for Warwick’s 2015 Carols in the Park, which will showcase local performers and entertainers, and local businesses and community groups.
This is a chance to gather friends and family, a picnic rug or chair and bring your singing voice to celebrate the festive season in Leslie Park, Palmerin Street.
The festivities will kick off from 5pm with the Warwick City Band starting the music program at 5.30pm.
Southern Downs Regional Council mayor Peter Blundell said the Warwick Carols in the Park is simply a beautiful and relaxed family night where the town can celebrate Christmas and the blessing of living in a great community.
“It will be an absolutely fantastic evening and I would encourage everyone to come along and be part of a great program,” he said
“This year we’re very fortunate to have a team of locals on board; Susan Needer as musical co-ordinator, and Andy Wilmott from Soular Music and Tracey Gosney from Top Beat Entertainment who will look after all of our sound, lighting and staging requirements.”
The three-hour program will include traditional carols as well as your favourite up-beat Christmas songs presented by The Choral Society, The Blue Violets, David and Sarah Hume and crowd favourites Emma Bell, Ebony Wickham and our very own mayor.
The council is also pleased to announce James Blundell as our very special guest artist for the evening.
Meanwhile the focus will turn to Stanthorpe on Tuesday night with the culmination of the Stanthorpe Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas Promotion.
The month-long promotion has involved 39 local businesses and has included shopper docket give-aways.
On Tuesday night the top half of Railway Street will be closed off to traffic from 6.30pm for an evening of fun and festivities and frivolities.
The evening will include lots of fun for the whole family and will culminate in a visit from Santa Claus and fireworks which has been made possible through a grant through the Southern Downs Regional Council at 8pm.
The evening will include whip cracking and the very popular chalk art competition and culminate in the major $1000 draw for the IGA Shopping vouchers.
Both events will bring community spirit to the region and their own individual regional flavour.
Mayor Blundell said he was looking forward to singing along at the carols.
“For all those who love to sing along, the words to all the carols will be projected on a big screen and printed programs will also be available on the night,” he said.
“There will be a visit from Santa and his helpers to delight the kids, along with talented local storyteller, Carmel Wooding, spreading the Christmas cheer, and this year there will be a collection with funds raised to be donated to The Salvation Army.
“While you’re at the Carols, why not grab a bite to eat from the dedicated members of the Warwick Rotary and Lions Clubs who will be offering burgers, hot chips, a sausage sizzle, fairy floss, and other summer favourites. Coffee, cold drinks, ice-cream, snow cones, wood fired pizzas, twisted potatoes, Dutch poffertjes and good old Aussie meat pies will also be on offer to tempt everyone’s taste buds.”
A very Merry Christmas to all
THIS is the final edition of the Southern Free Times for 2015.
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