By JESSE GRAHAM
HEALESVILLE’S schoolchildren will be able to finish the school year with a celebration, with the Healesville Community Kids’ Christmas Festival coming to town for another year.
The festival, which is organised by members of the Healesville Chamber of Commerce, will kick off along Healesville’s main street from 4-7pm on Friday 19 December.
One of the event organisers, Vanessa Clothier, said the three-hour festival was free of charge for kids and parents, and that there were plenty of rides, activities and attractions for the festival.
“They can just wander down after their last day of school and enjoy three hours of Santa-y fun and kids’ stuff,” she said.
Face painting, a petting zoo and a visit from Santa himself are all on the cards for the event, and shops will also be opening their doors later into the evening for last-minute Christmas shopping.
Ms Clothier said this year’s festival would be the fourth time it had been run, and said the group received no funding, except from local business donations, to put on the event.
“It costs $15,000 to put on – that covers the road closure, the insurance and all of the kids’ entertainment,” she said.
“We want to make it open to disadvantaged families, so their hands aren’t pushed in their pockets for anything.
“We want people to be aware that it’s the kindness of local businesses, and we’re hoping more can give in the future so it can continue.”
Ms Clothier said that food and drink would also be available at the festival, including a gingerbread decorating stall put on by Beechworth Bakery.
She said numbers for the event had grown each year, and that the organising group was expecting bigger crowds than ever for this year’s festival.
The Healesville Community Kids Christmas Festival will run from 4-7pm on Friday 19 December, along Nicholson Street (Maroondah Highway) in Healesville between Church Street and Green Street.
The event is free, but food and drink and photos with Santa may have associated costs.
