As Christmas nears, the Belgrave community will come together at the Belgrave South’s Scouts Hall on Friday, 12 December for an evening of food, entertainment, and plenty of Christmas cheer, all in support of the beloved community tradition.
The special fundraising event, organised by Belgrave Big Dreams Market will kick off from 5.30pm to 8pm, featuring live performances, a community cook-up, and a fabulous auction – all to support this year’s Christmas Carols and help make the holiday season a bit more magical for kids in the hills.
The owner and chef of Little Hendrix Cafe, Alex Palmer is one of the local businesses supporting this event.
“We’re back at the Scouts Hall, raising funds for the Christmas carols in Belgrave,” Mr Palmer said.
“Bills at Belgrave will be bringing their grill, and we’ll be cooking up pizzas for everyone, it’s all by donation – even if someone’s a bit short on cash, they’re still welcome to come along and enjoy the night.”
This year, the goal is to raise $3000 to cover costs like staging, AV, local performers, and the overall production of the carols event.
A key part of the evening will be the auction, which has already received an incredible amount of support from local businesses.
“We’ve got so many great donations coming in for the auction,” Mr Palmer said.
“There’s everything from tech gadgets to tattoo vouchers, and it’s all about supporting the amazing businesses that make Belgrave so special.”
Some of the businesses that have generously contributed include: Little Hendrix Cafe, Bills of Belgrave, The Blacksmith, Sushi Express, Book Barn, JAG Hair, Lost Woods Tattoo, Vanity Park Tattoo, Grumbling Goose, Neck of the Woods, Dragons Nest, Babaji’s, Tacos and Tequilas, and Meat and Dumpling.
In addition to these local businesses, major sponsors including Tacos and Tequilas, Bell Real Estate, and South Belgrave SBROTN (which is providing AV and staging) have also stepped up to support the event.
“We’re aiming to raise money to cover staging, AV equipment, local performers, and other production costs for the carols event,” Jeremy Angerson from the Belgrave Trade Association said.
“It’s all about making Christmas come to life here in Belgrave, and we’re excited to see everyone come together for it.”
The carols are in its third year and have become a beloved tradition in Belgrave, but this fundraising event is one of the first of its kind to support the celebration.
“It’s a chance for families to come together, kick off the holiday season, and create lasting memories,” Mr Angerson said.
“It’s also paired with the Belgrave Big Dreams Twilight Market, so if you’ve still got some Christmas shopping to do, you can do it there while enjoying the festivities and with food stalls on offer, no one will go hungry.”
And, of course, Santa will make a special appearance too.
“Santa will be there with presents for the kids and families, making sure everyone gets into the Christmas spirit,” Mr Angerson said.
Both Mr Palmer and Mr Angerson are excited to see the community come together once again.
“It’s all about the people here in Belgrave,” Mr Palmer said.
“This event is a chance for everyone to support the carols, have some fun, and share a meal together.”
