Festiv(al) season gets into full swing
Published on 27 November 2023
There are less than 30 sleeps to go until Christmas Day, and the festive season is well and truly alive in Glenelg Shire.
This week will see the lighting of the Norfolk Island pine Christmas tree on Bentinck St in Portland and the Casterton Christmas Festival.
The Casterton event, which will take place at the Island Park Band Rotunda Green from 4pm on Friday, 1 December, is run by the Casterton Business Development Association with funding from Glenelg Shire Council.
It will feature fireworks, food, markets stalls and kids activities including rides, entertainment and face painting.
The next big events include the community-organised Christmas Carols in both Portland and Casterton.
In Portland, the Community Carols event is organised by the Portland Ministers Association and will be held from 5.30pm this Sunday, 3 December at the Portland foreshore near the skate park (weather permitting).
Meanwhile Casterton will celebrate the 75th edition of its Carols, organised by the Casterton Vice Regal Band for all that time, from 7pm on Sunday, 17 December at the band centre in Island Park.
Council has organised a family-friendly Christmas event in Portland on Saturday, 16 December.
To be held at the Henty Bay Youth Space on the Portland Foreshore (or the Portland Drill Hall if the weather turns inclement), the free event will run from 2pm to about 5pm.
It will feature live music from local performers, children’s activities such as face painting, inflatable rides and a soft play area, photo props, food for purchase and a visit from the ever-popular Santa Tram (courtesy of Portland Cable Trams).
The Santa Tram will again feature the Portland Citizens’ Brass Band and on the return leg of its journey (it also stops at Seaview House to allow residents there a chance to hear some festive music and meet Santa) the band will play for those at the Youth Space.
Heywood also has its own Christmas festival, run by Promoting Heywood with Council again providing funding.
Christmas on the Town Green will run on the Heywood Town Green from 5pm on Friday, 22 December and the family-friendly event features a focus on children's entertainment.
Free rides, music and entertainment are on offer and food and drinks are available through the Heywood Lions Club and Heywood Mens Shed – and of course there will be a special visit from Santa Claus, just three days out from Christmas.
There are several other Christmas events on in the Shire in December, including the Christmas Tree Exhibition at St John’s Lutheran Primary School on Friday, 1 December, a Spirit of Christmas concert at the Portland Arts Centre on Thursday, 7 December, A Celtic Christmas at the Portland Civic Hall on Tuesday, 12 December and the Committee for Portland’s annual Christmas Laneway event on Friday, 15 December.
For more details visit the events calendar on the Glenelg Shire Council website.