So what if it is still September? The elves of the Chamber of Commerce were busy at the General Merchant planning Christmas events for the dog days of another Aussie summer. Over cheese and wine, enthusiasm and yuletide cheer were in abundance.
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Committee members Ian Hooker, Kerry Hall, Georgie King and Carolyn Ditchfield brainstormed the finishing touches to the 3rd Festival of Christmas, with the theme for 2017 being “Inverell Has Gone Elfin Crazy.”
And it’ll be Elfin crazy indeed as Inverell halts to a standstill on December 15. Byron street will be shut down with Christmas market stalls, music events and little elves traipsing between the happy shoppers looking for one-of-a-kind gifts. There will be beautiful holiday window displays and a fashion parade with a Christmas theme.
Will there be snow? No. But Doctor Hubble will be roving between happy shoppers performing his incredible feats of bubble magic under a starry sky.
“Maybe we should elf them too,” King suggests, but only she knows what she means by this. Apparently, it involves getting slapped with an elf sticker and then going to claim your just deserts – but it’s still an idea in progress. More fun ideas are slapped around – getting cheesier as the night wears on.
It really doesn’t matter what religion you are as long as you believe in kids having fun!
- Ian Hooker
One thing is certain, there will be a lot of creativity, community spirit and Christmas cheer as 2,000 people are expected to head downtown for the events.
More about Christmas spirit than about Christianity, people of all ages and all faiths are encouraged to take part in the events. “It doesn’t really matter what religion you are as long as you believe in kids having fun,” Hooker says.
There’s something for young and old, and the committee has already got in touch with schools that will participate with end-of-year projects. Around 25 local businesses have already signed up for a number of events ranging from recycled Christmas windows to elf hunts.
The Inverell Tourist Information Centre and Inverell Shire Council have also embraced the celebration with their own offerings of trees and Christmas lights. It seems that there’s no better time than Christmas for Inverell to show its community spirit.
Window displays
Fantastic handmade window displays are back again after last year’s success!
Inverell’s local shops will be decked in their Christmas finest, but with a twist – everything will be handmade recycled and upcycled, keeping to the theme “Recycled Christmas”.
It’s not too early for shop owners to start thinking about how their windows will stand out from all others.
Great prizes will also be given to businesses with the best Christmas lights to help Inverell shine bright.
Elf hunt
Inverell will go elfin crazy as the little pixies take over the town, adding a fairytale atmosphere to the CBD.
Thirty businesses will be part of the elf treasure hunt that will send locals in a frenzy looking for little creatures around town.
Visitors will have to follow clues to find the shops with cute elves hidden in their display windows.
The great elf hunt is aimed at tech-savvy people and the younger generation will set social media abuzz. Who knows? It may be even more fun than the Pokemon Go Craze!
Elf parade
Families and other groups are encouraged to dress up in elf outfits and join in the fashion parade on Friday, December 15 from 6pm to 9pm.
But if you’re not in the parade, you can watch the fun march by and cheer for those gutsy enough to don a green costume for some Christmas shenanigans.
To be in the parade or to take part in any of the other festivities and competitions, visit https://www.facebook.com/FestivalofChristmasInverell or send an email to info@inverellchamber.com.au
