City of Mount Gambier and a group of dedicated volunteers have been hard at work preparing 13 floats for the 2020 NF McDonnell and Sons Santa’s Boulevard drive through Christmas display, to be held at Blue Lake Sports Park on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November 2020.
The modified event will be held instead of the annual Christmas Parade to comply with COVID-19 restrictions.
“Usually more than 2,000 people participate in the parade and there are about 16,000 people in the crowd, so it just wasn’t viable in its original format given the social distancing requirements in 2020,” City of Mount Gambier Community Events Team Leader Denise Richardson said.
“It has been a tough year for many and Santa wanted to come and visit the children of Mount Gambier, so we had to think a little differently about how we could make that happen.”
The drive through static display of floats will mark the beginning of the festive season and feature music, lights and decorations in the trees.
“OneFortyOne will supply pine trees which will be placed along the median strip on the boulevard. Students from 19 different schools will decorate and string lights from the trees,” Mrs Richardson said.
“We will also be working with local businesses It’s a Celebration and Steve Mullan Lighting and Sound to create a magical atmosphere.”
This has never been done before, but we are really hoping to capture and display the spirit of Christmas for our entire community.
– City of Mount Gambier Community Events Team Leader Denise Richardson
Santa’s Boulevard will include 15 floats: The Nutcracker, Teddy Bears Picnic, Mayor’s Christmas Appeal Star, Timmy the Express Train, Christmas Stocking, Pirates Rrr Us, Hansel & Gretel, Bill the Steam Shovel, T’was the Night before Xmas, Timber Toy Town, Parade Queen float, Christmas Tree, Father Christmas (supplied by Mount Gambier Rotary West Club) and Humpty Dumpty (supplied by Lakes Rotary Club).
“Mount Gambier Rotary West Club oversees Santa’s float which has had a revamp this year with the addition of new Christmas trees, wreaths, a garland and lights. Santa is looking forward to waving to the children as they drive by.”
