A 7000-strong crowd embraced the Light Up Windsor Street Fair on Saturday evening, 23 November, with families thrilled to see the snow installation ‘Windsor Winter Wonderland’, roving performers and the magnificent light displays featured on historic buildings. A special light show on the Guys Stuff building was the main feature of the light display.
Everyone was in the Christmas spirit as they trawled through the amazing market stalls and wandered in and out of local shops buying their Christmas presents. People also took time to enjoy dinner and refreshments at the many cafes and restaurants that stayed open late to celebrate.
The free community event stretched from George Street, Windsor and through to Windsor Mall. TV host, journalist and actor Candice Dixon once again graced the stage as Master of Ceremonies, introducing the many entertaining performances from schools, Vineyard Church and community groups, as well as the headline entertainers, The Beanies.
The Mayor of Hawkesbury, Councillor Barry Calvert launched the Mayoral Christmas Appeal in support of the Salvation Army this year. Lions Club volunteers walked through the crowds and collected over $2000 in donations for the Hawkesbury Rural Fire Service.
As well as dancing in the snow, children met Santa and posted their letters to Santa at the North Pole Post Box. A huge crowd gathered at the end of the evening for the lighting of the Christmas Tree by the Mayor.
“I would like to thank the many businesses that sponsored the event tonight, and particularly Vineyard Church who donated the magnificent Christmas tree,” Mayor Calvert said.
“Windsor Mall and George Street had over 50 street stalls, creating a festive and exciting display of flowers, artisan foods, luxury goods, clothes, gifts, plants and more for visitors to purchase gifts for family, friends and even themselves.
“The Light Up Your Business competition also ran again with Manor on George winning a $500 advertising package,” he said.
“Congratulations to Hawkesbury Air Plants for winning best decorated market stall, and thank you to every business for participating and getting into the spirit of the event..
“It’s wonderful to see how the Hawkesbury business community have become involved tonight in this special Hawkesbury event – staying open late, creating menus for you all to enjoy and decorating their windows,” the Mayor said.
“Supporting businesses is something that Council is working on, as is the revitalisation of our town centres, and it is events like this that bring our community into our towns to bring them to life.
“I also want to thank the Windsor Girl Guides for giving out the stamps for our ‘find the reindeer’ competition, with the prize winner of the $1000 lucky draw being Zara Crowne,” he said.
Hawkesbury Regional Museum also saw plenty of visitors during its special late opening hours for the event. Infrastructure NSW and the SES also had a light display featured on the walls of the Museum in Baker Street.
Hawkesbury City Council thanks its event sponsors Windsor RSL, Lollies N Stuff, Guys Stuff, Tahlulas Event Hire, Western Sydney Business Centre, The Alphabet Academy Sydney, TTM Engineering, Elf Farm Supplies, Windsor Ice Cream Cafe, Richmond Good Food Market, Wildbunch Florist and Roderick Storie Solicitors.
