By KATH GANNAWAY
WARBURTON Highway is a highway to Christmas celebrations and sharing the spirit of Christmas from Wandin through to Warburton.
Wandin’s Sunset Festival is the start of the tinsel trail on Saturday, 6 December.
The retailers of the Wandin Shopping Centre are hosting the event this year, carrying on the tradition of lots of free fun for the kids, displays, demonstrations, food and market stalls. And … Santa!
Keep an eye out also for Wandin Rotary’s Christmas Raffle trailer – how great would that be? A trailer full of fantastic gifts … some to keep, some to share!
Seville Water Park will provide plenty of sparkle for the combined churches of Wandin and Seville Carols on Sunday, 14 December, starting 6.30pm.
Join in the community singing and take the opportunity to wish the local CFA volunteers on the sausage sizzle an ‘uneventful Christmas’.
Woori Yallock Presbyterian Church will start their Christmas festivities with a free Family Fun Day on Saturday, 29 November, from 10am to 2pm with a Christmas nativity display, kids’ craft activities, showbags, a jumping castle and more between 10am and 2pm.
There are free activities for kids on Friday and Saturday nights, the Christmas Nativity and Light Display every night from 1 to 31 December and Carols by Candlelight on Sunday, 14 December.
Continuing towards the star in the east … Yarra Junction Library’s Wishing Tree is an opportunity to embrace the Christmas spirit of giving. Toys and other gifts placed under the tree will be handed on to the local Vinnies for distribution to families and individuals who could do with a helping hand and some Christmas goodwill.
If the kids are into Christmas craft, pop along to the Library on Thursday, 4 December for some after school craft activities.
The Millgrove Christmas Market on Sunday, 30 November, is a fantastic chance to do some Christmas gift shopping and to help put money back into schools, churches and sporting groups. About 45 stalls have booked in already and there is room for more. Phone Maureen from Millgrove Residents’ Action Group (MRAG) on 0419 593 552 if you would like a stall.
On to Warby where Warburton Valley Handmade at the Waterwheel is running a Christmas Night Market from 5pm to 9pm on Friday, 5 December.
More than 40 creative artisans contribute to the shop with items including jewellery, clothes, art, toys, books, music, cards and soaps, lavender products and local wines.
There will be lots of art and craft stalls on the deck for this special event as well as an exhibition of Yarra Valley landscapes by photographers Alan Garner and Kirsty Chalmers in the gallery.
The Warburton Christmas continues on Friday night, 19 December, with Santa, music, dancing and food around the Waterwheel precinct and Carols By Candlelight at the football ground on Saturday, 20 December, starting at 7pm.
With so much on along the highway, there’s plenty of opportunity to jiggle the diary and be part of one or several community Christmas celebrations – your own community, or a neighbouring one!
