Christmas bells are ringing in Romsey, as the main street will be decorated in the following days to spread Christmas joy.
Romsey Region Business and Tourism Association, who are behind the annual decorations, installed the main street’s Christmas tree decorations with community volunteers earlier this month.
President Jenny Stillman said Christmas in Romsey continued to grow with young families and organisations placing more trees to transform the main street into an attractive location over the festive season.
“We recruit volunteers to the tree installation day, for example [to put] lights on the trees, so there might be between 10 or 15 people that will be involved on the day and the men’s shed is very supportive,” Ms Stillman said.
“The same applies for pack down of the trees in January when no one wants to be around. The volunteers come to the party to pull it down.”
Ms Stillman said the Christmas illuminations were expected to be installed this weekend on December 2 and 3, when residents could head to a craft market and a few food trucks.
She said the illuminations that were produced through a family business, Power Audio, were designed to bring visitors across the shire and inspire neighbouring towns to become festive.
“We have amazing projections on the old National Bank buildings, there’ll be a number of buildings involved, and there’s a market,” Ms Stillman said.
“We do these things to give the global community joy, but also to spread it a little bit with those who want to visit us.”
The town’s annual lights and decorations competition judging is another feature of the annual festivities, sponsored by Romsey IGA, and involving homes and business being judged by community bank representatives and councillors to win various categories.
Christmas in Romsey concludes on a high note with community carols on Saturday, December 10 at Lions Skate Park.
Ms Stillman said the community festival event was made possible through several grants provided by Lancefield and Romsey Bendigo Bank, Macedon Ranges Shire Council, and the State Government.
Ms Stillman said she was keen for the festivities to grow larger next year.
“This [has] been going for seven years now, next year might be an opportunity for some fresh ideas, and to maybe just tweak it a little bit,” she said.
For more information on the events, visit https://rrbata.com.au/ or visit the Facebook page www.facebook.com/RRBATA.
