It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Grove with two magical evenings set to spread the festive cheer next week.
Festivities kick off in The Terrace next Wednesday in Christmas in the Grove, a free event featuring food trucks, treasure hunts and music in the street, plus a special visit from Santa.
This event brings the festive spirit into the heart of Ocean Grove, thanks to the Ocean Grove Business Association with support from the City of Greater Geelong.
So get behind local traders and enjoy live entertainment and loads of family fun for all ages, along with Christmas carols.
And the songs continue on Sunday with the ever-popular Ocean Grove Carols in the Park.
An expected 3000 people will gather at Ocean Grove Park for this musical event featuring the talents of Geelong Harmony Chorus and the Carols Orchestra.
Mark Hyland will host the concert, with local school students to join in the singing and Santa to make yet another visit to Ocean Grove, this time bringing snow to delight the kids.
Entry is a gold coin donation, which will go toward Feed Me Bellarine to provide food to families doing it tough.
And, if you can, please bring an unwrapped gift for a child in need, so they can share in the Christmas cheer too.
These two magical evenings are among more than 50 fantastic events across our region this festive season as part of the City of Greater Geelong’s 2024 Christmas program.
It all begins tomorrow night with the lighting of our spectacular Floating Christmas Tree in Christmas Opening Night – Denis Walter Carols by the Bay.
The 25-metre-high tree, now in its 11th year, has become the centrepiece of Christmas in Geelong.
And who better to preside over festivities than Geelong’s king of Christmas Denis Walter?
The Order of Australia Medallist has been part of Geelong’s Christmas calendar for more than a quarter century, having hosted and performed in Carols by Bay since 1997.
This free celebration begins at 6.30pm at Steampacket Gardens with a preshow and kids entertainers Team Dream.
The main event gets underway at 8pm, guided by musical director Michael Cristiano and featuring the musical talents of Motown group Oz Boys and Geelong Accordionist Lucy Riddett.
The program also includes performances from Denis Walter and his niece Julie and, of course, Santa, who is set to again visit Greater Geelong from the North Pole.
Finally, one lucky child will get to flick the switch to light up our dazzling Floating Christmas Tree.
The tree features 800 lights, more than 15,000 pixels to create animations and 30 new digital windows to create vibrant displays that will bathe our waterfront in colour.
And the tree’s shows will play every 15 minutes between 8.30pm and midnight every night onward until Tuesday January 7.
There is just so much to enjoy across Geelong and the Bellarine this Christmas, from culinary workshops and community carols to stage shows and The Polar Express.
So visit geelongaustralia.com.au/Christmas and get into the festive spirit.
