Rudolph comes to Docklands

By Aphrodite Feros-Fooke

For the month of December Docklands will be home to an eight-metre-tall reindeer, a new addition to this year’s City of Melbourne Christmas Festival.

Now in its 18th year, the festival will host a range of events, activities and installations from November 29 through to December 25.

The program includes Santa’s House at Federation Square, Gingerbread Village by Epicure, a giant present box at Southbank and a Gravy Day sing-along with guest Clair Bowditch and Christmas Projections.

The Princes Bridge will be part of the Christmas Projections program for the first time this year alongside the State Library and Melbourne Town Hall.

The State Library will host the feature show – A Very Melbourne Night Before Christmas – written by Marieke Hardy and narrated by Lee Lin Chin.

The city will be decorated with 500,000 LED lights, 2000 giant baubles, 20 giant nutcracker statues, four neon Christmas installations and a giant present box at Southbank.

Federation Square’s Christmas tree will stand at 16 metres tall and be decorated with 30,000 LED lights.

This year City of Melbourne has introduced a Christmas collective initiative.

“This year we have chosen to showcase our local talent by having businesses and groups share how they celebrate Christmas, which will provide a uniquely Melbourne experience for our visitors and locals,” the Lord Mayor Sally Capp said.

“People will be able to take part in Christmas cooking master classes, join a festive silent discos as it winds through the city and peruse pop-up markets in some of our iconic buildings and laneways.”

Chair of the City of Melbourne’s small businesses, retail and hospitality portfolio Councillor Susan Riley said the festive season is vital for the business community.

“December is the most important period for our retail and hospitality businesses and the increased number of city visitors coming to enjoy our Christmas Festival generates an economic uplift of $73 million.”

“By supporting our retailers and community groups through funding the Christmas collective, we aim to show off all that’s on offer here in Melbourne and promote our city’s hidden gems.”

She said they are expecting the Christmas Festival program to attract record numbers into the city centre.

Christmas Projections at State Library, Melbourne Town Hall and Princes Bridge, November 29 to December 25.

Santa’s House at Federation Square, November 30 to December 21.

Christmas Compass VR at Melbourne Town Hall Visitor Hub, November 30 to December 24.

Gingerbread Village by Epicure at Level 1 St Collins Lane, November 30 to December 24.

Gravy Day Sing-along at Federation Square, December 21.

For more information on the City of Melbourne Christmas Festival 2019, visit melbourne.vic.gov.au/christmas

Docklands Representative Group Christmas Event - Thursday, December 12, 5pm - 7pm, Library at the Dock.

Celebrate Christmas alongside your fellow Docklanders as the Docklands Representative Group (DRG) hosts a fun and relaxing event for the entire family, which will feature music, childrens’ activities, a barbecue and even a visit from Santa!

Community groups, including the likes of Docklands Rotary, Alma Doepel, Mission to Seafarers and Love Our Streets 3008, will also be in attendance offering locals the opportunity to tap into their local community! For more information email [email protected]