Penrith gets into Christmas spirit

George Asciak, aka Santa Claus, outside his home in Colyton. Photo: Melinda Jane
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Christmas is just around the corner, so grab your friends and family and let the Weekender take you for a ride with the best Christmas lights in town.

We’ve been checking our list twice to ensure we have all of the must-see homes in the community and to help you find out where the man in the red suit will be appearing before the big night.

Penrith has switched on the magic of Christmas this year as dazzling displays light up each evening.

Colyton resident George Asciak, who has been Santa Claus for the past 16 years, invites the community to come down to his mesmerising display at 7 Arcadia Place.

“I normally start preparing the lights in September with my two sons Mark and Luke and Mrs Claus, Cathy my wife, gives me a hand too as well as my two grandchildren,” he said.

“Everyone knows me around Colyton. I’ll walk up the street and people will say ‘how’s it going Santa?’. Someone came up to me at Bunnings asking me if I’m ready for Christmas, I said I sure am!”

Mr Asciak has worked as Santa all over the state, taking photos and bringing smiles to thousands of children’s faces each year.

This year, he will be appearing every night at his home from Tuesday, December 18 at 8pm until midnight, until Christmas Eve.

“On the 22nd I’m coming in early at 7pm in a tri-bike and I’ll have about 60 bikes behind me, on the 19th and 21st we’ll have the St Marys Fire Brigade from 9pm and on the 23rd and 24th, my next door neighbour races the smash up cars from Parramatta Speedway, so they’ll be on display,” Mr Asciak said.

In previous years, Mr Asciak has raised over $6000 for Westmead Children’s Hospital and over $3000 for Nepean Hospital. He will fundraise this year, too.

There are many fantastic displays to see, check out:
• 3 and 4 Troon Cct, Glenmore Park
• 12 Carpenter St, Colyton
• 16 Robyn Ave, South Penrith
• 74 Warbler St, Erskine Park
• 71 Bottlebrush Dr, Cranebrook
• 19, 21 and 23 Pembroke St, Cambridge Park
• 282 Eighth Ave, Llandilo
• 7 Arcadia Pl, Colyton
• 12 Concorde Pl, St Clair
• 39 Dungara Cres, Glenmore Park
• 25 Fernandez Lane, Penrith

Nicola Barton

A graduate of Western Sydney University, Nicola Barton is a news journalist with the Western Weekender, primarily covering crime and politics.


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