The festive season will come alive tomorrow as the community gathers to light Penrith’s 30-foot Christmas tree.
The man in the red suit will be on hand to mark the occasion alongside some other special guest characters.
The evening is set to light up the night as fun activities and entertainment signify the beginning of everyone’s favourite time of year.
Penrith CBD Corporation CEO, Gai Hawthorn, said the event is a great opportunity for families to come together, support local businesses and enjoy the magic of Christmas.
“Lots of people know each other in Penrith, but we all live such busy lives, so it’s events like this that really bring the community together and let you run into all the people you know and their families,” she said.
“It’s all about creating that anticipation and excitement that the next day is the start of December, something that gets the kids really excited.”
The night will see a variety of activities and entertainment including photos, market stalls and food trucks as well as carols and an ‘Elf on the Shelf’ Pantomime performed by PAWS.
Last year’s event welcomed 12,000 locals and Ms Hawthorn said they are expecting a similar figure for Friday night’s celebrations.
“There will be singing and dancing and characters, the little ones just love it, it’s a really great way to interact with the crowd,” she said.
“There will be so much local talent and carols, it’s going to be a really good atmosphere.”
The Rotary Club of Penrith Valley will be selling raffle tickets with all proceeds going towards Penrith Community Kitchen.
“It’s a fantastic time year after year, the community really get behind it too, it’s great to have initiatives like these to give back to local businesses and not-for-profits,” Ms Hawthorn said.
The festivities will commence on Friday, November 30 from 5pm and run through the evening at Memory Park.
The lights of the Christmas tree will be turned on at around 8pm.
“We couldn’t pull the event off without Penrith City Council, setting up the park for us, bringing in the extra bins and helping us with road closures. We are so grateful for their continued support,” Ms Hawthorn said.
Nicola Barton
A graduate of Western Sydney University, Nicola Barton is a news journalist with the Western Weekender, primarily covering crime and politics.