Experience a white Christmas in Canberra. Photo: BBR Agency.
Why wait until December to get into the festive spirit when you can experience it in winter?
Eat, drink and be merry at the annual Christmas in July Festival.
This year marks the third year of the festival in Canberra and festival director Vincent Hernandez says he has high hopes for attendance this year.
“When we first started in 2022, we had around 50,000 people through the door, which was pretty impressive for the first year,” Vincent says.
“Then last year it got even better – around 65,000 people showed up, which was just amazing to see.
“We’re hoping that people will not only come back again this year but bring their friends and family for a great few days.”
Vincent says that after a few successful years running the four-day event in Sydney, bringing the festival to Canberra felt like the next logical step.
“Canberra is obviously very cold in the winter. There are also plenty of embassies around, meaning there are lots of people from around Europe who might be missing a white Christmas, and that’s what we wanted to bring them.”
The festival will take place across four festive evenings with plenty of activities, entertainment, food, and drink to warm you up and bring the festive season to winter in Australia.
“We have got plenty on for the whole family; we’ve got around 80 exhibitors, 15 different musical and dancing acts, as well as plenty of European-style food and drinks on offer.”
The entertainment is set to include the music of Canberra band Code Red on opening night, the acapella tones of The Faumuis and the smooth jazz tunes of the Spectrum Big Band will entertain the audience on Friday, a performance of the Nutcracker on Saturday and Sunday will consist of music by rock band the Baker Boys Band and plenty more.
Be sure to indulge your taste buds with the huge selection of different food options, from arancini balls, German-inspired hot dogs, traditional gnocchi, seafood, crepes, cheese raclette and much more.
Warm up with hot cocktails crafted with Sheep Dog peanut butter whiskey, mulled wine and the most delicious hot chocolate prepared with Bonne Maman hazelnut chocolate spread.
Book in advance for some quality time by one of the 25 wood fire pits complete with mulled wine and all the marshmallows you can toast to make sure you unwind and relax in comfort.
Vincent says the event will not only be a treat for the taste buds and the ears but also that he and his team have gone to extra lengths to make sure it feels like a real white Christmas.
“We think kids and adults are going to love the snow that we are going to have cascading over huge Christmas trees and beautiful fairy lights. It’s going to be just gorgeous to look at and experience.”
The Christmas in July festival will be running from 4 pm to 10 pm on Thursday, 27 June, from 10 am to 11 pm on Friday and Saturday, and from 10 am to 8 pm on Sunday, with low sensory hours with less noise and lights between 10 am and 12 pm each day.
The festival will take place on the Parkes Place Lawns, for more information visit Christmas in July.
Original Article published by Jacqueline Lyons on Riotact.
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