Alive nativity performance with a real infant playing the baby Jesus provided the ideal sentiment to herald the arrival of the festive season to Millicent.
The inaugural Christmas fair was a new community event held at the parklands surrounding the rotunda.
An initiative of the Millicent Combined Churches Association, the event was focused on families.
Santa’s arrival enticed a large gathering of families before hosts Rohan Battersby from Lime FM and Millicent community identity Bronwyn Barker introduced the first segment of the early evening performances.
Narrated by Lois Schwarz, key actors included Ruben van Eeden as Joseph, Priscilla as Mary and Daisy as the baby Jesus.
Presented by the Lutheran Church, the performance was supported by students from St. Anthony’s Catholic Primary School and the Catholic Parish Choir.
Students and the choir projected their voices from the rotunda singing classic Christmas carols matched to each of the scenes.
Among the festive classics included Joy to the World, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Away in a Manger, Silent Night, O Holy Night and O Come O Ye Faithful.
Other performances held in and around the town’s iconic attraction included a music showcase by Newbery Park Primary School students and brass band music by the Mount Gambier City and Salvation Army bands.
Bethel music performed by local musicians and community carols were also part of the programme.
Father Lyndon Sulzberger shared the inspiring Christmas message ‘Love came down’, and the event was brought to a close with a Christmas message from Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll.
Millicent Community Church senior pastor Shaun Mulick said it was a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas and community together.
“A big thank you to all the volunteers, stallholders, organisers, directors, conductors, actors and singers.”
“The heavy rain held off until 6.35pm after I loaded the last speaker back into the car.
“So I’ll count that a win too”.
Among those that assisted with staging the event were Wattle Range Council, LimeFM, Fosters Foodland, Millicent Toy Kingdom, Millicent Gymnastics Club, Millicent High School, Medical Clinic Millicent, Millicent Youth Hub and JWCreative.
