Mount Gambier City Council’s Youth Week kicked off on Friday night with a fun launch party at the Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre.

The theme was semi-formal, black, gold and white and attendees received a tasty mocktail on arrival.

There was plenty of entertainment including glitter tattoos, live illustrations by Rene Veno, a neon room under UV lights, sumo wrestling, live DJ music and a special performance from MJ Dance studio.

Children and Youth Services coordinator Kelly Lynch said the launch party was about celebrating youth while kicking off the Youth Week program.

“We just wanted to celebrate youth with the Youth Week,” she said.

“It’s hard to be young, it’s hard to mingle, we probably all look back on our youth and think it was great, we’d be back there any day rather than working every day.

“But there’s a whole myriad of issues and challenges in today’s world.

“What I’m trying to teach young people that I come in contact with is if you do just have a little bit of bravery and do put yourself out there a tiny bit, quickly you will see there’s lots of rewards in that.

“Let’s highlight, celebrate and really say we see you, we value you, we are here to support you, this is a community that cares about its youth.”

There is lots coming up, from presentations by local entrepreneurs to charge-up arvos with community visitors and a green screen session on Sunday.

The charge-up arvos, which are happening until Friday, will have free coffee and snacks and visitors include Nick from Headspace, Don from Confessions and sexual and women’s health nurse Carolyn.

Speakers at presentations include mental health advocate Kyra Sykes, ScRoll Queen founder Dylan McQueen, The Nourish Nook owner and manager Jo Hodges and A’el Este founder Ashlee Lauren.

Bookings are essential for presentations.

Visit discovermountgambier.com.au or contact 8721 2540 to book and for event details.