Christmas Festival and Pageant bought festive cheer to town

Christmas spirit was contagious in the Albany CBD on Saturday as people came from across the region for the city’s annual Christmas Festival and Pageant.

Rather than floats travelling along York Street, it was the pageant-goers who were on the move this year, visiting static displays in a change designed to protect the community from COVID-19.

Father Christmas was the centre of attention, but even he was not immune to COVID-19, with children forced to stand near him rather than sit on his lap or have a hug.

The festival featured the Christmas Twilight Markets hosted by Green Skills in the Town Square, a gift fair in the redeveloped Town Hall and a series of lane activations.

“It was great to see the community able to come together over the weekend to enjoy the festivities of the Christmas Festival and Pageant in a COVID-safe way,” Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington said.

“The Twilight Markets, laneway activations and static float display were all very popular and it was great to see the reopened Town Hall bustling for the Artisan Gift and Designer Fair and exhibition in the gallery.

“To think back in March we weren’t even sure we would be in a position to have a Christmas community event at all, it was great to be able to put on such a fantastic festival this weekend.”