Christmas spirit alive in Albany CBD as the festive season begins

It’s the most wonderful time of year again.

With Christmas just around the corner the community spirit is coming alive.

This was on full display at last week’s annual Christmas Festival and Pageant.

Even though things looked a bit different this year with static displays rather than a travelling convoy, Albany’s CBD was full of Christmas cheer.

The sight of York Street closed off on Saturday was a stark contrast to the normal hustle and bustle.

Pageant-goers had the freedom to walk anywhere at their leisure, enjoying aerial acrobatics, artistic laneway activations and cultural dancing by the Kwongkan Middars.

Christmas carols jingled through the air from the big speakers placed intermittently along York Street.

Father Christmas was the star of the show, as expected, and families were still able to get their cherished photo with the jolly fat man.

However, even he was not immune to COVID-19, with children having to stand near him rather than sit on his lap or have a hug.

The festival also featured the Artisan and Designer Gift Fair and the Christmas Twilight Markets with an abundance of stalls from creatives across the region hoping their wares might make a nice Christmas gift.

In the context of global anxiety about COVID-19, we are in a part of the world lucky enough to still host these types of events even if they have to be modified.

The pageant didn’t reach its usual heights of festive fanfare, but it was a whole lot better than nothing.

Credit must go to the City of Albany for deciding to go ahead with it, rather than putting it in the too-hard basket.

It gave everyone some wholesome family fun as we move towards hopefully a much more positive year in 2021.