Christmas Street Party

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Santa arrives at the Christmas Street Party
Christmas Performers

The Orange Christmas Street Party was first held in 1997 to stimulate economic development in the Summer Street CBD which had several vacant shops at the time. The event was targeted at families living in the Orange region and designed to restore interest and patronage in Orange’s main retail sector.

The event was organised by Council staff under the direction of Cr Brenda Davies and provided free entertainment for all age groups to celebrate the Christmas festive season. Orange City Council financed the event as a gift to the community.In-kind sponsorship was sourced from various businesses and organisations to provide publicity, equipment and nationally recognised personalities as a drawcard to the event.

Over the years two companies (Elm Financial Services and The Vines Estate) provided sufficient sponsorship funds to be given ‘naming rights’ over a total of four years, but the majority of sponsorship has come from in-kind assistance. Additional sponsorship from JR Richards & Sons was received to provide a fireworks display.

In the first few years stall holders were provided with space at the event at no cost, although a small fee was eventually charged to cover administration costs. Community groups and service clubs use the event to hold fundraising activities such as food stalls and chocolate wheels. Orange City Council staff members volunteered their time to assist during the event and were involved with crowd control, entertainment, precinct decoration, and liaising with stallholders and the public.

In 2007 the economic situation in Summer Street had improved and several businesses in the main CBD had indicated they would prefer to see the event moved to a park or open area, so the event was moved to Robertson Park and Byng Street. This resulted in a much easier event to manage and more enjoyable for the public as the activities were confined to a smaller area. Difficulties with the event in the past have involved both the weather and anti-social behaviour. The event has been affected by rain on four occasions.

In 2003 and 2008 the event was transferred to the Orange Function Centre, but after the 2008 event it was determined that holding it at the Function Centre was not a viable alternative and in future, if it rained, the event would be cancelled. In 2004 the Function Centre was not available and the event was cancelled outright.

In 2005 the event commenced but a heavy downpour during the evening contributed to the failure of the proposed Guinness World Record for the Most People Doing the Twist, as the expected number of participants did not eventuate.

Anti-social behaviour has seriously marred the event on several occasions, although an increased presence of police and security has helped to minimise the disturbance in recent years. In 2009 it was observed that the increased emphasis on family participation, accompanied by the inclusion of the Carols by Candlelight event, and the smaller event precinct contributed to fewer incidences of anti-social and disruptive behaviour at the event.

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