Christmas Parade heralds festive season
Thousands of people lined the streets of Bunbury for the city’s annual Christmas Carnival and Parade on Sunday.
Attendance was up on last year as families flocked to the popular event, where they were entertained by a magician, face painters, a Christmas Craft Workshop and a children’s storyteller until the parade itself got rolling.
Hit Factory headlined the family concert, which included a variety of musical acts for all ages.
Families jumped at the chance to write a wish on a Japanese paper lantern, which were lit as part of a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Bunbury-Setagaya Sister City Partnership.
“By far the most popular event was the Japanese Lanterns,” City of Bunbury events officer Nardine Walford-Jones said.
“The installation was created by local artist Michael Robertson, who drew a large scale picture of a peace crane onto the pavement and then laid the lanterns over it.
“We’re looking forward to sending a framed photo of the glowing installation to the Mayor of Setagaya, who wrote his own wish on a lantern when he visited earlier this year.”
More than 30 floats took part in the parade, with the $1000 prize for most original going to Helen Gifford, who represented the local Christian churches.
Top Jazz Ballet won $500 as runner-up.
