NOTHING was getting in the way of this year’s Wentworth Christmas Eve Street Party after organisers had to cancel the event in 2020.
Christmas Eve is set to be a big one in the small township with a line-up of entertainment and activities, ending in a fireworks display over the river.
One of the event coordinators David Tunkin said it had been all hands on deck getting the event back up and running.
He said in more than 10 years, last year was the first time the event had not run due to COVID-19.
“We got started in August so we were a couple of months behind the eight-ball, but we were adamant we wanted to go ahead,” Mr Tunkin said.
“We were unsure about the fireworks display until Sydney Harbour said they were going ahead which gave us a lot more confidence that we’d be able to pull it off.”
From 6pm on December 24, Darling Street will be closed to traffic to make way for live music, jumping castles, face painting and many other free activities.
“There’s a treasure hunt for the children with small cash prizes and a games section that will go from 6.30pm to 7.30pm where the kids will be doing various racing games.”
Santa and his helpers will arrive about 8.15pm with the committee to host a barbeque dinner with shops and eateries also open along Darling Street.
For adults there will be country music, a poets corner and raffle prizes, with the fireworks display kicking off at 9.30pm from the Rowing Club lawns.
Mr Tunkin said those involved were incredibly proud of the event and he expected many from Mildura to make the trip across the river to attend.
“You don’t see a lot of small country towns getting this sort of event put on,” he said.
“While we get assistance from council, it’s mainly put on by local people fundraising, so they have a greater sense of ownership to that.”
The event now sits within the newly created Wentworth Regional Community Project Association Incorporated and has a new committee of 18.
“The other committee had done an amazing job for many many years and had given up their Christmas’ for eight or nine years,” Mr Tunkin said.
“So it was just time for them to have a break and for new people to take it on.”
