Winter wonderland theme hits Balmain

Barring a particularly fierce cold front, it won’t be a truly white Christmas. But for the Balmain Rozelle Chamber of Commerce, the idea of ‘Christmas in July’ has a certain logical attraction.

“The idea is to get people out and about within the community,” said Festival Co-ordinator Sandy Jackson. “There are a lot of unique independent retailers and shops up and down Darling Street, and one of the main aims of the Chamber is to support those guys and keep that strip shopping vibrant and healthy – and also to keep people on the peninsula.

“It also helps keep people on the peninsula during the summer holidays – there’s other stuff happening that isn’t Christmas-themed, but winter-themed, in the city, and we didn’t want to replicate that. I’ve heard from expats that they’re really supportive – there is that kind of romantic European thing about it – but a lot of Australians have also said it’s quite a good theme.”

Jackson said the idea was initially conceived by a local resident, who put a small funding proposal into Council for fairy lights in Gladstone Park, with Council passing the notion on to the Chamber.

Christmas in July will take place over four days during the school holidays, from Thursday, July 15, to Sunday the 18th. Events will be centred in Balmain’s Gladstone Park, with an ice rink taking pride of place, but plenty of other free activities will also be on offer, including sports and games, indoor children’s craft, a jumping castle, face painting, carol singing and plenty of appropriate winter-themed food.

Events will also take place at Loyalty Square and Rozelle Public School, as well as along the length of Darling Street, while local businesses are also supporting the Festival with special offers, promotions and seasonal menus.