The 22^nd Prolop Light Up Leeton Christmas carnival concert will be held in Mountford Park on Sunday, December 10.

Visit Light Up Leeton online to register your home for this year’s Christmas light tours

Light Up Leeton chairman Carl King said the evening would follow the usual format, starting with the Rotary ham carnival from 4pm to 6pm and the Christmas concert kicking off at 6pm with the arrival of Santa, Mrs Claus and his many helpers, then musical proceedings will commence with songs by Vanessa Jennings.

“People are starting to talk about it already and ask questions,” Mr King said.

“The concert is looking good. Julie (Maytom) is well underway with it. There’s a good variety of acts, from the schools and dance schools.”

Volunteers are now being sought to help out as the costumed helpers.

“We’re looking for kids of all ages and adults to dress up,” Mr King said.

“The costumes are provided. We will have try-on days where people will be able to try on the costumes on November 27 and December 5, from 4pm to 5.30pm at the Jockey Club.”

Entrants in the SunRice Festival ambassador quest will be able to conduct their fund-raising at the festival in the park. Light Up Leeton will again have an entrant this year, Isabella Mercuri, who will host a stall.

The entire shire is encouraged to get involved with Christmas festivities, even as simply as putting up one string of lights, or one illuminated decoration.

“Solar lights keep the costs down and you don’t have to have a lot of lights,” Mr King said.

“The improvement in solar lighting over the years makes it reasonable to be involved and give enjoyment to the kids who do like to go around and look at all the houses.”

The Lions train will again be providing tours of the lights after December 10 with bookings on 6953 3777.

The Santas have been placed on verandahs in the main street and bunting went up this week.

Mr King also hoped to have completed the installation of his committee’s major project this week – lighting of the large pine tree in Chelmsford Place, opposite the Roxy.

“We’ve got the lights and hopefully on Wednesday morning we’ll be putting them up,” he said last week.

“It’s not a straight Christmas light so it can be used at other times of the year.”

The lights will follow the branch lines externally and be timed to come on at dusk.

“There is 200 metres of lights, which should give us approximately 12 strands coming down,” Mr King said. “The individual lights are about 40cm apart.

“We’ll be sending out some letters to business houses in the main street and to service clubs to help pay for the lights. They’ll be about $12,000 all up. Light Up Leeton will put in half.

“We’ll even ask families if they want to help out. We’ll have donation boxes and they can “buy” a light. We’ll be running a raffle in conjunction with it as well.

“We feel it’s adding to the spectacle of the main street. It’s not just for Christmas time, it can also be used during the SunRice Festival, the band spectacular, art deco festival.

“If there is anything happening in town, we’re happy to have the tree lit up.

“We hope it will complement the lights at the Roxy as well. They are not just Christmas lights; they are community lights.”

ONE major change to the Light Up Leeton Christmas Concert will be a new master of ceremonies.

The concert’s inaugural MC, Seb Spina, has decided to pass on the baton.

“We do have a new MC this year,” Light Up Leeton chairman Carl King said. 

“I’d like to thank Mr Spina for his service. He’s been doing it for 22 years, but missed a couple of years when he was overseas. He has been an integral part of proceedings.”

The MC role will be filled by another well-known Leeton resident, Travis Irvin.