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The "official" start to Christmas celebrations in the shire will take place this weekend with the 2019 Light Up Leeton Christmas carnival and concert.
This year marks the 24th Light Up Leeton and Mountford Park will again be packed with Christmas and community cheer from 4pm on Sunday, December 1.
Light Up Leeton chairman Carl King said with all the committee's plans in place, he is hoping the previous 23 years without rain on concert night will continue.
The carnival will commence with the chance to win one of 90 hams on the Rotary spinning wheel. The five SunRice Festival Ambassador entrants will host stalls, plus an additional 20 community groups that benefit from fundraising on the night through their own stalls and amusements.
Prior to the concert Nicole Onwuekwe will entertain with some Christmas songs, followed by the arrival of Santa and Mrs Claus at 6pm.
"They have opted again for a three-wheeled motorbike for the grand entrance at 6pm," Mr King said.
"Santa and Mrs Claus will dance on stage to kick off the concert, with Bella Body & Soul dancers and some of the special characters that the kids love, like B1 and B2, and Peppa Pig.
"There will be the usual variety at the concert, with lots of dancing and singing."
Concert conveyor Julie Maytom said the community was again keen to show its talents.
"The community concert is the drawcard for the Christmas carnival and is such a success because of the high-quality performances from such a wide range of the community," she said.
"We will have the usual schools, highland dancing and ballet schools, along with some featured performers."
Kids activities, such as Lions train rides, the merry-go-round, face painting and food stalls will continue to operate while the concert takes place.
A bus tour of the shire's lights will be held at the end of the concert, at a cost of $2 per person, which will be donated to the Yanco Wamoon Rural Fire Service. As there is only one bus the tour will be run on a first in, best dressed basis.
"The support of Pat Lyons, Peter Celi and Richard Lyons Bus Services has been invaluable to the opening night of Light Up Leeton over many years," Mr King said.
Major sponsor Prolop Tree Removals has again been on hand to support the committee as it sets up for Light Up Leeton, helping install decorations around the town as well as on top of the Mountford Park stage.
Leeton Business Chamber is conducting a lights and decoration competition for business houses throughout the shire. First prize is a $100 voucher from Charley's Bar and Restaurant, and a $50 voucher for second.
"A number of businesses throughout the CBD and industrial areas go to a lot of trouble and detail into lighting up their windows and premises," Mr King said.
All money raised by the Leeton Up Leeton committee goes back to the community in the form of lights and decorations for the town.
Over the years the committee has purchased a huge variety of banners, bunting, silhouettes, wooden cut-outs, decorations, backdrops and lights to help decorate Leeton.
Mr King encouraged all households and businesses to get involved by lighting up with Christmas decorations, even something as simple as putting up one string of lights, or one illuminated decoration.
Lights can be registered at www.lightupleeton.org.