A forest of Christmas trees, created by local Bangalow community groups will go on display in Bangalow’s Uniting Church from Sunday.
Following a visit to England Corinne Nash has inspired the first Christmas Tree Festival in Bangalow that will start with outdoor carols in the Uniting Church car park on Station Street from 5pm before the official ‘cutting of the tinsel’ on Sunday, 18 December at 6.15pm.
‘Towns and villages across the UK have held festivals like this for years, providing connections in the communities so we felt the Northern Rivers could do with a Christmas tree festival,’ Ms Nash said.
The CWA, Bangalow Public School, Bangalow Men’s Shed, Red Cross, Bangalow Koalas, The Police Station, Bangalow Anglican Church, Feros Bangalow, Bangalow Medical Centre, Mirabelle Preschool and Bangalow Uniting Church have all created a Christmas tree for the exhibition style festival.
The Uniting Church’s Rev Phil Dokmanovic said Christmas trees are a universal part of the festive season.
‘I love that the Christmas trees on display are so different – one looks a bit like a Christmas tree-shaped bookshelf,’ he said. ‘You can stand the ornaments in it. Others show wonderful creativity, homemade crafts and even LEGO. There is also an insight into our collective experience with natural disasters across the Northern Rivers this year.
‘These glorious trees say so much about their creators, and the community groups eagerly accepted our invitation to create a tree. We are inviting everyone from across the Northern Rivers region to come and see this unique festival and to enjoy celebrating at this special time of year.’
The trees will be on display from Sunday, December 18 to Friday, December 23 in Bangalow’s old heritage-listed Uniting Church between 6 and 8pm. On the final night of the festival, Friday, December 23, Santa is expected to make an appearance.
