Spreading Christmas cheer in Lara

Christmas in Lara's Meagan Andrews, Lily Brown and Gemma Kelly at Lara Sporting Club Recreation Reserve. (Ivan Kemp) 450181_05

Christmas in Lara is back for its third year of family fun and to help raise awareness and funds for Clifton Springs charity Wombat’s Wish.

Lara Sporting Club Recreation Reserve will host the free event from 4pm on Friday, December 20, with the main concert starting at 6.30pm.

Lara Sporting Club general manager and Christmas in Lara chair Brendon Chavasse said Christmas in Lara had “quickly become Lara’s largest community event”.

“It’s an event where we could get people out of their homes onto a single oval and just have a nice, relaxing, fun, and enjoyable afternoon,” he said.

“It’s important we had free kids’ entertainment, and we centred it around a stage for a couple of hours and each year we team up with a local charity.

“We have a plethora of kids’ entertainment including jumping castles, face painting, bubbles, giant Transformers walking around, roving entertainers on stilts and jugglers. So, it’s a really great day.”

Mr Chavasse said he loved “seeing the kids’ faces” during the event and that he looked forward to raising awareness for Wombat’s Wish, which supports young people through the death of a parent.

“Wombat’s Wish are going to have volunteers out on the day, and we expect to raise several $1000 for them at the event,” he said.

“I’ve spoken to the elves, and they’ve told me that Santa is making a special visit for us. So, he’ll get up to do a bit of a song and dance as well.”

People unable to attend the event can still donate to Wombat’s Wish at wombatswish.org.au