Christmas is coming: community trees for Woodburn and Coraki, carols canned in Kyogle because of risk

ABOVE:  Children enjoying a Kyogle Christmas. Photo: Susanna Freymark

Coraki and Woodburn will feel the Christmas cheer this year with Richmond Valley council putting up a six metre high community Christmas tree in each village.

The council also confirmed the Community Christmas Festival Calendar which will run from Thursday, December 2 to Sunday, December 19.

The tree lightups will coincide with the Woodburn Carols by Candlelight on Saturday December 11 in Riverside Park and the Coraki Christmas Markets on Saturday, December 18 in Memorial Park.

The Christmas Street Party and Tree Lightup in Casino happens on Thursday, December 2 in the CBD.

The Evans Head Christmas Tree Lightup will take place on Tuesday, December 7 in front of the council’s administration building.

 

Other Christmas events include:

• Casino Lions Christmas Carols, Friday, December 3 at Colley Park

• Evans Head Rotary Christmas Parade and Carols, Sunday, December 12 in Evans Head CBD and surf club

• Casino Golf Club Christmas Markets, Sunday, December 12 at the golf club grounds

• Casino RSM Community Christmas Carols, Sunday, December 19 at the RSM Club

Richmond Valley Council’s Angela Jones encouraged businesses to “get in on the act by decorating their shop fronts and staying open throughout the festivities.”

Ms Jones said patience and hard work had allowed the celebrations to happen in a covid-safe way.

Council’s Events team was planning for two different scenarios in case NSW didn’t reach the 95% double vaccination rate before December 15, she said.

At the moment, those who are not fully vaccinated cannot attend outdoor events. All people over the age of 16 years are required to provide proof of vaccination status, or exemption, to attend events being held pre-December 15.

Richmond Valley LGA sits at 86.4% fully vaccinated.

Kyogle Lions Club announced they were cancelling Carols by Candlelight.

With the covid restrictions around unvaccinated people not allowed to attend outdoor functions the risk of very large fines for the event organiser is too great a risk for us to proceed, the club said.