On the first day of December, most families have begun to erect their Christmas trees and decorate their houses in Christmas cheer. Colourful lights hang from Gold Coast City balconies, flashing neon Christmas trees light up the windows in a red and green glow, and ‘Santa Stop Here’ signs take their place on the front lawn.
At Robina Town Centre, Santa Clause has come to town, bringing the Christmas spirit with him. Fairy lights scattered through the trees on the Promenade light the way to the enormous Christmas tree, adorned with flashing lights and volleyball-sized baubles. As you walk through the centre, large ornaments stand from floor to ceiling, and shopfronts are filled with tinsel and festive decorations. Santa has made himself at home in his Enchanted Forest, ready to hear Christmas wishes from Robina children who have been nice this year.
On Sunday night, Robina Group is proud to sponsor Carols Under the Stars at Skilled Park. The Fun Fair starts at 4pm and will provide entertainment for the whole family, with the Christmas carols beginning at 6pm. Bring a picnic rug and sit on the field, or make yourself comfortable in the grandstand.
Gold Coast City has been set alight with the Christmas Lights Competition, where residents, business operators and not for profit organisations are encouraged to light up their premises and enter the competition. All entrants will be assessed on visual appeal, uniqueness, safety and tidiness, overall impact, variety of decorations used, and energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. Have your say on the best Gold Coast City Christmas lights in the Good Guys People’s Choice Instagram competition. Simply snap a shot of your favourite house and upload it to Instagram, using the hashtag #gcsmaslights. The photo that gets the most number of likes will be declared the People’s Choice winner. The winning photographer receives $250 to spend at Good Guys, and the household wins $500.
To help you with your Christmas preparations, we’ve put together some handy hints for where to find your Christmas essentials in Robina.
Where to buy:
Christmas cake: Robina Lions Club
Robina Lions Club is selling Christmas cakes that the family is sure to enjoy on Christmas Day. Large 1.5kg cakes are available for $15 each, small 1kg cakes for $11 each, and 900gm Christmas puddings can be purchased for $11 each. The Lions Club Christmas Cakes are available at various outlets – visit robina.qld.lions.org.au to find the outlet closest to you.
Christmas tree: Kmart, Robina Town Centre
Kmart has reasonably-priced Christmas trees in all sizes, and offers a range of cheap Christmas tree ornaments. No matter the size of your budget, you can get into the Christmas spirit at Kmart. Check out Kmart’s range of trees and decorations online at kmart.com.au or visit Santa’s helpers in store at Robina Town Centre.
Christmas decorations: Myer, Robina Town Centre
Myer’s Christmas Trim Shop features an impressive range of Christmas decorations. If you’re after Bon Bons, hanging decorations, tinsel or special Christmas ornaments, Myer has what you’re looking for. Browse the range online at http://www.myer.com.au/shop/mystore/home/christmas-trim-shop or visit Myer at Robina Town Centre.
Robina Town Centre begins its extended Christmas trading hours from Sunday 1 December. For more information on the extended trading hours visit www.robinatowncentre.com.au
Where to see:
Christmas carols: Carols Under the Stars, from 4pm Sunday 1 December
There’s no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than by singing Christmas carols. Carols Under the Stars is a free event, proudly sponsored by Robina Group. The fun fair kicks off the celebrations at 4pm tonight with activities including face painting, make your own Christmas decorations, sports come and try activities and the RACQ Careflight chopper. At 6pm the Christmas carol entertainment begins! The Australian Army Band Brisbane will be performing, as well as Movie World’s ‘A Very Looney Christmas’ show. Sea FM’s Marea will MC the event, and Santa will join the festivities at 8pm to start the fireworks spectacular.
Print out the flyer here.
Santa: Santa’s Enchanted Forest
Get lost in Christmas magic at Santa’s Enchanted Forest, just outside Myer on level 3 at Robina Town Centre. Even the Grinch would enjoy this Enchanted Forest, where trees light up the Forest and deer and mushrooms scatter the ground. Kids can post letters to Santa through Santa’s Mailbox, or can get a photo with the merry man and share their Christmas wishes in person.
Christmas lights: Gold Coast City, from Friday 6 December
Gold Coast City’s Christmas Lights Competition has set the city alight, with dazzling displays along the coast. The list of entrants and winners is available online from Friday 6 December. Simply download the list, set your GPS and get your family in the car for your own Christmas lights tour. Alternatively, you can join one of the nightly bus tours operating from Friday 6 December to Tuesday 24 December. Buses depart from The Arts Centre Gold Coast nightly at 7pm, returning to The Arts Centre around 10pm. Bookings are essential, and you can book online. Online tickets are only $15.50 per person, and $10.50 for Children from 2 – 14 years old. $1 from each ticket sold will be donated to the 2013 Mayor’s Christmas Appeal.
Follow CBDRobina on Google+
