Santa made an early Christmas visit to Bowral over the weekend, bringing smiles to hundreds of children's faces at the Corbett Gardens Wonderland events on Friday and Saturday nights.
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Backing up after the gala opening of the Festival of Lights on December 7, Santa was joined on stage by musicians and poets, and made himself available for photos with his young admirers.
Despite an approaching storm wrapping the Saturday night proceedings to a speedy end, organiser Michaela Balzan said that for the small group of local business owners, who have funded the project entirely on their own, the response from the public has been overwhelmingly positive.
"I had a call from a client this morning who said we are the number one topic at one of the local hair-dressing salons this week - people are saying it's the best thing to happen in the Highlands all year!" said Ms Bolzan, who runs Creative & Co.
"We knew, after nearly two very challenging years with Covid, people need joy, and a sense of hope in their lives and the festival is definitely providing this."
The two free family concerts were held among the lights with a diverse group of local performers, who all performed for free, starting with the female accapella singers from Women of Note, and ending with the indie rock group Squash J.
"We were aware that a storm was due at 10pm on Saturday night, so we managed to speed up the 10 minute technical breaks, to about three minutes, and made up about half an hour, so there was just time for the last act to finish and we cleared the gardens in record time just in time before the heavens opened up," Ms Bolazan said.
"They were two magical nights!"
Another of the organisers, Debra Blackah from Oxley Partners, said that the arrival last week of the first tour bus at the gardens showed that their goals had paid off.
"Yes, we produced this for our local community, we want to put a smile on Highlanders' faces, but there is a really positive economic advantage of holding events like this," said Ms Blackah.
"We have been encouraging people to buy takeaway from local restaurant and cafes and picnic under the lights - so there is a great economic knock on effect."
Southern Highland News reader Jeanette Newbury said she wandered into the gardens to see the lights on Saturday night, and stayed for hours.
"They had singers, poets and a great Indie band," she said.
"It was so nice to be outside on a balmy night after all this cold weather.
"Everyone was enjoying themselves and quite a big crowd.
"It was great to see kids running around playing and not limited to lockdown."
"It was just great to lift everyone's spirits and a credit to the people that performed and organised the event."
An appeal has been set up through the Southern Highlands Foundation to help cover costs for this year, and to grow it into the future.
Businesses and individuals are encouraged to donate at shfoundation.org.au
The Festival of Lights will continue every night under December 27.
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