Bunbury set to be full of action this summer with new event guide to get the most out of holidays

Bunbury is set to be full of action this summer with a new event guide aiming to help residents and travellers get the most out of their warm holiday months. The newly release Summer Lovin’ program features the City of Bunbury’s hallmark summer events: Christmas in the City on December 8 and Skyfest on January 26. It also includes sunset markets at Koombana Bay on December 7, January 4 and February 1 as well as the Summertime Blues festival on January 18, a Chinese Lantern Riddle Trail between January 4 and 18, and the Surf Life Saving WA country championships on January 25 and 26. Place and activation officer Justise Woods said community groups in Bunbury had a range of events to compliment the City’s main attractions. While her favourite event was Skyfest, Ms Woods said Bunbury Fringe and the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre also had good offerings this year with their programs already released. “For me it’s just activating the CBD and activating Bunbury — it’s a beautiful location, and a lot of people don’t know about it,” she said. “Bringing in everyone, bringing in our community, bringing that community feel, because everyone’s so spread out in Bunbury ... so bringing them all into one space is amazing.” Mayor Jaysen Miguel said he too was looking forward to Skyfest and the citizenship awards morning the most, but admitted his son young Cooper would likely enjoy the Christmas events too. “Having a program of events is just great,” Mr Miguel said. “There’s so much stuff on, and this stuff happens all the time, by bringing it all together (it means) people have an easy place to see what’s going on — there’s no excuse to be going ‘what’s on?’ and ‘there’s nothing to do’. “We know a lot of people have time off through school holidays and then obviously through the (Christmas and New Year) break there as well, so it’s a great opportunity to get around with the family and bringing your friends and family down at Koombana and celebrate this amazing space that we have.” Christmas in the City will this weekend see more than 30 community floats roll through Bunbury’s CBD, spreading Christmas cheer with rumours Santa Claus will make an appearance. The event starts from 4pm and will run until 8.30pm, with carols starting on the Graham Bricknell Music Shell stage from 6.30pm. It is the first of two holiday cheer events provided by the City, with the local government also supporting the annual Dunstan Street Christmas lights display. It will see one-way traffic only on the street — with the entry and exit along Hastie Street — from December 22 to December 24. On December 22 there will be Christmas carols at 48 Dunstan Street for all to enjoy from 7pm for free.