Christmas is coming early for South West town as a community favourite gala gears up for grand return

Christmas is coming early to a South West town next month as the community’s favourite gala makes its grand return.

More than 1000 people are expected gather in Harvey on December 6 as the Christmas Gala lights up Uduc Road from 5.30-9.30pm.

The town centre will be packed with family festive fun, as local stall holders set up shop to sell last-minute gifts.

With live music, food vans, the Lions train and a chocolate wheel offering a range of prizes, there will be something for everyone at this year’s event.

There have even been reports North Pole’s very own Santa Claus will be making a special visit to the community during the event.

The gala is being hosted by the Lions Club of Harvey, with the support of the shire and donations from Albemarle, Alcoa, Monark Transport, B Versaci, Alsan Sweeping & Scrubbing, HavCon Engineering and Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke.

This year was also the first time a dedicated committee had been formed to make the event bigger and better, while still being free for the community.

Committee member Anne Scaserra said the street party had roots as far back as the 1980s.

She was excited to be working with the Lions Club to bring the event to the community once again.

“This has been going since the 80s, so it’s tradition,” Ms Scaserra said.

“Events like this lighten that inner child in people and I always tell my children, magic doesn’t have an expiry date.”

Fellow committee member Elizabeth Hewer said the event had strong support from donors, with the committee dedicated to making sure everyone could attend.

“We don’t want families, who know Christmas is an expensive time of the year, to stay at home because they think it’s going to cost a million dollars,” she said.

“We’ll have food vans, or a sausage sizzle, and we have free face painting, as is the Lions train

“We want to keep this in the community and keep it Christmas.”

Mrs Hewer said there would also be a competition for the children with the best Christmas outfit and local businesses will be competing to have the best decorated shop in town.