Carols a jolly good start to festive month

Christmas celebrations have begun in the Pilbara, with community parties, markets and carols in Dampier and Tom Price at the weekend signalling the start of a packed month of festivities.

In the City of Karratha, some 500 people braved humid weather on Sunday to attend the annual Carols by Glowlight event, organised by the Ministers’ Association of the West Pilbara, on Hampton Oval.

With only glowsticks lighting up the darkness, a number of community and school choirs took to the stage and led the audience in a singalong of Christmas favourites.

Welcoming the crowd, City of Karratha Mayor Peter Long said it was a special time of year.

“We all love Christmas. It’s just wonderful to get to the end of the year and to look forward to holidays... and of course the children love Christmas too,” he said.

“Christmas is about family, it’s about giving, it’s about love and forgiveness, and it’s about goodwill and thinking of others.”

In Tom Price, Santa Claus paid a visit to town at a community Christmas party on Saturday before families gathered at Tom Price Primary School the following evening for a night of carols.

Santa is due to visit Paraburdoo, Onslow and Pannawonica this weekend for a series of carols and Christmas parties.

Onslow’s festivities also include a Christmas float parade on Sunday evening. Other key Christmas events in Karratha include the volunteer firefighters’ beloved Santa lolly run, starting on Friday, Christmas on the Green in Wickham and Karratha next weekend, and Santa switching on the Sharpe Avenue lights on December 16.

In Exmouth, Carols by Starlight are on this Saturday at 7pm in Federation Park and Santa will be doing his regular drive around town with local firefighters on Monday, December 11.