Rockingham Beach Foreshore gets festive for annual Christmas festival

The City of Rockingham’s annual Christmas Festival has kicked off the holiday season and lit up the Rockingham Beach foreshore for another year.

On Saturday, the City hosted a sensory-friendly Santa experience at the Gary Holland Community Centre to provide families with neurodiverse needs a relaxed encounter with Mr Claus himself.

Rockingham Mayor Deb Hamblin said she and the City wanted to create a “safe, family-friendly environment” for all community members attending.

The festival itself later kicked off with stage entertainment from Wadumbah Dance, South Coast Baptist College, Secret Harbour Primary School, and Kim Stolen Music. Community members jostled for prime position to watch the popular Christmas Street Parade.

More than 30 groups paraded from the Village Green to Churchill Park, followed by the switching on of the Christmas lights along Churchill Park, the Beach Plaza and the Lookout.

“The annual Christmas festival is one of the most popular events in the City’s Summer Series and is a great way to herald in the festive season,” Cr Hamblin said.

“The lights at the foreshore will remain in place until Australia Day 2022, so if you didn’t get the chance to see them at the Christmas festival there will be plenty of opportunities to do so over the holiday period.”

The Rockingham Christmas Festival is the first of six major events in the City’s Summer Series. For more information, visit rockingham.wa.gov.au/events-culture-and-tourism/events/summer-series.