THE Bega Chamber of Commerce is going all-out for the festive season this year, holding a Christmas Carnivale on Thursday.
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Carp St will be closed between Auckland and Gipps St for most of the day as Bega celebrates Christmas with a street parade, stalls, entertainment and a stage for buskers.
The Carnivale will later move to Littleton Gardens where there will be carols, a visit from Santa and the Bega Bucks major prize draw worth $5000.
It’s the culmination of Bega Bucks, which has been running for over a month with a total prize pool of over $12,000.
Forty local businesses have been involved in the promotion, providing a raffle ticket for every $10 spent.
Vice-president of the Bega Chamber of Commerce John Watkin said the raffle ticket bin is almost overflowing.
“There’s been a great uptake of Bega Bucks this year and I think the draw is going to huge,” he said.
“We are very pleased to be able to close Carp St for this, there will be over 30 market stalls in the middle of the street, two jumping castles and we are setting up a stage for buskers at the end of Church St.
“The Carnivale will start at lunchtime and there will be lots of food stalls, including cakes, the Lions Club barbecue and Hard-Core Carnivore.”
In September the Chamber of Commerce held a street fair in Ayres Walkaway with entertainment and stalls, which was a huge success, attracting over 2000 people (BDN 1/10).
This time the chamber has been able to secure the closure of Carp St, ensuring the Carnivale will be even bigger and better.
Mr Watkin said carols are set to begin in Littleton Gardens at 6.30pm and the Bega Bucks major prize draw at 7.30pm.
“I think excitement is building, it’s going to be a fantastic day,” Mr Watkin said.