Community spirit in Christmas events

A range of community-focussed Christmas events kick off in Hamilton this week with the annual Low Cost Living Christmas Expo.

The Expo, to be held this Friday (9 November) at Western Community Centre, is a joint initiative between Hamilton City Council, Ministry of Social Development, Te Rapakau Pacific Trust, Hamilton Permaculture Trust and New Zealand Federation of Budgeting Services. The expo runs from 10am to 12pm.

Andy Mannering, Hamilton City Council’s Neighbourhood Development Team Leader, says Christmas can be a difficult time for some families, so the Low Cost Living Christmas Expo aims to offer simple solutions to keeping within festive budgets.

“We’ve got a great range of organisations involved, and their representatives will be providing some ideas on everything from saving money on your power bill to card-making, gardening and making Christmas treats,” Mr Mannering says.

Mr Mannering says the Community Development team is also involved in a number of other Community Christmas Events across the city from 29 November.

The eight different events include music, DJs, and carol singing, bouncy castles and rides, and are held at parks and locations with existing facilities such as skateboard bowls, netball and basketball courts and playgrounds.

“The Community Christmas Events are really family-focussed, and we work with a number of community groups and schools to make them safe, fun and free,” Mr Mannering says.

Community Christmas Events:
• 29 November; St Andrews (St Andrews Middle School) 4-6pm
• 5 December; Fairfield (Fairfield Park) 4-6pm
• 7 December; North East (Grosvenor Park) 5-9pm
• 11 December; Crawshaw (Crawshaw Park) 6-8pm
• 14 December; Enderley (Enderley Park) 4-8pm
• 15 December; Central (Garden Place)  11am-3pm
• 16 December; Flagstaff (Flagstaff Park) 2-8pm