Tree-mendous response to Christmas in Ipswich festivities
24 January 2024
More than 80,000 people are estimated to have attended a diverse range of 2023 Christmas in Ipswich events and New Year’s Eve festivities across the city.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said festive celebrations delivered by council and a range of community groups drew crowds from Rosewood to Redbank Plains and every community in between.
“The centrepiece of Ipswich’s celebrations was again the transformation of our city’s emerging heart, the Nicholas Street Precinct, into the popular St Nicholas Precinct over 10 fantastic evenings in December,” Mayor Harding said.
“There was just short of 50,000 patrons through the St Nicholas Precinct to witness with more than 240 individual performers taking to the stage. More than 80 per cent of these acts were local talent in what was a fuller Christmas program than the year before.
“An initiative I was particularly pleased to see in this year’s program was the priority viewing nights for our St Nicholas Precinct light installation for residents of aged care facilities and those with sensory needs.
“Christmas is all about community and this year’s program was full of local events and carols. Ipswich is an inclusive community, and the program was designed so as many people as possible could take part and celebrate.”
The annual City of Ipswich Christmas Lights Competition had 88 unmissable residential and shop front displays, which was up by 20 per cent on the previous year.
Community, Culture, Arts and Sport Committee Chairperson Councillor Andrew Fechner said the city’s Christmas program featured several low-cost events for residents including a free open-air movie screening in Tulmur Place.
“Ipswich residents and visitors revelled in amazing suburban light wonderlands, heart-warming community carols and finished with New Year’s Eve fireworks lighting up the skies at Chuwar, South Ripley, Ipswich Central and Springfield Central,” Councillor Fechner said.
“The city’s magnificent nine-metre-tall Christmas tree was lit with 8,600 fairy lights and more than 1,500 Letters to Santa were posted to the North Pole by Ipswich Libraries elves – a 50 per cent increase on the previous year,” he said.
Ipswich Central Redevelopment Committee Chairperson Councillor Marnie Doyle said the enormous number attendees at Christmas in Ipswich events provided a great economic benefit to the city.
“The benefits of these successful events ripple across the local economy, well beyond the actual event location,” Councillor Doyle said.
“Residents and visitors have shared their happy and joyous experiences at Christmas events in Ipswich with family, friends, and across social media.
“Some have had their first experience in the revitalised Nicholas Street Precinct and have been excited at what they’ve seen.
“For many businesses these events have provided some end-of-year ‘icing on the cake’ through increased sales and exposure to new customers who may have ‘discovered’ them during the event.
The Christmas in Ipswich program was delivered with the support of the following partners: Nine News Queensland, Stockland Providence, Energex, River 94.9, STRUD, Pet Mince Direct, Event Cinemas Springfield, Premier Queensland, Harvey Norman Booval and Choices Flooring by Mallets Ipswich.