A whole of community effort is bringing Christmas spirit to Buninyong, with the launch of the annual pop-up shop, an art installation, Christmas windows and an elf hunt.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Buninyong Pop Up Shop volunteer Miranda Donald said volunteers across different community groups and organisations collaborated to bring the projects to life with the support of business owners.
"We decided as a community that it has been such a rough couple of years we might as well fill the town with joy," she said.
It is the sixth year of operation for the Buninyong Christmas Pop-Up, which brings the work of 40 makers to the one space in Buninyong Town Hall for 10 days of Christmas shopping.
We decided as a community that it has been such a rough couple of years we might as well fill it with joy.
- Miranda Donald, Buninyong Pop-Up Shop volunteer
The store is a fundraiser for upkeep of the Buninyong Town Hall which is a much-loved community asset used by a number of volunteer groups.
It also offers a platform for makers from Buninyong and the surrounding region to sell their items, after a difficult COVID-19 period with the cancellation of many makers markets.
A new addition to the town is a giant gift box installation inn front of Buninyong Town Hall created by designer Justin Weyers, which hosts a light show with Christmas projections at night.
An elf hunt created by artists Lisa Cressey and Lesley Hale is set up throughout Buninyong shops and there is a chance to enjoy Christmas paintings in shop windows by artist Jacinta Sullivan.
"In our own backyard we have these talents," Ms Donald said.
Buninyong Men's Shed, Buninyong Town Hall Committee, Buninyong Business Network, Buninyong District Community Association and Buninyong Events collaborated to bring the projects to life.
RELATED COVERAGE: Christmas creativity call-out for Buninyong Christmas tree exhibition
Volunteers will staff the pop-up shop from when it launched on Friday, December 3 to the last day on Sunday, December 12.
"There is a whole number of groups that have come together to bring Christmas to Buninyong," Ms Donald said.
"The lines of the communication have been opened because nothing has been allowed to happen for so long. People have said if we can do anything, let's do it together.
"This is quite a big thing for the town."
Ms Donald said she hoped the combination of Christmas attractions would bring people to Buninyong to see what the town had to offer and to support businesses, like having lunch or dinner at a cafe or restaurant.
The pop-up shop is open from 10am to 4pm every day from December 3 to 12 with late night shopping until 8pm on Fridays.
Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.