GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — Those sparkly, glowing orbs in Graaff-Reinet's Acacia Street are back and promises to be better than ever before.
The Acacia Street Christmas Lights project's switch-on this coming Friday, December 16, will see thousands of decorations and lights light up once again for what is the ninth year the road has been decorated for the festive period.
The Acacia Street residents have been working for weeks to see this year's project realised and all are excited for what this year has in store.
This Friday will see locals and visitors to the area alike start to gather to witness the spectacle that is the switch-on ceremony. At 8pm sharp all the lights will be switched on simultaneously and suddenly this little street - barely three blocks long - will be the most festive place to be this December.
Decked out in bright pulsing and colourful lights are Santa Clauses, trains, reindeers, sleighs, pinwheels, rainbows, Charlie Chaplins, bells, bows, bears and angels. A firm favourite every year is a very entertaining Father Christmas beavering away on a bicycle, his legs going round and round.
This project dates back to 1999 when a simple street party to celebrate the Millennium was held by the residents of this street. In 2007 the Acacia Street Christmas Lights project was launched. Ruth Welman was the initiator of the whole project as she wanted to honour her late mother who died of cancer. With the assistance of Clive Foster they developed the project into the immense success it is today.
Every year thousands of Rands are raised by way of sponsors and donations with the money collected going towards the Graaff-Reinet and District Cancer Association.
In 2015 the project raised more than R23 000!
The Acacia Street Christmas Lights project will opens on December 16 with a parade involving the police, drum majorettes, traffic officers and the youth brigade. Each and every night the street features different activities that includes individuals and groups to entertain the people.
The target for this year is a massive R35 000. The organisers and residents would, therefore, like to urge everyone to come and enjoy the lights and while doing so donate a little something into the cans of the collectors.
Those wanting to become involved or find out more can contact the programme director, Trevor Moos at 083 409 8960.
'We bring you the latest Graaff-Reinet, Karoo news'
