Allwood Neighbourhood House | $1,200
Allwood Festive Bash 2023
Building on the success of their inaugural Festive Bash last year, they will kick off the festive season with a celebration of local music, children's entertainment and artist market in the gorgeous Allwood gardens with a free BBQ courtesy of Hurstbridge Men's Shed, and after dusk... a moonlight cinema!
Saturday 2 December Allwood Neighbourhood House, Hurstbridge
4-8pm Live Music, Makers Market, Activities & Food
8-9.30pm Outdoor Cinema Screening
Diamond Creek Rotary Tram Café | $1,000
Community Christmas Celebration at the Tram
Visit the free Christmas Celebration at Diamond Creek Rotary Tram Cafe. Attractions include performances by the Diamond Creek Karaoke Choir and members of the Eltham Orchestra, free BBQ lunch, appearances by Santa with gifts for the children, a Henna hand painting artist, and a face painter.
Saturday 16 December 10am-2pm
Diamond Valley Community Support | $1,000
Festive Markets in Hurstbridge & Eltham
Diamond Valley Community Support will be hosting Festive Markets at Hurstbridge Market and Library Place Market this festive season, including entertainment, family activities and a visit from the man in the big red suit! The Festive Markets are an opportunity to gather with your community and celebrate the Festive Season.
Sunday 3 December Hurstbridge Primary School, during the Hurstbridge Market
Sunday 17 December Library Place Market, Eltham
Diamond Valley Lions | $550
Twilight Market
Browse over 70 local craft and food stalls showcasing the talents of our local crafts people and indulge in a treat from one of the food stalls. Bring the kids along to meet Father Christmas when he arrives in a fire truck at 7pm and soak up the twilight festive atmosphere.
Friday 8 December 6-9pm Coventry Oval, Diamond Creek
Letters from Santa to Primary School Students
During December Diamond Valley Lions will work with teachers at local primary schools to coordinate the children in writing letters to Santa. The Lions will collect the letters and provide a personalised reply from Santa to each child.
Schools participating include Diamond Creek Primary School, Diamond Creek East Primary School, Hurstbridge Primary School, Wattle Glen Primary School (Prep and grade 1 only), and Yarrambat Primary School.
Eltham CFA | $1,000
Community Christmas Activities (Santa Run)
On Sunday 17 December Santa is coming to town assisted by the volunteers of the Eltham CFA in their fire trucks. Watch and listen for the lights and sirens as Santa arrives at the listed locations to greet families and share the Christmas cheer.
Nillumbik Route NORTH
1.30-2pm Eltham North Adventure Playground, Wattletree Rd, Eltham North
2.15-2.45pm Alan Marshall Reserve, Leanne Drive, Eltham
3-3.30pm Grove Street Playground, Grove Street, Eltham
Nillumbik Route SOUTH
1.30-2pm Petrie Park Playground, Mountain View Road, Montmorency
2.15-2.45pm Eltham Lower Park, adjacent to Diamond Valley Railway, Eltham
3-3.30pm Alistair Knox Park, Panther Place, Eltham
Eltham South Preschool | $550
Kindergarten Festive Art for Public Viewing
Join Eltham South Preschool in celebrating this festive season. Students of the preschool have created festive ornaments and decorations for public display inspired by their exploration of the Wurundjeri seasons of Buarth Gurru and Garrawang.
December 1–25 Eltham South Preschool, 35 Fordhams Rd, Eltham
Hohnes Road Playhouse | $550
Festive Cards Intergenerational Activity
This December discover the magic of Christmas at Hohnes Road Playhouse! Join us in celebrating our cherished annual tradition as our gifted preschoolers' artwork adorns professionally printed Christmas cards, which will be shared with residents of local nursing homes. Share the joy with loved ones and friends. For details, visit www.hohnesroadplayhouse.com.
Hurstbridge Mens Shed with Local Artist | $1,870
Hurstbridge Village Festive Diorama Box
Come visit the magic of Christmas encapsulated in an enchanting and mystical box, depicting a scene that reflects kindness, generosity, magic and play.
December 4 – January 6 Anzac Memorial Park, Hurstbridge
Hurstbridge Primary School | $1,000
Hurstbridge Community Christmas Picnic
Hurstbridge Primary School is hosting a Community Christmas Picnic open to the whole community. A Band will be performing, Santa will be visiting, and there will be Christmas Singing for everyone.
Tuesday 5 December 5.30–7.30pm Hurstbridge Primary School
Lions Club of Nillumbik | $1,000
Nillumbik Festive Hampers
Family Christmas Hampers consisting of basic and festive food items will be delivered to between 70 and 100 disadvantaged families within our local community on Friday December 15th to assist families currently suffering food insecurity.
Our Lady Help of Christians School Eltham | $1,100
Festive Lights & Decorations for the Eltham Community
Come visit the corner of Main Street and Dudley Street in Eltham (Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School), for a wonderful display of festive lights and decorations to spread the festive cheer.
December 1–January 8
Panton Hill Primary School | $2,000
Light Up Panton Hill Township
Come visit the Panton Hill Township and the Panton Hill Firefighters Memorial Park for a wonderful display of festive lights.
December 1–January 6 Panton Hill Township and Panton Hill Firefighters Memorial Park
Patricia Callinan (Photographer) | $1,240
Free photos with Santa at Eltham Town Square
Santa Claus is coming to Eltham this December. Join us as we bring the festive season alive with a Community Photo Day outside Pod & Seek in Eltham.
Sunday November 26 10am–1pm Outside Pod & Seed store, Commercial Place, Eltham
SHIFT Sustainable Hurstbridge | $1,200
Festive Fairy Activities at Hurstbridge Hub Community Garden
Join us celebrating Christmas and the fairy tree in our community garden, with a range of fairy-themed activities, including face-painting, story time, a treasure hunt, and nature craft activities.
9 December 10.30am–12.30pm Edible Hub, Hurstbridge Hub
St Andrews Left Bank | $1,240
St Andrews Twilight Celebrations
Come visit the St Andrews Twilight Celebrations to celebrate the festive season on The Left Bank. Local musicians will play on The Green, a range of food and wine options will be available, along with the opportunity to purchase gifts at specialty stores, as well as the Twilight Market.
Thursday 14 December 3–9pm
St Andrews Market |$1,000
St Andrews Christmas Twilight Market
Come join us at the St Andrews Market site for live music, a visit from Santa, face painting, stilt walkers, an eclectic variety of stalls. Stalls will include handmade crafts, a multicultural array of food, art, second-hand items, clothing, plants, eco-friendly home and self-care products, baked items, fruit and vegies, as well as a range of holistic and esoteric services.
Thursday 14 December 3-9pm St Andrews Market, outside St Andrews Community Hall
St Andrews Primary School and Wadambuk (St Andrews Community Centre) | $1,500
St Andrews Main Street Festive Display
Come visit St Andrews Primary School and Wadambuk (St Andrews Community Centre) for a view of festive decorations created by local artists.
December 1-20
St Johns Anglican Church | $1,000
Diamond Creek Community Carols
Diamond Creek Community Christmas carols is a local community event that brings the community together for festive fun. Beginning with activities for children including pony rides, face painting, craft, the CFA truck, and performances by primary schools. Followed by the main event... Christmas carols! Everyone is welcome to join the Christmas cheer.
Sunday December 17 5.30–7pm Choir and Kids Activities, 7pm Carols
2022 Festive Fund Grant Recipients
Allheart in partnership with Eltham Chamber of Commerce
Santa's Christmas Kangaroos | $1500
Visitors and shoppers in Eltham Town who find a Christmas Kangaroo, which is displayed in 10 local businesses, can choose to go into a weekly draw to win a $20 Eltham Town gift voucher.
Angharad Neal-Williams
Festive Florals | $1,500
Painting of ten festive floral Christmas shop windows on Chute Street to make this Diamond Creek streetscape festive.
Apollo Parkways Community Group
Apollo Parkways Festive Festival | $1,500
Hosting of the Apollo Parkways twilight Festive Festival.
Green Karma
Staying healthy in Christmas | $1,500
Hosting a talk on 'How to navigate Christmas with chronic illness' alongside a cooking demonstration for baking healthily.
Hohnes Road Playhouse
Connecting with Community Members | $800
Annual tradition of professionally printing Christmas cards from artwork created by their talented preschoolers, to be shared with friends, family, local nursing home residents and the public.
Hurstbridge Men's Shed
Xmas Sausage Sizzle | $250
Christmas sausage sizzle offering free sausages to the shoppers in Hurstbridge on a Saturday morning.
Hurstbridge Traders Association
Festive Gigs in the Bridge | $1,500
Series of musical events showcasing talented local Nillumbik musicians to enhance the sense of community during the festive season with live music.
Research Preschool
Intergenerational Holiday Murals | $240
Creation of two community intergenerational holiday murals, collaboratively designed with Eltham Villa and exchanged at a gift-giving ceremony.
Rotary Club of Diamond Creek
Christmas Community Celebrations at the Tram | $1,000
Christmas celebration at the Diamond Creek Rotary Tram Cafe open to all members of the community.
Smiths Gully Mountain Bike Club
Festive Season Trail Treasure Hunt | $1,500
Festive Season Trail Treasure Hunt to promote the sport and the amazing trails that Smiths Gully and surrounds have to offer.
St Andrews Primary School
Christmas at STAPS | $1,500
Working with community members to decorate and light up the school's front fence and trees for the township to enjoy.
St Johns Anglican Church Diamond Creek
Diamond Creek Community Carols | $1,500
Diamond Creek community Christmas carols community event including activities for the kids, pony rides, face painting, food trucks and carols singing.
Strathewen Arthurs Creek Bushfire Education Partnership
Christmas Celebration and End of Year Bushfire Education Partnership Presentation | $950
The students from the Strathewen Arthurs Creek Bushfire Education Partnership will complete their year by holding an end of year Christmas gathering for students to present their mini movies and Fire Danger Rating movie to the community at the Strathewen Community Hall.
The Left Bank/St Andrews
Community Twilight Christmas Event | $1,500
Community Twilight Christmas Event with local musicians, a range of food and wine options, and an array of local artisan and handmade gifts at their Makers Market.
United Minds Community Services
Xmas Appeal | $1,000
Community Christmas appeal providing gifts, food hampers and grocery vouchers.
Welcome to Eltham
Celebrate Christmas | $1,500
Celebrate Christmas event to host Syrian and Afghan residents on a Christmas lights tour.