By Dongyun Kwon
The Yarra Ranges Council (YRC) has launched a festive campaign Choose Yarra Ranges this Season, celebrating everything the region has to offer over the holiday season.
Ryrie Ward Councillor Fiona McAllister said she wanted to emphasise the significance of the campaign to support local businesses over the Christmas period.
“We encourage people not just to shop locally but also to hang around and spend more time locally for Christmas with family and friends,” she said.
“It is the first time we’ve done this package in partnership with local traders to do something fun and vibrant as well as to support their business.”
Choose Yarra Ranges this Season consists of five major campaigns, Buy Local and a Movie, Christmas Window Competition, Festive Busking series, Buy Local this Season and Enjoy Local this Season.
Buy Local and a Movie offers a $7.50 movie ticket in two local cinemas, The Memo Healesville and The Arts Centre Warburton, to those who spend $30 or more at participating local businesses in Yarra Ranges during the promotional period, from 1 to 22 December.
Movie ticket vouchers are valid for redemption and use between 1 December 2023 and 31 January 2024.
The Christmas Window Competition is for businesses to post a photo of a hamper of local goodies and a description.
There are four categories; Hills, Urban, Valley and Upper Valley and residents are encouraged to vote for their favourite display with the festive spirit.
The Festive Busking series matches talented musicians and performers with festive events and retail activations around the region.
Buy Local this Season and Enjoy Local this Season guide the list of local businesses and events that people can enjoy during the festive season.
Cr McAllister visited Healesville to support Buy Local and a Movie at The Memo and Late Night Christmas Shopping on Thursday 7 December.
Cr McAllister said her family watches movies regularly at The Memo.
“It’s our favourite cinema. We love going there because there are always great films, local food and wine available,” she said.
“I loved what happened in the street festival, The Late Night Shopping on the night which was organised by the traders group supported by the council and live street music.
“It was wandering along the main street with the music and it was such a wonderful night.”
Cr McAllister said Yarra Ranges is a very special place to live.
“We are lucky to live in a community that gets together and supports local businesses but also has a lot of fun happening over the next few weeks including Christmas Carols and lots of other fantastic things close to home,” she said.
For more information about how to get involved with Choose Yarra Ranges this Season, please visit the following link, www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Business-Yarra-Ranges/Choose-Yarra-Ranges-this-Season.
