Parade ushers festive fun

Fun for all ages, the Bendigo Bank Street Parade is a family favourite.

The Christmas in Cooroy festival firmly marks the start of the festive season in Noosa, and one of the main attractions is the Bendigo Bank Street Parade.
The theme for this year is ‘Stories, Books and Authors” and the some of the organising committee got together with Geoff Edwards of Cooroy Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank to try out a few costume ideas.
Each year, around 30 community groups and businesses come together to produce a huge array of decorated floats with costumes galore.
“The Bendigo Bank Street Parade is truly spectacular, and over 10,000 people line the street to catch all the fun.
There are always lots of giveaways and lollies handed out to the crowds, and people of all ages are just amazed at how great the floats look.
“A lot of people don’t realise that everything at Christmas in Cooroy is free including rides, face painting, Santa visit, entertainment and more. That just couldn’t happen without fantastic sponsors like Cooroy Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank,” event manager Danielle Taylor said.
Cooroy Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank have sponsored the event for 10 years, and they always eagerly participate in the parade.
“We are always pleased to be involved with Christmas in Cooroy as it’s so much fun and it really showcases Cooroy’s amazing community spirit. Volunteers, community groups and businesses all work together to produce something quite special. The event has a wonderful community atmosphere, too, which is why we have supported the event for the last 10 years,” Cooroy Community Bank branch manager, Geoff Edwards said.
Cooroy loves a reason to dress up, so much so that often the crowd gets in the spirit too also turning up in costume.
This really is a parade not to miss, and the rest of the Christmas in Cooroy festival is just as special so definitely get down there and grab a space to see all the fun of the parade this Saturday!
The Bendigo Bank Street Parade starts at 5pm, but the main street of Cooroy, Maple Street is closed from 4pm, so it pays to get there early, get a car park and find a position along Maple Street to watch all the action.
That way you’ll also get to see the madcap fun of the Noosa to Hinterland Great Santa Race where about 50 Santa suit-clad runners race up Maple Street to raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation.
For all the information about Christmas in Cooroy, visit the website www.christmasincooroy.com.au