MORE than 15,000 people flocked to Cooroy on the weekend to celebrate the annual Christmas in Cooroy festival.
Friday night kicked off with the official turning on of the beautiful Ri-con Christmas tree which looked even more spectacular than ever before.
Special stars on the tree have been dedicated to loved ones that are no longer here and their stories were shared on the wall adjacent to the tree.
It was a magical evening with carols sung by The Cherry Ripes and a bit of unseasonal snow as well.
The QMP Shop Window Trail was also launched on Friday night with 23 businesses throughout town decorating their window.
Visiting the windows is a great way to spend a few hours with the kids and everyone is welcome to vote for their favourite window before 28 December to go in the draw to win a $100 Cooroy Supa IGA Voucher.
Saturday was the main event with the Cooroy Fish ‘n’ Chips Santa sack races starting the day followed by the Noosa to Hinterland Plumbing Group great Santa race.
Over 40 competitors dressed as Santa lined up to race and raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation.
Spectators lined the street for the ever popular Bendigo Bank street parade and the floats were of a spectacular standard this year with many commenting it was the best parade in the 12-year history of the event.
Cooroy Community Bank branch manager Geoff Edwards said the event was a brilliant show of community spirit.
“It is just wonderful to see the delight on everyone’s faces and the effort that people put into their floats,” he said.
The West Side Traders were ecstatic to take the title of Best Tuggers title in the Hinterland Dental East versus West Tug of War breaking the east side’s four-year winning streak.
Cooroy Chamber of Commerce president Danielle Taylor said there was a long list of people to thank for the event starting with the volunteers, the Christmas is Cooroy committee, the Rotary Club of Cooroy, Noosa SES and so many more.
“It’s the fantastic community spirit that Cooroy has that makes this event so special,” she said.
