Everyone was included in the City of Armadale’s Carols by Candlelight and Christmas Parade event at the weekend, with a special rendition of ‘O Christmas Tree’ in the Noongar language and the echoes to crowd favourite ‘Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer’ signed in Auslan.
Around 4500 locals attended the city’s annual Christmas event, and Mayor Ruth Butterfield said there was an impressive number of bookings for the DADAA accessible viewing space which provides guests living with a disability access to ACROD parking, a service dog area, songbooks in braille, audio description, an Auslan interpreter, Bluetooth assistive listening, and tables and chairs.
“The Christmas Parade and Carols By Candlelight remain a joyous occasion for the community to come together and celebrate Christmas,” Mayor Butterfield said.
“We take great pride in making our carols event the most accessible in WA.
“It’s important that every single community member gets the opportunity to celebrate with us.”
The Armadale City Concert Band provided a wonderful soundtrack for the evening, while choir members from Armadale Primary, Clifton Hills Primary, John Wollaston College and the Roleystone Theatre delighted guests with their angelic voices.
Beloved local songstress Katherine John emceed the event again this year, and there were notable performances from Year 8 John Curtin College of the Arts student Emily Sweeney, and a duet between Year 11 John Wollaston College student Georgia Smithson and Perth-based singer Sophie Lewin.
For the first time there were prizes on offer for community group participating in the Christmas Parade. This incentive was put in place to encourage greater participation after last year’s low numbers and negative community feedback almost got the parade canned.
Winners were chosen by the public, and over 600 votes were recorded. The first prize was won by Forrestdale Junior Football Club, with second prize going to Showtime HMS Performing Arts, and Majestic Calisthenics rounding up the place getters.
Unfortunately, due to a swell of last-minute cancellations, the number of community groups participating was on par with last year’s event.
Thankfully, a few additional novelty performers including WASAMBA, characters on unicycles, roller skates and bounce stilts, and Santa and Mrs Claus, brought an element of fun and ‘fullness’ that was missing in the 2023 parade.
It will be interesting to see if the parade lives to see another year.
Mayor Butterfield thanked Crossways for facilitating the food appeal, Cecil Andrews Police Rangers for being parade marshals, and Lotterywest for supporting the event.
“And thank you to everyone for attending and participating,” she said.
Photographs – Richard Polden.
