ARARAT - The Ararat Advertiser, Ararat Rural City Council, Ararat Regional Business Association and Rotary Club of Ararat have joined forces to create some Christmas spirit in the CBD.
Ararat and district residents have the opportunity to win great prizes, either by decorating their homes or businesses or by shopping locally. They will also be able to pick up some gourmet goodies as Christmas gifts, enjoy some festive music and even have their photo taken with Santa.
Rather than working independently, The Ararat Advertiser, Council and ARBA have joined together to help promote local Christmas shopping and invited Rotary to join with them in promoting the annual Christmas lights competition.
Shopping locally keeps Ararat's economy ticking over and with Christmas the peak trading period of the year businesses need the support of local shoppers.
As an incentive this Christmas, The Ararat Advertiser's Christmas Promotion will see some lucky shoppers win the ultimate Christmas gift - hundreds of dollars worth of shopping vouchers.
To be in the draw, just shop at participating businesses, fill in the coupon and be in the running to win one of two weekly prizes of $500 worth of vouchers.
There will also be a major prize draw of $1000 worth of shopping vouchers and a bonus draw.
A full list of participating businesses will be in next Friday's Ararat Advertiser.
Ararat Advertiser manager Julie Miller urged Ararat people to shop locally.
''Not only will you be helping to keep money in Ararat by supporting local businesses, you will also have the opportunity to win vouchers to spend in participating businesses,'' Ms Miller said.
Ararat Rural City's business development officer Bruce Marshall said the benefits of shopping locally are many.
''Not only will people be helping the local businesses but they will also be helping the environment by not having to travel out of town,'' he said.
''It's also about creating a local `village' atmosphere proving that you can get everything here in your own township.''
Ararat Regional Business Association business development officer Wendy Van Oosten said most people would much rather do all their shopping locally if possible than have to go elsewhere.
The Christmas Promotion winners will be drawn as part of the Christmas Time with Food and Wine Gourmet Christmas market in the Ararat Performing Arts Centre forecourt on Saturday December 19.
From 11.30am to 4.30pm local wineries will offer tastings and sales and shoppers will have the opportunity to purchase local gourmet produce suitable for gifts or the Christmas table.
There will also be fun for the kids with a free jumping castle and face painting.
Santa will be in residence and children can have their photo taken with him. Proceeds from the photo sales will go to the Ararat Emergency Relief Committee, which distributes toys and food hampers to families in need in the Ararat district.
Ararat's businesses are also encouraged to extend their trading hours into the afternoon to take advantage of the Christmas atmosphere and there will be musical entertainment situated along Barkly Street to create a festive spirit.
Mr Marshall said he hoped businesses would take advantage of the day and set up merchandise stalls on the footpath.
''We want the whole of Barkly Street to have a market feel,'' he said.
And what is Christmas without Christmas lights?
The Rotary Club of Ararat's Christmas Lights' Competition will extend to businesses this year.
Businesses can either decorate their shop windows with a Christmas theme or Christmas lights and be in the running for an ARBA voucher, while the residential Christmas lights competition will see three cash prizes awarded for first ($150), second ($100) and third ($50) place.
Entries close on December 11 with the Ararat Advertiser, and judging will take place the following week with winners announced during the December 19 festivities.
''We want everyone in the local community - both businesses and shoppers - to get involved in the spirit of the Day on December 19 and help create a real Christmas atmosphere in Barkly Street this year,'' Ms Miller said.
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