Bright spots to spread the cheer

FESTIVE cheer is spreading throughout the City of Greater Dandenong through songs, baubles and more.
The 65th Carols by Candlelight will sing out across Dandenong Park in Pultney Street from 7.30pm on Friday 21 December.
The Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce event will feature new acts and old-time favourites performing traditional and contemporary carols.
There’ll be a jumping castle for the kids, food stalls and a visit from Santa aboard a fire truck.
Dandenong Market will come to the rescue for last-minute shoppers with a special Christmas Eve open day and free family entertainment.
The market will open from 7am on Monday 24 December with free parking and gift wrapping.
There’ll be free entertainment for the family including card-making workshops, carols and musicians, face-painting with the Christmas fairy, a merry-go-round, a roving elf balloonist and visits from Santa.
Families can have free Santa portraits taken at Noble Park Civic Space from 11am to 2pm on Saturday 22 December.
Each child will receive a free photo with Santa to take home.
Christmas decorations are creating a festive feel in Greater Dandenong’s major retail activity centres – Dandenong, Springvale and Noble Park.
Bright and colourful trees and flower crates are at Multicultural Place in Springvale and other decorations line Springvale Road.
In Noble Park there’s bin signage and flower crates with bird and star decorations near the corner of Buckley Street and in Noble Park Civic Space.
In Dandenong a refurbished Santa on his sleigh greets shoppers from the first floor of the Bendigo Bank building on the corner of Clow and Lonsdale streets, and the Drum Theatre has new decorations in line with guidelines for historic buildings.
Until 22 December shoppers can enjoy entertainers and musicians in Springvale in Buckingham Avenue and Springvale Road, at Noble Park in the Civic Space and in Douglas Street, and around central Dandenong.