The day will begin at 6am with all kinds of classic vehicles arriving at the Slim Dusty Centre to register for the Show ‘n‘ Shine before they all cruise into Kempsey along Macleay Valley Way at 8.30am. They will travel along Belgrave St before stopping in Smith St where the street will be closed off from 9am until 11am for the Show ‘n’ Shine static display. 

Organiser of the Christmas Festival, Belinda Fowler, encourages locals to come down for the festivities. 

“Everyone is invited to come into town and check it out,” she said. 

All of the retail shops on Smith St will also be having a monster Crazy Day Sale from 9am, where locals can pick up a bargain right before Christmas.  

Along Smith St there will also be live music including unconventional Christmas music, face painting, balloon twisting and a Santa photo booth at the Beaux Laidy. 

All of the action isn’t contained to Smith St though, when the Show ‘n’ Shine has finished at 11am, the convoy will make their way to the West Kempsey Hotel for their trophy and prize presentation. 

Retail stores in West Kempsey will also be participating in the Crazy Day Sale and there will be a free jumping castle for the kids in the park next to the Medical Centre. 

“Black Market Bagels will be there and the Kempsey Salvation Army will be operating a sausage sizzle raising funds to help those less fortunate across the Christmas period,” Ms Fowler said.  

West Kempsey will also be the place to be around noon with the Natureland Classics Motorcycle Club arriving dressed up in their Christmas outfits. 

“The park will be the final destination for their annual Christmas Toy Run. Santa will even be there arriving in style in a side cart.”

From 3pm at Riverside Park the annual Twilight Markets will kick off with a Christmas performance by Danae Cantwell School of Dance.

“The market is booked to its capacity of 170 stalls, there are so many new unique and interesting stalls to browse,” Ms Fowler said. 

There will be a number of street food stalls, live entertainment will be provided by Andrew Cousins on the main stage and there will even be a live magic show by Timbadims Comical Magic. Also on offer will be balloon twisting, free face painting and stilt walkers. 

The big man himself will be ditching the sled on Saturday and instead will be arriving at 4pm on a Dragon Boat with some help from the Kempsey River Rats. 

“The evening will be jam packed with fairy lights, non-stop entertainment, shopping and food. At 7.40pm the Kempsey District Silver Band will get everyone singing along to some great Christmas Carols and then at 8pm there will be a magnificent fireworks display in the heart of our Valley, right on the Macleay River,” Ms Fowler said. 

“I think this day is going to be one of the greatest Kempsey has seen in a long time.”