Santa and all his friends are on their way to Raymond Terrace to kick-start the festive season.
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This year's MarketPlace Raymond Terrace Christmas Spectacular will be held on Sunday, November 10 from 10am. Raymond Terrace Fire and Rescue will give Santa a lift into town as part of the annual parade through town and to the shopping centre.
"This year's Raymond Terrace Christmas Spectacular is all about local heroes and giving back to the community groups," MarketPlace Raymond Terrace centre manager, Colleen Mulholland-Ruiz, said.
"In the past three years we have raised funds for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Leukemia Foundation and Newcastle Legacy raising over $25,000 in total. This is done is just four hours each year.
"This year we are raising funds for our very hard working community groups, the Raymond Terrace Lions and Rotary Club.
"These two groups are the heart and soul of this community in giving help where needed in many ways. You would be amazed at the work these groups do, not only for our local area but afar as well, not forgetting the great work they our doing for our farmers and many others."
All funds raised through the Christmas Spectacular's Show N Shine as well as donations made throughout the day will go to the two Terrace groups.
"This is our way, with the help of the community, to say thank you and show support to help them keep doing the great work they do," Ms Mulholland-Ruiz said.
The Port Stephens community turned out in the thousands last year to watch Santa arrive in Raymond Terrace and raise $12,700 for Legacy.
The community day features a parade to welcome Santa, Show N Shine, entertainment, rides, giveaways and community stalls.
Santa has been arriving at MarketPlace with fanfare since 1999. As the parade and community day fell on November 11 last year, the centre incorporated Remembrance Day into it by having children decorate big poppies which were on display, pausing for a minutes silence at 11am and raising funds for the Newcastle branch of Legacy.
Santa arrived in the Terrace last year on a Williamtown RAAF Base Bushmaster troop carrier in a parade with Irrawang High School Drum Corps, school children, dance groups, characters and Batman in the Batmobile.
This year the jolly man in red will get a lift into town on a Raymond Terrace Fire and Rescue fire truck.
Irrawang High School Drum Corp will lead the parade at 10.30am followed by local schools, dance groups and a cast of characters including Angry Birds Red, Chuck, Bomb, Hatchimals Draggle, Dora the Explorer, The Wiggles Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Nutcracker, Frosty the Snowman, Christmas Bunny and MarkeeP.
The parade will travel down Bourke Street into the lane next to the sportsground and then into MarketPlace.
On the sportsgrounds there will be something for the whole family with free rides including Tea Cup, Dodgem Cars, Sizzler, Auto Racer as well as free pony rides and an animal farm.
There will be two stages which will see local schools, dance groups and other entertaining acts perform throughout the day.
There will also be displays from local organisations for people to learn more about the Lions club, Rotary, Men's Shed, Scouts, local PBL Schools, MP Kate Washington as well as information stalls by Hunter Water, Port Stephens Council, Port Stephens Examiner, Flight Centre, Greater Bank, RAAF Base Williamtown and Legacy.