Bondi adds sparkle to winter

Winter is upon us and Bondi Beach will embrace it once again, with the Bondi Winter Magic Festival.

The three-month long festival, is now in its third year and will feature live music, art exhibitons and even whale watching for the month of July.

Waverley Mayor John Wakefield believes that 2012 event will build on the successes of previous years, with Bondi Winter Magic being selected by Destination NSW as one of the highlights for ‘Sydney in Winter’.

“Last year Bondi Winter Magic attracted an estimated 40,000 visitors to the area. This year it aims to entice those visitors to stay a little longer with its accommodation and meal offers so they can truly experience all that Bondi has to offer,” he said.

Bondi will transform into a skaters paradise, with the Bergstation Ice Skating Rink, one of the largest outdoor rinks in the country.

This year’s event will also showcase the Chilly Sk8 Jam demonstrations by the Bondi Skate Riders Club and the surfing talents of the Bondi Board Riders Club.

“The Bondi Winter Festival highlights Bondi as a vibrant creative hub that has a lot to offer, even in the colder months,” a Waverley Council Spokesperson said.

“The festival attracts people to the Bondi area, which is great for the local business community.”

The beginning of July will see the annual Bondi The Beautiful Fair with free live music, children’s entertainment, art exhibitions as well as food and community stalls.

“From June until August there is something for everyone, including the Bondi Whale Festival, Bondi the Beautiful Fair, the Winter Ice Ball, fun-fair rides for the kiddies, history walks and of course the ice rink on Bondi Beach.

Each weekend in July, Bondi will sparkle with art, food, music and fashion events,” a Waverley Council spokesperson said.

Bondi’s Bohemian past will also be on display, with 2 hour history walks around the streets and lanes of the suburb.

The festival has proven beneficial for Bondi, with 65 per cent of local businesses claiming an increase in visitors in 2010, according to the Winter Magic Festival Website.

“New to Bondi Winter Magic this year is the Bondi Winter Beds promotion, with participating hotels in the area offering great packages so you can take full advantage of Bondi’s magic.

Also, this year the ice rink has been relocated from Bondi Park onto the beach,” a Waverley Council Spokesperson added.

The Festival is an initiative of Waverley Council the Bondi and Districts Chamber of Commerce, supported
by Tourism NSW and runs from June 30 to July 31.