Fair kicks off Bondi Winter Magic

Bondi the Beautiful Fair at Bondi Park on Sunday June 5 marked the beginning of Bondi’s three-month Winter Magic Festival now back for its second year.

The fair featured markets, food stalls, an interactive art installation, roaming entertainers and live music including a performance by the Bondi Beach Public School choir. For children there was face painting, a kindy farm, clowns, a juggling chef, feature creatures and magic shows.

Daryl Hossack of the Bondi Public School homemade treats stall said the fair had attracted a lot of people. “It’s been great community spirit,” he said.

In recognition of World Environment Day, the fair also featured eco-friendly demonstrations, information and products.

Debbie Hunt of the Oxfam Grow campaign said she had talked to many people at the fair about their environmental program and there had been a “fabulous response”.

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts said the fair, which launched the winter festival, was held in tribute to the famous 1930s Bondi the Beautiful exhibition that celebrated everything beautiful in the Bondi community and environment.

The mayor said another highlight of the festival would be the return of the Bondi Bergstation ice rink, a hit from last year.

“From 30 June to 17 July you can ice skate on an 800m2 rink set up on the sands of south Bondi Beach,” she said.

The Bergstation will also feature stalls showcasing food from 20 countries.

Over the next three months Bondi Winter Magic will include a variety of events to liven up Bondi during winter, particularly for businesses dealing with a downturn in sales after summer.

Attractions will include fashion shows, art exhibitions, music concerts, the Taste Orange@Bondi food and wine festival, a trivia night, the Ice Ball, whale watching, a surfing movie night, history walks and school holiday activities.

During the 2010 campaign 65 per cent of local businesses reported an increase in visitors to Bondi in these traditionally slower months, according to the Bondi Winter Magic website.

The festival is a joint initiative of Waverley Council and the Bondi and Districts Chamber of Commerce, supported by Tourism NSW.

For information visit www.bondiwintermagic.org.au. To buy tickets for Bondi Bergstation visit www.winterfestival.com.au.

– By Alicia Howard