Country Bumpkin hosts ‘Christmas in July’ event
IF YOU are missing the bright lights of the festive season then head on over to the Christmas in July fundraiser at Country Bumpkin, on from today to Saturday.
Go and see a Christmas light display and donate to charity.
“For the past seven years I have been setting up my Christmas lights in Beacon Bay over December, and raising money for the elderly residents in some old age homes around East London. Since we are downsizing and have our house on the market, I was at a loss as to what to do with my lights,” Dianne Grassi said.
“I approached Caitlin Mostert [the owner of Country Bumpkin] and asked if I could set them up at her family restaurant. She agreed, and we decided to do a trial run as a “Christmas in July”. “If it’s successful, we will do it again for December,” she added.
She then sent out a plea on Facebook for volunteer help and “very quickly had a team of about 10 kind elves”.
They helped set up the lights, and every night one of them is on duty.
The lights go on at 5.30pm and off again when the restaurant closes for the night.
“The kids can walk around the playground area and marvel at the unseasonable lights. People are urged to book a table for dinner at Country Bumpkin, for great food at affordable prices, and some charitable Christmassy fun for the family,” Grassi said.
“One of us is there every night to sell Christmas crackers and glowsticks, and hand out spot prizes. Plus we have some competitions running – a ‘guess the amount of sweets in the sweetie jar’ to win it; ‘find Santa’s locket’ which is hidden behind one of two Christmas scene pictures; a colouring-in competition for age categories 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 and 10-12. I have four prizes to give away for the best ones. I also have a raffle running with 16 prizes totalling R13000,” she said.
On Friday and Saturday evening there will be a big screen, compliments of Media LED playing Christmas DVDs.
“I’m encouraging families to bring a blanket to sit on while watching, and then to donate the blanket afterwards [not compulsory, but it would be nice].
“There is also a donation box – so open your wallet. Every blanket and penny raised will go toward buying treats and toiletries for the elderly residents at Langham House, Manor House and DJ Sobey in the three above-mentioned homes,” she added.
On Saturday, there will be a small fun day/fleamarket, where they will have Christmas crafts, Christmas home décor, Christmas cupcakes, educational toys, Tupperware, succulents, and a few other stalls selling Christmassy items.
There will also be face painting, sand art, jumping castles and other fun activities for the kids. Santa will be making an appearance during the day too, and will be joined by the Caltex White Rabbit. And tons of suckers will be handed out.
The other surprise appearance will be “Penny” the PnA mascot arriving at 11am to judge the colouring-in competition and hand out the prizes. She will also have some rulers that she will be giving away.
