The popular Christmas Fair will be held in Main Street Proserpine on December 16 from 6pm-11pm and host the usual attractions of amusement rides, ham wheels and live music.

Fireworks have been included for the first time this year after a proactive collaboration between Council and the Fair organisers Proserpine Rotary Club.

Division 3 Councillor John Collins said the new council had put the spotlight on Proserpine in recent months and he was overjoyed they were now partnering with such a strong local community group such as Rotary.

“Under Mayor Andrew Willcox this council has had a focus on reconnecting with our diverse Whitsunday community and this is just another positive initiative.

“We all appreciate the difficult retail environment within our region over the past few years and the Proserpine Main Street retailers have also faced unavoidable disruptions the past few months as council crews did an excellent job delivering the Main St drainage capital works project on budget and on time.

“So to get the message to the community that the Proserpine Main St precinct businesses and properties are open for business this Christmas and ready to deliver that good old Proserpine local customer service, Council is assisting to promote the hugely popular Rotary Christmas Fair to make it one of the biggest yet,” Cr Collins said.

“The marketing messaging will be along the good old Buy Local campaigns such as “Buy from a Neighbour, don’t Buy from a Stranger” and “Eat Live Buy Local”.

“Council will also be working with the Main Street business precinct with a $2000 shopping voucher promotion where those attending the Christmas Fair can win vouchers to spend at businesses in the Main St precinct.

Cr Collins said this was a joint venture between Council, Rotary and Proserpine Main Street businesses and 500 Whitsunday Regional Council Santa hats would be handed out free at the Christmas Fair with each hat having a lucky number for the shopping voucher draw.