Santa Delivers Festive Spirit to Ipswich

Santa has a chat on Saturday with excited youngsters Blaise and Corey Wyatt.

SANTA Claus made a spectacular arrival in Ipswich aboard his sleigh, pulled by real-life reindeer Vixen and Cupid. 

Hundreds of shoppers turned out to welcome Santa and Mrs Claus as they weaved their way through the Riverlink shopping centre on Saturday. 

Their arrival was celebrated with a magical parade featuring fairies, angels on roller-skates, a gingerbread man, elves and carollers. 

Families lined the aisles as the procession made its way around the centre before concluding at the Gasometer area outside Cold Rock, where children were able to pet Vixen and Cupid and the other baby reindeer. 

The parade was complemented by a Christmas elves song and dance stage show, face painting, craft demonstrations and Christmas carols. 

HO, HO, HO: Santa with his helpers and reindeer tour Riverlink Shopping Centre on Saturday

Riverlink marketing manager Robyn Bannister-Tyrrell said Santa's arrival was well received by customers.

"We wanted to get shoppers into the Christmas spirit and enjoying themselves while doing their Christmas shopping," Mrs Bannister-Tyrrell said 

She said Santa's arrival would be followed by a series of family fun and entertainment events, including carollers and visits from the man in red in the lead-up to Christmas. 


Children will be able to have their photo taken with Santa daily in the East Mall, near Medicare, until December 24.

Winners All Round as Favourite Takes Cup

PUNTERS were out in force – and style – as Melbourne Cup fever hit Ipswich yesterday.

And the result couldn’t have been better for Ipswich race fans as the hot favourite Fiorente,

ridden by three-time winning jockey Damien Oliver, stormed home at Flemington.

Loud cheers erupted around friends Aislinn Dwyer and Jessica McGill inside the Char’d restaurant as the number six horse charged past the post, securing a first Melbourne Cup victory for legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse.

“I had a feeling,” an ecstatic Ms Dwyer said. “My uncle’s mother said number six and I had a weird feeling for Fiorente.

“She had me saying six all day and I thought I’ve got to win.”

Nigel Bates was thrilled with his small win, saying he always backed a Gai Waterhouse horse.

“I went with the favourite, but I’m a huge Gai Waterhouse fan,” he said. The PA Hotel was awash with colour for the fashions on the field event, but it was Sheree Thorton, of Bundamba, who took out the style stakes with her eye-catching lime and black number.

Metro Hotel Ipswich International was the next best thing to being trackside at Flemington, with party-goers enjoying a picnic-themed luncheon and all the action on the big screen.

Eat Drink and Be Merry - Christmas in Ipswich

Celebrate this festive Season with Some Christmas Cheer!

Metro Hotel Ipswich International will play Santa, with drinks, finger food and great venue!

To receive this offer, staff must show council ID at the bar.

RSVP to:

Eventsipswich@metrohg.com OR Call 07 38128077