The Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust already has big plans for next Christmas - and years to follow - in the town's Victorian Precinct.
This festive season, a new Christmas experience, Santa's Grotto, was opened in Smith's Grainstore.
The brainchild of Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust trustee Jane Campbell, it came together in about a week, in a collaborative effort with John Baster and Graeme Clark, and opened on December 1.
‘‘We were lucky enough to have the facade that Donna Demente [already] had down there and then we had some lovely story boards that were in storage, so we had the bones to do it,'' Mrs Campbell said.
She made decorations, was given some and trawled through charity shops to find others.
At the Twilight Farmers Market and Victorian Precinct Christmas Party, Smith's Grainstore was open for ‘‘fun and festivities'', including a coconut shy, lucky dips and photo opportunities with Santa.
‘‘We've had lots of really, really good feedback [so] next year it's going to be even bigger,'' Mrs Campbell said.
‘‘One day, we'd like to have the whole [Harbour] street decorated for Christmas.''
Already, the collection of decorations for next Christmas had begun and Mrs Campbell was excited about the possibilities.
An ‘‘ice cave'' theme has already been discussed.
‘‘If anyone has any big old Christmas decorations that they don't want any more, we're happy to start collecting those,'' she said.
‘‘Next [time] is going to be huge.''
