Anne Beil
Kumbia markets organiser Anne Beil was this year’s roving emcee at the Kumbia Christmas Carnival

December 9, 2013

Kumbia’s 14th annual Kumbia Christmas Markets and Carnival were held in the grounds of the Kumbia Memorial Hall on Sunday evening.

A crowd of several hundred, including visitors from Kingaroy and Wondai, attended the late afternoon event to enjoy the relaxed festive atmosphere and meet up with friends.

The adjoining Kumbia Hall played host to the town’s annual Christmas Tree Festival, which had a “Recycled Materials” theme this year.

And the Kumbia and District Historical Society also opened their museum for the evening to give visitors the opportunity to browse its extensive displays of historic photographs and artefacts from the Kumbia district.

Children enjoyed a jumping castle, merry-go-round, face painting and other amusements while adults browsed market stalls selling everything from organic vegetables to home-made jams and pickles, or enjoyed the delights of the barbecues and live musical entertainment provided by Lyn and Eddie Lake from the popular Barkers Creek Bush Band.

Throughout the evening the Carnival’s ham wheel was kept busy doling out Christmas hams to lucky winners, and the traditional Bottle Stall did a brisk trade in raffle prizes.

Santa also put in an appearance about 7:30pm – much to the delight of the children – and the weather stayed perfect throughout.

Margaret Ferguson and Jenny Gemmell
Margaret Ferguson and Jenny Gemmell helped out at the Carnival’s popular Bottle Stall
Sue Whitworth and Ros Heit
Scoring a bargain: Cr Ros Heit was delighted by Sue Whitworth’s range of organic chutneys, pickles and preserves at the Richard’s Country Kitchen stand

Marion Campbell, Suzanne Francis and Gayle Carroll
Marion Campbell caught up with carnival organisers Suzanne Francis and Gayle Carroll, front

Kumbia Christmas Carnival
Santa arrived at 7:30pm to determine who’d been naughty and nice, and handed out free Christmas bags to eager children
Erin Carroll, Catherine Barr and Verelle O'Shanesy
Erin Carroll, Catherine Barr and Verelle O’Shanesy put a touch of festive spirit into the Kumbia Kindergarten’s stand
Alirah Smallwood and Candace Tewes
Candace Tewes showed young Alirah Smallwood the annual Christmas trees display inside Kumbia Hall; this year’s theme was trees made from recycled materials
Trish Newman, Murray Beil and Linda Matthews
Trish Newman and Linda Matthews from Kumbia Neighbourhood Watch chat with ham wheel operator Murray Beil
Lyn and Eddie Lake
Lyn and Eddie Lake from the Barkers Creek Bush Band kept the crowd entertained all night
Pat Hobdell and Keith Campbell
Cr Keith Campbell took the opportunity to catch up with Kumbia’s 2013 Local Achiever Pat Hobdell, who was honoured in this year’s South Burnett Australia Day Awards