ELLENBROOK’S annual Christmas celebration returned for another year bringing together the community’s members from different cultural backgrounds to experience shared holiday cheer.

The annual family friendly event Elfenbrook featured local performers, including the Hills Symphony Orchestra, community groups, a family show, displays, markets and fireworks.

A Christmas pageant with more than 40 groups participating and a visit from The Grinch was also part of the experience.

Ellenbrook Community Collective (ECC) secretary Cate McCullough said crowds this year were noticeably up, to around 25,000.

“It’s such a great annual event, that brings people together in a wonderful celebration of our community,” she said.

“Importantly, it also showcases the diversity we have in the City of Swan with a number of stalls from our multicultural groups featured.

“The event enables and empowers these groups to showcase their cultures and it gives them so much exposure.”

ECC chair Kevin Bailey said this year’s highly successful Christmas festival exceeded all expectations.

He said the quality of the event reflected the dedication and hard work of a group of volunteers committed to making a memorable day for the Ellenbrook community.

“It’s heartening to see the inclusion of people of all ages and backgrounds,” Mr Bailey said.

“The ability to stage an event of this magnitude also depends on the faith of our sponsors, and we thank our long-standing partners, the City of Swan, Lotterywest, Ellenbrook Toyota and Bullsbrook Water Carriers.

“We especially thank the new sponsors that are continuing to come on board such as Harcourts – Valley to Vines and Loan Market Ellenbrook.”

Mr Bailey said a special thanks needed to go out to the Metronet team for their help with the coordination of traffic management, trains and buses, as well as their financial assistance as a new sponsor.

“The number of individuals, community groups, business and organisations that come together to celebrate and make this event a success is heart-warming.

“It’s heartening to see the inclusion of people of all ages and backgrounds,” Mr Bailey said.

“The ability to stage an event of this magnitude also depends on the faith of our sponsors, and we thank our long-standing partners, the City of Swan, Lotterywest, Ellenbrook Toyota and Bullsbrook Water Carriers.

“We especially thank the new sponsors that are continuing to come on board such as Harcourts – Valley to Vines and Loan Market Ellenbrook.”

Mr Bailey said a special thanks needed to go out to the Metronet team for their help with the coordination of traffic management, trains and buses, as well as their financial assistance as a new sponsor.

“The number of individuals, community groups, business and organisations that come together to celebrate and make this event a success is heart-warming