The biggest outdoor Christmas shopping fair on the Central Coast is coming and it's hiding in plain sight at Mt Penang Gardens & Event Park in Kariong. For gold coin entry, you can shop 'til you drop and enjoy entertainment as you wander around this tranquil waterside location with its various zones.
Peruse the shopping zone where you'll find over 170 hand-picked stalls selling art, craft, homewares, Christmas products and quirky gifts. From local artists and designers, you're sure to find something special for that 'hard-to-buy-for' friend or family member. Boomerang Bags are also selling recycled canvas bags to put all purchases in, with the aim of keeping the event as plastic-free as possible. Local businesses will provide informational stalls as well with Wiseberry Kariong giving out tips and ideas for your home.
In the international food and fresh seasonal produce zone, you'll find plenty of Christmas food and items for your table, such as puddings, cakes, fermented foods and yummy snacks. Healthy smoothies will be pumped out from the East Coast Beverages Juice Bar whilst a BBQ and some of the best ales around will be provided by the Six String Brewery pop-up bar. Other local vendors will serve up oysters, wines and a whole lot more. Gosford RSL will have their Luminous pop-up restaurant in the main food area and the garden's resident Waterfall Café, nestled over the cascading ponds, will be open as well.
It's a massive day for the kids too, with the following –
Read Me, Create Me, Play Me – an interactive arts area and creative space to read books, play instruments and make unique eco-art Christmas gifts with recycled wood and baubles
Circus area with Jammus the Mad Magician and Switcharoo Circus with Christmas characters performing a couple of shows, along with jugglers, hula hoops and circus games
Amusements and rides – slot cars, mini jeeps and more from Hunter Valley Amusements
Smiley Art providing free face painting all day
Party Chameleon with lawn games and races, inflatable soccer, and crazy hair
Little Kickers interactive football
Grace Springs Farm – bringing their cute baby animals and teaching you about local farm life
RYSS Gosford with their youth bus
Central Coast Comicon interactive ticket hunt and promotion
Santa – posing for photos with you in exchange for a $5 donation that goes to Catholic Care Foster Carers
The Central Coast's Star 104.5FM will be broadcasting live all day and will have loads of prizes and interactive promotions in their Live Lounge, whilst live music all day on the Star 104.5FM stage sees the likes of Grizzlee Train, Kris Morris, The Little Quirks, Ellie Drennan and Ella Powell performing. Buskers from Fairplay Entertainment will support the line-up of stars.
Local foodie Julie Goodwin, Australia's first Masterchef winner and host of the radio's breakfast show, will make a special appearance for a book signing.
Guys will love the car show with vintage cars and vehicles from many of the car clubs on the Central Coast.
As if the above is not enough, you can also enjoy the grounds of the gardens that include the Wondabyne Stone Sculpture Park – a fascinating outdoor sculpture exhibition with massive artworks carved from Gosford sandstone.
This annual event is brought to you by Fixx Events and Neon Garage (a unique warehouse space with props available for hire). It's on from 9am-2pm with plenty of facilities onsite, including first aid and an ATM. The event is also fully accessible/wheelchair-friendly.
Directions from Sydney
Hop on the M1 Pacific Motorway heading north and it won't be long before you're taking the Gosford exit onto the Central Coast Highway. As you cross over the motorway, take a left onto Kangoo Road. The best free parking can be found here.
Just over an hour's drive and easy to find, this fair provides for a great day out.
